TACOMA — If one were to study average, he would notice that Lake Stevens came into Saturday’s game posting more than 40 points per game. But if one were to study Skyview’s defense — he would not be able to describe it as average.
In the Storm’s 38-14 victory in the 4A state semifinal, quarterback Kieran McDonagh gave the performance that will make him the school’s A-list celebrity Monday morning. But the 11 Skyview players on the other side of the ball were equally deserving of a curtain call.
Lake Stevens did not get on the board until the final seconds of the first half, slipping into the end zone a few plays after a Skyview fumble. The Storm, meanwhile, scored its first two TDs after forcing turnovers.
And while Vikings quarterback Jake Nelson entered Saturday with 2,508 yards passing, he was limited to just 81 in the first half and tossed two interceptions.
“They (Lake Stevens) have a lot of weapons, but we were able to contain them,” Skyview coach Steve Kizer said. “That’s what we do, try to get a turnover here and there or get them to punt.”
By game’s end, Skyview had totaled five sacks and forced three fumbles. Senior David Garlington, meanwhile, had both interceptions despite playing with a 3-inch thick club over his broken right hand.
When Lake Stevens finally scored its second touchdown — the game was well out of reach. As for the Vikings’ 14 points? That was their lowest total of the year.
Not that Skyview players were completely pleased with that.
“I think we could have shut them out,” said Riley Bockmier, adding that the goal is always a shutout. “I think at first we were being too serious, then we just started having fun.”
Kizer praised several members of the defense after the game — such as Jabari Marshall, Mo Morrison. And then there were also Dylan Bratlie and Alex Mangin, who joined Bockmier in recovering fumbles.
Garlington said that he and his teammates were impressed with Lake Stevens when watching them on film and clearly recognized their ability. However, on the big stage, the Storm’s defense had a night to remember.
“That was a state championship effort right there,” Garlington said.”
