Skyline athletes make history
January 19, 2010
“Everybody wants to win state,” said Skyline football player Cooper Pelluer. “That’s everybody’s goal.”
Last season, athletes from Skyline High School met that goal more than any other school in the state, and made history in the process, as the football, girls soccer and girls swimming teams won titles.
Skyline was the first high school in Washington to take home 50 percent of the state championships in one season, according to Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.
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Skyline football bests Bothell in grudge match
December 1, 2009
Running back Nick Beauchamp powers through the line of Bothell defense in the fourth quarter. Photo by Christopher Huber
By Christopher Huber
After it lost to Bothell in the KingCo championship in October, the Skyline Spartans decided to change everything, linebacker Anthony DeMatteo said.
The team had won back-to-back state championships and despite losing two big games this season, the players had still become over-confident, he said.
“We changed everything. We changed how we ran practice,” DeMatteo said. “We brought back the old intensity that Skyline used to have.”
That renewed intensity and dedication paid off in its 31-26 state tournament semifinal victory against the top-ranked Cougars. Skyline will play Ferris Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. for the state title.
“It’s gratifying to know we can come out this season and win a close one, win a big one,” Skyline quarterback Jake Heaps said on the field afterward. “I tip my hat off to them. They’re one of the best teams I’ve ever faced.”
The Spartans got out to an early 7-0 lead after its defensive aggressiveness caused Bothell misqueues.
Skyline blocked a punt on Bothell’s first possession of the game. DeMatteo recovered the ball at the Bothell 33-yard-line and three plays later, Heaps connected with junior wide receiver Jordan Simone for a 33-yard touchdown.
The Spartans made its fair share of mistakes, too, missing two scoring chances.
After recovering a pooch-kick on a kickoff in the first, Skyline threatened again, but Bothell’s Kevin Knapp intercepted a potential Heaps touchdown pass. Heaps threw another interception to end a promising drive at the start of the second quarter.
“He wasn’t making poor choices, it was just, they just made great plays on the ball,” said Skyline head coach Mat Taylor.
The Cougars proceeded to drive 80 yards in about two minutes to tie the game at 7-7. Quarterback Mitchell Muller capped the drive off with a 47-yard touchdown bomb to receiver John Sullivan. Muller completed 10 of 24 pass attempts for 171 yards.
Skyline opened things up four minutes into the second quarter when Spartan linebacker Tommy Aarts hit Bothell’s Wendall Galvan on a punt return to cause the fumble.
Skyline’s Adam Albaum returned it 52 yards for a touchdown to put Skyline up 14-7.
“We started off in a hole,” said Bothell head coach Tom Bainter. “Against a team like that, you can’t do that.”
Heaps proved effective on third downs and in pressure situations all night.
He finished with 221 yards after completing 16 of 31 passes. He threw three interceptions total.
Receiver Connor Brandt caught five passes for 87 yards and Kasen Williams had four catches for 45 yards.
Skyline led 21-10 at the half after Heaps tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Brandt with 17 seconds remaining in the second. Bothell kicked a 41-yard field goal and scored a touchdown in the third to make it 21-19.
After Skyline’s Nick Washburn scored an eight-yard touchdown to go up 28-19, the Cougars came right back with a 65-yard scoring drive to start the fourth.
Kicker Sean Penberthy put the Spartans up 31-26 with a 32-yard field goal with just less than five minutes left.
The Skyline defense did the rest to preserve the win. It held Bothell’s star running back Luke Proulx to just 48 yards on 21 carries.
Defensive back Evan Zeger intercepted a Muller pass with 2:44 remaining.
“We just had to do our jobs. Whenever they started getting big plays is when we stopped doing our jobs,” DeMatteo said. “We came out and we just had to play as hard as we could. We knew they were going to give us a fight.”
Taylor said although he would have liked to face Bothell in the state championship, he was happy with how the team has refocused for the title game.
“I wish it didn’t have to end (for Bothell), to be honest,” said Skyline head coach Mat Taylor. “But KingCo was well-represented and hopefully we’ll represent very well next week.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.SammamishReview.com.
After it lost to Bothell in the KingCo championship in October, the Skyline Spartans decided to change everything, linebacker Anthony DeMatteo said.
The team had won back-to-back state championships and despite losing two big games this season, the players had still become over-confident, he said.
“We changed everything. We changed how we ran practice,” DeMatteo said. “We brought back the old intensity that Skyline used to have.” Read more
Curtis no contest for Skyline football
November 25, 2009
By Christopher Huber
Scoring early and often has been a hallmark of the Skyline football team as it won its way to state championships in recent years. But its performance in the quarterfinal match at Curtis Nov. 21 gave new meaning to its fervent play.
It was over before Curtis players knew what hit them.
The Spartans scored twice in the first two minutes of the game and led 49-0 at the halftime break. The enormous lead triggered a rule that kept the clock running in the second half. Skyline (10-2) came away with a 49-14 win to advance to the semifinal game against Bothell Nov. 28 at the Tacoma Dome.
