SUMNER — As Steve Kizer exited the visitors’ lockerroom at Sunset Chev Stadium minutes after delivering his final postgame speech as head football coach of the Skyview Storm, he smiled.
Not because of the result — a 41-0 loss to Sumner in Saturday’s Class 4A state quarterfinal to end Skyview’s season at 8-4 overall. He smiled because of the opportunity to be the Storm’s head coach since 2004.
For a man who has devoted 40-plus years to coaching the game at the collegiate and high school levels, Skyview is special in its own right, he said, and in more ways than one.
“I’ve coached in every corner of the state,” Kizer said, “and I think this is the best corner of the state.”
Earlier this season, Kizer announced his retirement plans after the season’s end. The end came Saturday against a Spartans (11-1) team that dominated from start to finish, and held Skyview to two redzone trips. It marks the second straight year Skyview reached the state quarterfinals and departs alongside the senior class that’s also the program’s winningest all-time.
“I love that senior group and I know I was going out with that senior group,” the coach said. “They know I love them and I want to get invited to their weddings and stay in their lives, because that’s what it’s all about.”
Twice this season, Skyview rallied back from double-digit deficits to secure victories: a 17-point deficit against Graham-Kapowsin in Week 2, and last week’s win over Bothell after trailing by 10. That’s why players and coaches felt confident at halftime down 24-0 against Sumner that another comeback was in their back pocket.
Sumner didn’t let it happen. After punting on its first drive of the third quarter, Sumner converted a 24-yard pass play on third and long on its way to Nate Donavan’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Carter Cocke three plays later. That pushed Sumner’s lead to 31-0 at the 7:26 mark of the third.
Donavan finished 13 of 18 passing with two touchdowns to Cocke, a Montana State commit who had three total TDs Saturday. Steele Isaacs powered Sumner’s ground game with 135 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Three of Skyview’s eight wins came over would-be 4A state playoff-bound teams: Graham-Kapowsin, Richland and Puyallup. Sumner proved to be a different beast, seniors Kaden Hamlin and Riah Tua said postgame. Sumner advances to the state semifinals next weekend against Chiawana.
“They’re physical and fast,” Hamlin said of Sumner. “That O-line was physical; they ran on us, they threw on us. They’re a great team and they got us.”
Tua said the Storm had a great game plan and week of preparation for Sumner.
“But there’s a difference between having a game plan and executing it,” he said. “Everybody can do better, but I’m proud of our guys for trying as hard as they could.”
Skyview’s best chance for points came after Sumner went up 31-0, but the drive stalled on a turnover on downs in its second and final redzone trip. Starting at its own 20, Skyview marched 63 yards behind a trio of first downs. Facing fourth and four from the Sumner 17, the Spartan defense swarmed quarterback Doogie Poindexter for a sack.
In all, Skyview punted six times, had two turnovers on downs, and an interception at the Sumner 1-yard line.
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Class 4A state quarterfinal
At Sunset Chev Stadium, Sumner
SUMNER 41, SKYVIEW 0
Sum 7 17 7 10 – 41
Sky 0 0 0 0 – 0
First quarter
Sum: Carter Cocke fumble recovery in endzone (Austin Ferencz kick)
Second quarter
Sum: Cocke 8 pass from Nate Donavan (Ferencz kick)
Sum: Steele Isaacs 6 run (Ferencz kick)
Sum: Ferencz 28 FG
Third quarter
Sum: Cocke 9 pass from Donavan (Ferencz kick)
Fourth quarter
Sum: Isaacs 1 run (Ferencz kick)
Sum: Ferencz 34 FG
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Skyview: Levi Webb 5-7, Rex Allinger 6-34, Doogie Poindexter 2-11, Gavin Packer 2-(minus-1); Sumner: Steele Isaacs 21-135, Nate Donavan 1-7, Che Molina 9-50, Israel Nabors 6-36.
PASSING — Skyview: Doogie Poindexter 13-27-1-114; Sumner: Nate Donavan 13-18-0-173
RECEIVING — Skyview: Gavin Packer 5-28, Levi Webb 1-3, Jude Leonard 2-31, Matt Glaus 3-32, Micah Robison 3-20; Sumner: Braylon Pope 5-71, Carter Cocke 2-27, Devin Caminong 2-58, Israel Nabors 1-1, Pono Borden 2-16.
