[video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”w0J7rcf4ptI” width=”640″ height=”480″ anchor=”https://img.youtube.com/vi/w0J7rcf4ptI/0.jpg”]
After eight lead changes, the game went down to the wire and Skyline prevailed 37 – 34.
Washington “Game of the Week” – Week 13
The two players donning #10 for the Lake Stevens Vikings and the Skyline Spartans on November 28 showcased one of the greatest QB duels ever seen in the Tacoma Dome. The 4A semifinal game itself was dubbed an “instant classic” by Taylor Barton, on the color commentator’s Twitter account. After eight lead changes, the game went down to the wire and Skyline prevailed 37 – 34. Time expired as Spartan DB Danny Sinatro made an interception in the end zone of the last pass in Jacob Eason’s storied high school career.
Eason finished the game 32/42 for 390 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT. But, Skyline QB Blake Gregory upped Eason not only with the win, but had an even more amazingly prolific game, going 22/28 for 436 yards and 3 TD’s. If you left to get some popcorn during this barn burner, you were bound to miss something. The game also included some great defensive plays, especially from Skyline DB’s when it most counted as Eason went for the end zone from mid field three different times within the last 38 seconds of the game. Hunter Eckstrom also deflected a Gregory pass on 4th down of a very intense goal line stand, preserving the Lake Stevens 34 – 30 lead, which they would keep until midway through the 4th quarter when Gregory hit Bradley Kim for a 27 yard go ahead TD.
Thereafter, Lake Stevens had three different drives that kept fans on the edge of their seats. With 4:19 left in the game, Lake Stevens came upon a 4th and 23 from their own 18 yard line. Eason hit WR Ian Schneider in stride near the Skyline 40, but Spartan DB Ian Slater perfectly timed his grab on Schneider’s right arm, prohibiting the catch. Skyline took over and missed a field goal.
The next drive, after Lake Stevens had driven 50 yards, Eason fumbled on a designed QB run play and Skyline took over on their own 28 with 1:52 left. The Vikings consumed all their timeouts and the defense forced the Spartans to punt.
The Vikings had one more chance with 0:38 left, not time outs and starting from their own 48 after a nice punt return by Brandon Otis. The back-and-forth, seesaw theme that prevailed throughout the game continued on this drive as Lake Stevens gained 15 yards on a pass interference call, but later surrendered 15 yards as the Vikings were called for holding. Colin Huber and Jake Pendergast made the aforementioned, perfectly-timed deflections and Sinatro sealed the game with his interception in the end zone as the Skyline sideline erupted.
Vikings who had big contributions on the day were RB Andrew Grimes (24 carries for 161 yards and 1 TD), Riley Krenz (12 catches for 173 yards and 1 TD) and Eckstrom hauled in 11 Eason passes for 114 yards and a TD.
On its way to the 4A championship, Skyline (12-1) has beaten the following teams with their season’s Associated Press ranking: #1 Camas, #2 Lake Stevens, #3 Gig Harbor (all of whom were undefeated before meeting the Spartans). Skyline takes on #4 Gonzaga Prep (13 – 0) in the title game on Saturday December 5.