“We’re just really excited the way the kids are playing right now,” said Spartans coach Mat Taylor.
Skyline scored 35 points in the first quarter and capitalized on Curtis mistakes, Taylor said. The Spartans’ second score came after it recovered a Curtis fumble. Quarterback Jake Heaps then tossed a 21-yard touchdown pass to his favorite receiver, Kasen Williams.
Skyline did not commit any turnovers, Taylor said. Williams finished with 3 catches for 33 yards.
The Spartan defense held Curtis to just 22 yards rushing in the first half and 48 total passing yards.
Running backs Nick Beauchamp and Nick Washburn ran for 16- and 9-yard touchdowns, respectively, in the first half. Tight end Cooper Pelleur caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Heaps to close out the second quarter.
“They brought all kinds of blitzes and our line did a great job picking everything up,” Taylor said of Skyline’s offensive efforts.
Curtis’ Jason Walker scored a 53-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter and Richard Southern punched through for a two-yard touchdown in the fourth.
Washburn finished with 57 yards on seven carries and Beauchamp ran the ball eight times for 51 yards.
Heaps completed 10 of 18 passes for 151 and three touchdowns, all in the first half and Connor Brandt had two catches for 59 yards.
Skyline faces Bothell in a semi-final game in Tacoma. It aims to get even after losing 25-20 to the Cougars in the KingCo 4A championship.
“It’s just really exciting. The kids are having fun and they’re executing,” Taylor said about Skyline peaking at the right time. “The No. 1 thing is we gotta worry about ourselves.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.
Scoring early and often has been a hallmark of the Skyline football team as it won its way to state championships in recent years. But its performance in the quarterfinal match at Curtis Nov. 21 gave new meaning to its fervent play.
It was over before Curtis players knew what hit them. Read more
Skyline football rolls past South Kitsap
November 17, 2009
By Christopher Huber
Senior quarterback Jake Heaps and junior wide receiver Kasen Williams showed everyone watching Nov. 14 why they are regarded as the premier passing duo in the state.
When the Skyline Spartans football team was looking for that signature blowout win to gain confidence in its quest for another state title, it found it through the air — seven times — in a 63-14 victory over South Kitsap at Mount Tahoma Stadium. It advanced to the state quarterfinals against Curtis.
The Spartans set a school record for points scored in a first half — 56.
“It was really exciting. The kids came out and executed exactly how they’re capable of,” said head coach Mat Taylor. “It was a surprise. To score 56 points in the first half, that’s never happened at Skyline.”
All but one touchdown came in the first half for both teams. Heaps passed for seven touchdowns and completed 20 of 27 attempts for 308 yards.
And he connected with Williams four times in the first half.
“Jake is just so good with his mechanics. And Kasen is just so good at catching the ball,” Taylor said. “He just has a knack for getting open and Jake’s got a knack for finding him.”
Williams finished the night with eight catches for 107 yards. Heaps capped off the half with a 31-yard strike to Jordan Simone. Simone had three catches for 90 yards.
Taylor said the plan was for Skyline to come out confident and put doubts in the minds of the South Kitsap players. That’s what they did. Capitalizing on South Kitsap mistakes and working quickly, Skyline scored three times in the first eight minutes of the game, Taylor said. Running back Nick Washburn scored on a two-yard run, Connor Brandt caught a six-yard touchdown pass from Heaps and Williams hauled in an 11-yard toss.
“Before we knew it, it was 21-0,” he said. “This is a complete team.”
Despite its dominance on both sides of the ball, Skyline still let a couple of big plays get away from it.
South Kitsap scored 14 points in the second quarter, once on a 77-yard pass from Gordy Anderson to Isaiah Davis and again on a Leon LaDeaux 93-yard kickoff return.
Skyline finished with 490 yards of total offense and held South Kitsap to 211. Nick Beauchamp carried the ball seven times for Skyline, totaling 52 yards and Washburn had seven carries for 50 yards.
South Kitsap finished the season 10-1.
Skyline faces Curtis High School of University Place (11-0) at 7 p.m. Nov. 21 at a location to be determined.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.
Senior quarterback Jake Heaps and junior wide receiver Kasen Williams showed everyone watching Nov. 14 why they are regarded as the premier passing duo in the state.
When the Skyline Spartans football team was looking for that signature blowout win to gain confidence in its quest for another state title, it found it through the air — seven times — in a 63-14 victory over South Kitsap at Mount Tahoma Stadium. It advanced to the state quarterfinals against Curtis.
The Spartans set a school record for points scored in a first half — 56. Read more
Skyline tops Kentridge in first round of playoffs
November 10, 2009
By Christopher Huber
Skyline head football coach Mat Taylor stood on the field in the pouring rain Nov. 6 and seemed content after a relatively easy win. Reeling from its loss to Bothell in the KingCo 4A championship match, his team had just come off what he considered one of the best weeks of practice in his time at Skyline.
