It was too big of a game, too incredible of a comeback to just read about it. I had to see it.
The Skyview Storm rallied from 21 points down to beat perennial power Skyline 34-31 in double overtime in a Class 4A state preliminary round football game.
The coaches gave us some details over the phone. The biggest thing, of course, is Skyview won. Everyone agreed on that. We had the score. But the numbers behind the numbers were hard to come by late Friday night.
Skyview’s usual statistician could not make the game. The Storm coaches were busy coaching. And I couldn’t be at the game because there were too many games the same night closer to home.
What to do? What to do?
So Monday I headed over to Skyview and demanded to see video. (OK, I asked nicely, but I had a stern look on my face.)
The Storm were happy to set me up in the office. We went over every Skyview offensive play to come up with the stats. And it was even more amazing than I thought. And, quite honestly, I thought it was going to be amazing.
Skyview quarterback Zac Shomler was 36 of 52 for 431 yards and four touchdown passes. No interceptions. Dude threw the ball 52 times with no interceptions. (By the way, it might have been 51 attempts. The Skyview video was missing one play. We guessed it was an incomplete pass because the line of scrimmage did not change. Whatever.)
Jeremiah Wright caught 14 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns.
Those incredible numbers only tell half the story. There was plenty of Skyview defense, too.
If you recall, Friday night also saw Hockinson rally from a 21-point deficit to win its Week 10 playoff game. I noted in that game story that a team cannot come back from such a hole without the defense shutting down the other team.
In Skyview’s case, the defense not only had to shut down Skyline for the rally to happen, but then the defense had to hold off Skyline one more time in the second overtime.
Skyview took a 34-31 lead on Braden Hadfield’s field goal in the second OT. Skyline then had its chance with the ball.
Skyline managed to move the ball to the 6-yard line for a first down. Skyview linebacker Blake Ingram blew up the next play for a 3-yard loss. Then there was an incomplete pass. Then a pass play to the 1-yard line.
It’s fourth down. From the 1-yard line. Skyline decides to go for the win.
It was a little stressful, according to Skyview defensive lineman Jimmy Rowe.
“It took a couple of days off my life,” Rowe said.
“You would think I would be as nervous as I could be, but I was zeroed in,” added linebacker Nick Skarr.
The Skyline running back got the ball, Skarr shot in from the outside and hit the back in the hip. Rowe busted through his blocker and hit the running back high, creating a running back sandwich with Skarr. They tackled him, the ball came loose, Rowe recovered, and Skyview won the game.
“I was hoping to God he would run my side. Nothing more I wanted to do but to knock him out and get the play over with for my team,” Skarr said. “Mentally, I prepared myself for it before it happened. Something you dream of, I guess.”
“It was amazing,” Rowe said. “Everyone worked hard. Everyone got in there.”
That’s how a team can win after falling behind 31-10. Everyone together.
It was fun to hear about it, read about it. More fun to see it, even if it was a few days late. Thanks Skyview.
Paul Valencia covers high school sports for The Columbian. He can be reached at 360-735-4557 or e-mail at paul.valencia@columbian.com. Follow him on Twitter: @360paulv
