Brad Nordstrom and Cules Rose took a pass — literally ­— on an opportunity for overtime Saturday. After the Southwest Rams tied the game with under 2 minutes left, Nordstrom and Rose untied it — connecting on 75-yard pass that gave the Scottsdale Firebirds a 24-16 victory in the AYF Jr. Midget state title game at Tucson High School.

After Austin Percy kicked the two-pointer, the Firebirds went with an onside kick that Jacob Como recovered to seal the victory.

“We did not want to give them space to operate in,’’ Firebirds coach Matt Campbell said. “We thought that was the smartest thing to do in that situation.”

For the Firebirds (12-0), it was the toughest game they’d played all season. The Firebirds will be going to Florida in two weeks to play in the AYF nationals. The berth was not dependent on Saturday’s game.

“We needed a test,’’ Campbell said.

The Rams gave the Firebirds just that. Twice they drove inside the Firebirds 1, only to be stopped short.

They were not to be denied to their final possession. On a fourth down, Lazaro Nuñez scrambled and was tackled. The ball came loose and was picked by Raul Basurto, who ran it 7 yards into the end zone. The two-point kick tied it at 16.

Nordstrom finished the game with 300 yards passing. He connected on another 75-yard scoring play in the first half, finding Gary McKay to make it 16-8.