By Paul Valencia, Columbian
High School Sports Reporter
Published: November 7, 2013, 4:00pm
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Skyview's Jacob Dennis has 850 yards receiving with 12 touchdowns this season.
He always knew he could do this.
His coaches knew, too.
It’s just that Skyview wide receiver Jacob Dennis played behind so many talented wide receivers when he was a sophomore, played alongside so many playmakers as a junior, that he never had to be the go-to guy.
This year, he is Skyview’s go-to guy. In more ways than one.
Looking at the numbers, Dennis has proved his worthiness on the field, leading Southwest Washington in receiving yards and touchdown receptions.
His most important contribution to the team, though, just might be his leadership skills. The Storm had to endure the tough start to the season. There were the back-to-back losses. There was the fluke play that made national news. There were whispers that maybe, just maybe, this would be the Skyview team that did not make the playoffs.
The Storm take on the Curtis Vikings of University Place tonight in a Class 4A state preliminary round playoff game, the ninth consecutive postseason appearance for the program.
“I feel blessed. I really do,” Dennis said. “Obviously we didn’t win league. The first two games didn’t go as planned. But I watched the younger players get so much better. Our team is such a family. It reminds me of the (2011) team that went to the state finals, with this kind of family and atmosphere.”
Together, the Storm found a way. They beat an improving Battle Ground program in Week 8 to secure a playoff spot, then just missed finishing second in the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League, falling to Union 28-25 last week.
Now, it’s time for the playoffs. The Storm do not care that they are 5-4, that most people do not believe they can make a run. They believe, and that’s what matters to them.
“Winning is our goal,” Dennis said, noting the number 129 — the distance in miles from Skyview to the Tacoma Dome, home of state finals. “When we’re in the playoffs, we want to get to the dome.”
Skyview certainly has the coaching staff to understand what it takes in the postseason. And after a season of improvement, the Storm believe they have the team, too.
Quarterback Zac Shomler, the starter since Week 2, has thrown 19 touchdown passes, including five in the signature win over Battle Ground.
Dennis has 53 receptions for a region-best 850 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has five 100-yard games, including the past four games.
“I knew I was going to have a good year. I had confidence in myself,” Dennis said. “But you don’t realize you’re the guy. Once you start making the plays, it’s like ‘Wow.’ It’s been humbling. It’s been fun.”
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Dennis credits two of the more known receivers from the 4A GSHL for his big season: Zach Eagle of Camas and E’Lon Mack of Heritage.
“I’ve had a really good year because of them,” Dennis said. “They pushed me because I wanted to compete with them and be the best.”
But again, the numbers are just one aspect of Dennis’ contribution to the Storm. Skyview’s defensive coordinator, Julian Williams, said Dennis is like another coach on the field. Dennis, also a fine defensive back, does not hesitate to give a pointer or two to one of the younger players in the defensive secondary.
Skyview head coach Steve Kizer appreciates Dennis’ love for the program.
“He’s such a team guy. He’s all about tradition,” Kizer said. “He cares about what we’ve done in the past, and he cares about what we are going to do in the future. His teammates love him.”
Dennis’ future in the sport is undecided. He wishes he were a few inches taller. At 5-foot-9, he is not getting a lot of looks just yet, but he wants to play college football somewhere.
Today, though, he is just concentrating on Skyview football, hoping the season will continue beyond the Curtis game.
Seven weeks ago, the Storm were 0-2, and there had to be a little concern.
“OK, this is, a little bit, going downhill,” Dennis recalled thinking.
Then the Storm watched video. They saw the mistakes they were making. Soon, they saw improvement.
“We can be really good,” Dennis thought.
“We wanted to be good. We wanted to be really good,” he said.
With Jacob Dennis as one of the go-to guys, the Storm got there.
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