“The energy was unbelievable this week,” Taylor said. “Now we gotta go 2-0 in the next couple of weeks.”
In one of the wettest contests this fall, the Spartans showed resilience in its passing game and strength on the ground as it beat the Kentridge Chargers 42-0 at Skyline Stadium.
“Easily the best team we’ve ever played,” said Kentridge defensive back and running back Austin Daniels.
Six different Spartans scored on three rushing and three passing touchdowns. Senior quarterback Jake Heaps showed poise with his passing game, completing 19 of 23 attempts for 301 yards.
Junior wide receiver Kasen Williams scored once in the second quarter on a 21-yard toss from Heaps to put Skyline up 28-0. As the pass came in, Williams said he had to position himself right behind the Kentridge defensive back in order to snatch the ball.
The pass came in, he bobbled the ball as he leapt above the defender and finally secured it with two hands when his feet hit the turf.
“It always feels good because even though the rain is coming down, it lets us know that we can still pass,” Williams said. “It definitely feels good. Last week (at Bothell) it hit us pretty hard.”
The Skyline defense held Kentridge to just 48 total yards. The Spartans had 462 yards.
“We knew they were going to give us their best,” Daniels said. “We gave ‘em our best, and then we came out, at first, fired up, and some slow mistakes killed us. But I thought we gave ‘em a pretty good battle.”
Despite settling into an efficient scoring groove from the second quarter on, Skyline got out to a shaky start that was reminiscent of the game at Bothell the previous week.
Heaps turned the ball over on a promising opening drive when he fumbled the snap. Kentridge recovered, but the Spartan defense made sure the Chargers did not capitalize.
Skyline went up 7-0 with 2:07 left in the first when Heaps completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jordan Simone.
Skyline led 28-0 at the break and proceeded to score 14 in the third quarter, once on a 10-yard Heaps pass to tight end Connor Cree and again on an 11-yard run by Nick Washburn.
Taylor said scoring early was the key.
“That was the message all week, is we have got to start the game how we’re capable of,” he said. “And the kids responded really, really well.”
Skyline, 8-2, will play at South Kitsap, 10-0, at 7 p.m., Nov. 14.
Jackson 38, Eastlake 15
The Jackson Timberwolves eliminated the Eastlake Wolves 38-15 Nov. 7 at Everett Memorial Stadium.
The score was tied at the end of the first, but Jackson scored another 17 in the second.
Eastlake only scored eight points in the second half.
Eastlake finished the season 2-3 in KingCo 4A and 6-4 overall.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.
Skyline head football coach Mat Taylor stood on the field in the pouring rain Nov. 6 and seemed content after a relatively easy win. Reeling from its loss to Bothell in the KingCo 4A championship match, his team had just come off what he considered one of the best weeks of practice in his time at Skyline.
“The energy was unbelievable this week,” Taylor said. “Now we gotta go 2-0 in the next couple of weeks.” Read more
KingCo 4A football championship, Skyline at Bothell
November 4, 2009
Skyline football falls to Bothell in KingCo 4A championship
October 29, 2009
Updated: Oct. 30 9:31 a.m.
Skyline linebacker Anthony DeMatteo, 51, and defensive lineman Jase Butorac, right, tackle Bothell's Luke Proulx in the second quarter Oct. 29.
One pivotal play in the fourth quarter determined who got KingCo 4A bragging rights through the playoffs Oct. 29 at Pop Keeney Stadium in Bothell.
It happened on one Jake Heaps mishap on a promising drive as Skyline looked to put the game out of reach for Bothell. Read more
Heaps named All-American
October 22, 2009
New, Oct. 22 9:49 a.m.
Skyline senior quarterback Jake Heaps was recently selected to participate in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Heaps is one of 90 All-Americans chosen to represent the West Jan. 9, 2010 in San Antonio, Texas. Organization officials are scheduled to present Heaps with his game jersey Oct. 23 at Skyline High School.
Skyline blanks Issaquah in rivalry rematch
October 16, 2009
Updated 12:33 p.m. Oct. 18
As the torrential rain fell and soaked the players to the core before the game, Skyline running back Nick Washburn’s teammates looked at him and said it was going to be all about the run against Issaquah.
The Skyline Spartans typically attack early and often through the air, but on Oct. 16 their receivers rain-slicked gloves and slippery football meant a passing attack would be dicey. They were going to give Washburn his chance to prove himself. Read more
Skyline football scores early and often to beat Eastlake
October 11, 2009
New: Oct. 11, 11:59 a.m.
The goal coming into Skyline’s cross-town rivalry match against Eastlake was to take the wind out of the Wolves’ sail early by stifling their explosive offense and scoring early.
That’s exactly what the Spartans did in front of the riled up Eastlake crowd Oct. 9 at Eastlake Stadium. Read more
