SUMNER – Skyview football’s season ended in a cold downpour Saturday with a 24-10 loss to Sumner in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs.
Sumner put away the game with a touchdown inside the final two minutes. Those were the only points in a windy, wet second half that saw a combined five turnovers.
Though the result wasn’t as he hoped, Skyview coach Steve Kizer praised his team’s effort in battling back from a 17-0 first-half deficit.
“We fought hard and got back in it,” Kizer said. “We had plenty of chances to win. We were just a play or two away.”
No. 10 seed Skyview ends the season 8-2 after finishing second in the 4A Greater St. Helens League. No. 7 seed Sumner improved to 10-1 and advances to face No. 2 seed Eastlake in the quarterfinals.
“This was a hard-working group,” Kizer said. “You feel bad that it had to end right here. We wanted to play a few more weeks.”
Sumner’s Jay Mentink had two of his three interceptions on back-to-back Skyview drives in the second quarter. Both led to touchdowns.
First, Tristan Dunn caught a 17-yard TD pass to put the Spartans ahead 10-0. Them, Eric Bruck extended the lead to 17-0 with a 2-yard touchdown run.
But when Skyview needed a scoring drive, the Storm came through. Niko Arriola connected with Jonathan Stromberg for a 13-yard touchdown on a fade pass to put the Storm on the board with 2:21 left in the half.
The next play from scrimmage, Jonathan McAtee’s interception put the ball back in Skyview’s hands. Fedya Tarasenkov nailed a 28-yard field goal to send the Storm into halftime trailing 17-10.
Then the rain began pouring and a cold cross-wind started to howl. Skyview’s best scoring chance in the second half came after Arriola ran 70 yards to Sumner’s 10. But after a short run and two incompletions, Skyview’s field goal attempt failed after a dropped snap.
Skyview drove within Sumner’s 40 early in the fourth quarter. But Mentink’s third interception ended the chance. Sumner responded with a touchdown drive that took more than six minutes and secured the win.
“We weren’t throwing the ball like we usually do, but neither were they,” Kizer said. “It rained on both teams.”
SUMNER 24, SKYVIEW 10
Skyview 0 10 0 0—10
Sumner 3 14 0 7—24
First quarter
Sum – FG, Wyatt Redding 22
Second quarter
Sum – Tristan Dunn 17 pass from Bo Carlson (Redding kick)
Sum – Eric Bruck 2 run (Redding kick)
Sky – Jonathan Stromberg 13 pass from Niko Arriola (Fedya Tarasenkov kick)
Sky – FG, Tarasenkov 28
Fourth quarter
Sum – Matthew Spurbeck 10 run (Redding kick)
