Skyview's Ahmani Williams (6) celebrates with his teammate after defeating Columbia River 34-6 in Friday night's game at Columbia River High School in Vancouver on Sept. 7, 2018.
(Alisha Jucevic/The Columbian)Photo Gallery
Mason Wheeler is quick to recall when he watched Skyview thrash River as an eighth grader three years ago. Attending a middle school that fed into both schools, he had an option as to which school he’d attend, and the result of that football game weighed heavy on his decision.
“(Skyview) put up something like 370 yards to two at halftime, and I was like, ‘I’m going there,’ ” Wheeler said.
Three years later, he hopes to have made a similar impact.
Skyview again did the thrashing on Friday, defeating River 34-6 in a nonleague rivalry game. And in doing so, it accomplished its goals within that rivalry (win for the sixth consecutive year) and in the scope of its season (prove itself after a week 1 loss).
From the opening kick at Chieftain Stadium, which he took 82 yards for a touchdown, he wanted to help make the kids in a similar bind’s decision that much easier.
The Storm were propelled by the opening play. They hopped up to a 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter and compounded that to 34-0 early in the third quarter.
“Right out of the gate we just wanted to hit ‘em hard and keep (the foot on) the gas,” quarterback Yaroslov Duvalko said. “That’s how we got the dub.”
After allowing 45 points in week 1, the Skyview defense held firm, limiting the Chieftains to a lone touchdown in the final seconds of the game — a 15 yard strike from Dawson Lieurance to senior Blake Bryan — that only happened in part because of a penalty incurred by giddy Storm students rushing the field prematurely.
And the Skyview offense that shined in week 1?
It was back, gaining 321 yards of offense in large part thanks to Duvalko’s repeat performance — 16 of 21, 222 yards, four touchdowns opposite one pick — and a steady stable of receivers: Gavin Basket (6 catches, 107 yards and a touchdown) and Wheeler (four catches for 52 yards and two touchdowns). Plus, another heavy load from running back Jalynnee McGee, who had 14 carries for 88 yards.
Columbia River hoped its senior-laden roster would hold tough, especially a defense that head coach Christian Swain touted among his best-ever, but the Storm proved too mighty.
“It’s nothing we didn’t expect, they just played sound football,” River quarterback Matt Asplund said.
For the second week in a row, Swain alternated Asplund with fellow senior quarterback Dawson Lieurance each play in the first half, and sporadically throughout the rest of the game.
Lieruance connected on 8 of 10 passes, including the Chieftains’ lone touchdown of the game in the final seconds, capping a last-ditch effort that Asplund sparked by connecting with senior wideout Blake Bryan for 50 yards.
Blake Bryan! The senior’s first catch of the game is a 50 yarder from Matt Asplund. River into Storm territory, 4Q. pic.twitter.com/r7sIXPN6KI
Bryan had four catches for 87 yards and the touchdown — all in the fourth quarter.
But the Storm were too much for the Chieftains to handle. As much was apparent right out of the gate.
Wheeler corralled the opening kickoff at an odd angle, threw a couple of jabs and hauled past the return defense for an 82 yard touchdown. To add insult to injury, he won’t soon forget the significance of that play.
“That’s the first play on this field,” he said, alluding to Chieftain Stadium’s new turf, “so hopefully they’ll remember that forever.”
SKYVIEW 34, COLUMBIA RIVER 6 Skyview 14 14 6 0 — 34 Columbia River 0 0 0 6 — 6 First quarter
S — Mason Wheeler 82 kick return (Michael Stromberg kick)
S — Gavin Basket 8 pass from Yaroslav Duvalko (Stromberg kick) Second quarter
S — Wheeler 14 pass from Duvalko (Stromberg kick)
S — Wheeler 2 pass from Duvalko (Stromberg kick) Third quarter
S — Ahmani Williams 21 pass from Duvalko (kick blocked) Fourth quarter
CR — Blake Bryan 15 pass from Dawson Lieurance (clock expired) INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Skyview: Jalynnee McGee 14-88, Austin Holland 4-4, Tyler DeJong 5-15. Columbia River: Dawson Lieurance 1-6, Colby Rabitoy 5-10, Jarrett Seelbinder 3-17, Isaac Bibb-O’Neill 4-12, Jackson Fobbs 6-13, Kaleb Kier 1-3, Will Buss 1-(-3).
PASSING — Skyview: 16-21-1-222. Columbia River: Dawson Lieurance 8-10-1-50, Matt Asplund 3-15-1-49.
RECEIVING — Skyview: Gavin Baskette 6-107, Mason Wheeler 5-51, Cooper Barnum 2-7, Ahmani Williams 1-21, Cade Filburn 3-31, Joe Gray 1-6. Columbia River: Jarrett Seelbinder 2-2, Tristan Hoyer 3-13, Colby Rabitoy 1-2, Blake Bryan 4-79, Will Buss 1-3.
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