Skyview defense shines in road win at Walla Walla

WALLA WALLA — As the incumbent starting quarterback for a program that hasn’t missed the playoffs in nine years, Skyview’s Zac Shomler understands a little something about being in the spotlight.

Which was why he was quick to shine it where it belonged following the Storm’s rough-hewn road win over Walla Walla on Friday at Borleske Stadium.

“Our defense was phenomenal,” said Shomler, after Skyview outlasted the Blue Devils 17-7. “It was the reason we won. We struggled a little on ‘O.’ There are a lot of little things that, if we clean (them) up, I’m excited.

“I was a little off tonight,” he added. “It happens.”

Winning anyways is what balanced, multi-dimensional teams do, and the blueprint for victory Friday involved voracious defense at the point of attack and a relentless running game.

The former bothered Wa-Hi senior Trever Coronado just enough in his varsity quarterbacking debut to offset turnovers (three), penalties (11 for 82 yards), a missed field goal, and a merely human performance by Shomler (11-of-20 passing, 119 yards, one lost fumble).

The latter showcased an equal-parts shifty and tough display of between-the-tackles running by tailback Josh Emmy. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound senior was Skyview’s most reliable offensive weapon and the only Storm player to reach the end zone on offense, doing so in style. Emmy took a handoff at the Walla Walla 34 late in the third quarter, banged through an arm tackle, turned up the Skyview sideline and out-ran the Blue Devils secondary for a 10-0 lead.

The Storm had absconded to halftime with a 3-0 advantage, placekicker Braden Hadfield drilling a 40-yard field goal inside the second quarter’s final minute after having missed from one yard deeper on an earlier possession. Emmy couldn’t get untracked in the first half and Shomler, by his own admission, sprouted happy feet in the pocket too often and overshot receivers on downfield throws.

But the Storm defense was stingy, recovering two fumbles and sacking Coronado three times in the first half errant field goal attempt to snuff Walla Walla’s opening drive of the second half, Skyview intercepted Coronado on consecutive possessions. First it was linebacker Blake Ingram corralling a pass deflected by teammate Olive Emmy. Then it was Andrae Jordan gobbling up an overthrown post route and ripping 35 yards for a touchdown.

“A Pick-6, his first one!” Shomler enthused. “I’m excited.”

“We have a lot to work on,” Josh Emmy added, “but we’ve worked our asses off. Follow us. We’re doing big things.”

SKYVIEW 17, WALLA WALLA 7

Skyview 0 3 14 0 –17

Walla Walla 0 0 0 7– 7

Second quarter

SKY — Braden Hadfield 40 FG, :41

Third quarter

SKY — Josh Emmy 34 run (Hadfield kick), 4:16

SKY — Andrae Jordan 35 INT return (Hadfield kick), 1:06

Fourth quarter

WW — Reid Magnaghi 59-yard TD pass from Trever Coronado (Ethan Gardner kick), 6:30

Individual statistics

RUSHING — SKY: Hayden Froeber 3-7, Kyle Oman 4-4, Josh Emmy 14-98, Zac Shomler 2-11, Jeremiah Wright 1-(minus-2). WW: Noah Porter 8-34, Willie Hayes 4-11, Mitchell Huffman 2-12, Trever Coronado 17-30.

PASSING — SKY: Shomler 11-of-20, 119 yards, one INT. WW: Coronado 11-of-22, 174 yards, two interceptions.

RECEIVING — SKY: Bryson Enge 3-54, Cameron Sissel 4-36, Laycen Brown 1-(minus-5), Brad Decker 1-11, J. Emmy 1-9, Nate Rider 1-14. WW: Huffman 4-39, Porter 1-4, Hayes 2-16, Gerardo Gomez 1-5, Reid Magnaghi 3-93.