When describing the work it takes to get to this point in the season — for the Skyview Storm, a place it hasn’t been since 2016 — senior Jerrid Secor used an iceberg for an analogy.
“A lot of people see the little stuff up top,” the senior defensive back said, “but so much stuff goes into it week in and week out.
“It feels great just to keep moving forward.”
And moving forward into the Class 4A state quarterfinals is what the Storm are doing after a 42-7 convincing first-round victory over Skyline on Saturday afternoon. Skyview (10-1) overall hasn’t been this far into the postseason since the 2016 team reached the state semifinals. It faces Eastlake, a 21-18 winner Saturday over Sumner, next weekend in the 4A state quarterfinals.
“This feels awesome,” said senior Micah Robison, who had two of the team’s three interceptions on the day. “We’re coming out here and proving ourselves right now.”
Skyview raced out to a 28-0 halftime lead behind the quarterback-to-receiver connection of Jake Kennedy and Gavin Packer. The duo connected on touchdowns of 19, 82, and 14 yards.
The defense, also, scored a touchdown, courtesy of Secor. His 44-yard interception return for a touchdown gave the Storm a 21-0 lead. In all, four different Storm players scored touchdowns (Packer, Secor, Rex Allinger and Riley Artis).
In a season filled with convincing victories, Saturday was another one. In fact, the defense had a shutout going until the opening minute of the fourth quarter when Skyline used trickery to get inside the redzone for the first time all game. Receiver Mason Pirello’s 39-yard pass to Luke Morgan got the Spartans inside the 1, and three plays later, Skyline got on the scoreboard at 35-7.
It was the only blemish in an otherwise flawless defensive performance by the Storm (10-1) that featured three interceptions — two by Robison, Secor’s interception return for a touchdown, two sacks, and a fourth-down stop deep in Skyview territory midway in the third quarter.
The attitude the Storm take on defense is something they’ve taken pride in all season, Secor said, and it starts with tenacity and a killer attitude, he added.
“They come out here and try to beat us; we come out here and beat them into the ground,” he said. “Make them know who’s boss. I have a lot of confidence going forward.”
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SKYVIEW 42, SKYLINE 7
Skyline 0 0 0 7 – 7
Skyview 13 15 7 7 – 42
First quarter
SV — Gavin Packer 19 pass from Jake Kennedy (Ethan McClinton kick)
SV — Packer 82 pass from Kennedy (kick failed)
Second quarter
SV — Jerrid Secor 44 interception return (Packer pass from Kennedy)
SV — Packer 14 pass from Kennedy (McClinton kick)
Third quarter
SV — Rex Allinger 1 run (McClinton kick)
Fourth quarter
SL — Mason Pirello 1 pass from Michael Grimmer (kick good)
SV — Riley Artis 3 pass from Jake Kennedy (McClinton kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
(Skyview only)
RUSHING: Jake Kennedy 8-70, Trey Jacob 11-78, Rex Allinger 8-59
PASSING: Kennedy 12-17-0-200
RECEIVING: Riley Artis 2-21, Allinger 1-5, Gavin Poffenroth 4-39, Cameron Crooks 1-4, Gavin Packer 6-131
