Skyline wins third straight state football title
December 6, 2009
By Christopher Huber
Updated Dec. 8 at 11:06a.m.
By Christopher Huber
It seemed fitting that as the clock ran down in the final minute of the 2009 Class 4A state championship game, senior quarterback Jake Heaps stepped off the field, allowing his replacement, freshman Max Browne to finish the game under center.
Heaps had done his job, throwing four touchdown passes — a new 4A state championship game record — and leading the Spartans to another state title.
“I said, ‘this is your team now, enjoy the moment. You’re going to be back here,’” Heaps said after the game.
Skyline won its third-straight state football championship after beating Ferris 45-21 at the Tacoma Dome Dec. 5. Receiver Kasen Williams also set a title-game record after he caught three touchdown passes.
Heaps finished his high school career 40-2 as a starter.
“These guys are amazing. I love every single moment of it. To be with this special group of guys and to do this three times, it’s unbelievable,” Heaps said. “We just have to approach each game like it’s our last. This truly was our last game. These guys wanted it so bad, you could see it in their eyes.”
Many Skyline players had considered its semi-final battle against Bothell to be the toughest fight of the year, but the Saxons of Ferris came out fired up. It had something to prove after losing to Skyline in the 2008 playoffs.
“We were really excited to get another chance at ‘em. We were real excited when they beat Bothell,” said Ferris senior quarterback Connor Halliday as he met with his family on the field. “It just comes down to, honestly, I hate to say it, but they’re more talented than us. We had no running game at all and we couldn’t stop theirs. And it’s tough when you’re not stopping the running game and you’ve got Jake Heaps over there throwing the ball.”
Coming into the game, Skyline knew Ferris would bring all it had with its big-play passing game.
The Saxons struck first after advancing on a fake punt. They drove the field and went up 7-0 when Halliday hit receiver Jason Bates for a three-yard score five minutes into the first. But Skyline got its bearings and tied it up on a 15-yard Heaps-to-Williams touchdown connection with less than two minutes left in the quarter.
Running back Nick Washburn put the Spartans up 14-7 in the second with a five-yard run. The Spartans never looked back.
Ferris made a few big plays throughout the night, but Skyline held in the red zone, allowing just two more touchdowns — Halliday to Bates for 11 yards in the second and to Jordan Tonani for one yard in the fourth.
Halliday finished the game completing 26 of 44 passes for 254 yards and two interceptions.
“Usually, in a high school team there’s a couple kids on a defense you could pick on. There’s no weak link there,” Halliday said. “We tried to attack the seams. They mixed it up really well, though. It’s tough when they’re getting pressure with their front four and dropping seven and don’t have to blitz anyone.”
The Spartans’ defense was a wall that the Saxons couldn’t get through. Ferris had just seven yards on 17 rushes.
“I guess we made it so they had to keep passing because we just completely shut down the run,” said Skyline linebacker Anthony DeMatteo.
Skyline led 24-14 at halftime and went on to dominate the second half.
Heaps and the Spartan offense seemed unphased by the Ferris defense. Running back Nick Beauchamp had 115 yards on 18 carries and Washburn had 61 on 12 carries. The team finished with 192 yards on the ground. Heaps completed 15 of 25 passes for 254 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.
Williams finished with eight catches for 89 yards and three touchdowns, and Connor Brandt had four for 70 yards and a touchdown. Cooper Pelleur had one catch for 66 yards.
Heaps stressed the hard work of his teammates, as well as Skyline’s determination and focus throughout his prep football career. He’s headed to BYU in 2010 with dozens of accolades, awards and titles, but he remains humble about it all.
“All the personal stuff is great, but, you know, it’s all about the team, and I’m just so happy for our guys. We’ve worked so hard. They just really deserve it,” he said.
As for achieving one of the most successful high school careers around:
“It’s truly a blessing,” Heaps said.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.SammamishReview.com.
It seemed fitting that as the clock ran down in the final minute of the 2009 Class 4A state championship game, senior quarterback Jake Heaps stepped off the field, allowing his replacement, freshman Max Browne to finish the game under center.
Heaps had done his job, throwing four touchdown passes — a new 4A state championship game record — and leading the Spartans to another state title.
The Skyline football team celebrates after winning its third straight state title. Photo by Greg Farrar
“I said, ‘this is your team now, enjoy the moment. You’re going to be back here,’” Heaps said after the game.
Skyline won its third-straight state football championship after beating Ferris 45-21 at the Tacoma Dome Dec. 5. Receiver Kasen Williams also set a title-game record after he caught three touchdown passes.
Heaps finished his high school career 40-2 as a starter.
“These guys are amazing. I love every single moment of it. To be with this special group of guys and to do this three times, it’s unbelievable,” Heaps said. “We just have to approach each game like it’s our last. This truly was our last game. These guys wanted it so bad, you could see it in their eyes.”
Many Skyline players had considered its semi-final battle against Bothell to be the toughest fight of the year, but the Saxons of Ferris came out fired up. It had something to prove after losing to Skyline in the 2008 playoffs.
“We were really excited to get another chance at ‘em. We were real excited when they beat Bothell,” said Ferris senior quarterback Connor Halliday as he met with his family on the field. “It just comes down to, honestly, I hate to say it, but they’re more talented than us. We had no running game at all and we couldn’t stop theirs. And it’s tough when you’re not stopping the running game and you’ve got Jake Heaps over there throwing the ball.”
Coming into the game, Skyline knew Ferris would bring all it had with its big-play passing game.
The Saxons struck first after advancing on a fake punt. They drove the field and went up 7-0 when Halliday hit receiver Jason Bates for a three-yard score five minutes into the first. But Skyline got its bearings and tied it up on a 15-yard Heaps-to-Williams touchdown connection with less than two minutes left in the quarter.
Running back Nick Washburn put the Spartans up 14-7 in the second with a five-yard run. The Spartans never looked back.
Ferris made a few big plays throughout the night, but Skyline held in the red zone, allowing just two more touchdowns — Halliday to Bates for 11 yards in the second and to Jordan Tonani for one yard in the fourth.
Halliday finished the game completing 26 of 44 passes for 254 yards and two interceptions.
“Usually, in a high school team there’s a couple kids on a defense you could pick on. There’s no weak link there,” Halliday said. “We tried to attack the seams. They mixed it up really well, though. It’s tough when they’re getting pressure with their front four and dropping seven and don’t have to blitz anyone.”
The Spartans’ defense was a wall that the Saxons couldn’t get through. Ferris had just seven yards on 17 rushes.
“I guess we made it so they had to keep passing because we just completely shut down the run,” said Skyline linebacker Anthony DeMatteo.
Skyline led 24-14 at halftime and went on to dominate the second half.
Heaps and the Spartan offense seemed unphased by the Ferris defense. Running back Nick Beauchamp had 115 yards on 18 carries and Washburn had 61 on 12 carries. The team finished with 192 yards on the ground. Heaps completed 15 of 25 passes for 254 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.
Williams finished with eight catches for 89 yards and three touchdowns, and Connor Brandt had four for 70 yards and a touchdown. Cooper Pelleur had one catch for 66 yards.
Heaps stressed the hard work of his teammates, as well as Skyline’s determination and focus throughout his prep football career. He’s headed to BYU in 2010 with dozens of accolades, awards and titles, but he remains humble about it all.
“All the personal stuff is great, but, you know, it’s all about the team, and I’m just so happy for our guys. We’ve worked so hard. They just really deserve it,” he said.
As for achieving one of the most successful high school careers around:
“It’s truly a blessing,” Heaps said.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.
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