Schools
Skyline High Football: Spartans Blast Issaquah High 41-14
Skyline's defense comes of age, forcing four turnovers, as the Spartans end their two-game losing streak
After two tough losses against and Lake Oswego, fourth-ranked (2-2, 1-0 KingCo) went back to work Friday as Max Browne completed 29 of 41 passes and threw for 363 yards and five touchdowns.
The Spartan defense owned the turnover battle forcing four against 10th-ranked Issaquah (3-1, 0-1 KingCo 4A). Those turnovers helped seal a 41-14 victory over the Eagles in the KingCo 4A Crest Division Football opener at Issaquah High. The Coal Bucket Trophy for the Skyline-Issaquah rivalry was on the line as well.
"We asked our guys this week (to) simply do what we ask of you," Spartan head coach Mat Taylor said.
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After an early touchdown by Issaquah in the first quarter, the Skyline offense went to work as Browne connected on a 41-yard catch and run to wide receiver Matt Sinatro down to the Eagle 34-yard line. A few plays later, Andrew Giese caught a strike from Browne toward the back of the end zone from 13 yards out to tie it up at 7-7.
The momentum would swing back and forth until the end of the first half when the Browne-to-Sinatro connection struck again. This time, it was a seven-yard touchdown pass, which put Skyline ahead 17-14 going into halftime.
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The Spartans would come out and put the foot on the gas in the opening drive of the third quarter. They held the ball for over five minutes, marching down the field and connecting on a fourth down and one yard to go advance from Browne to Trevor Barney. That happened down the sideline to the Eagle's 8-yard line. Then Damian Greene took a screen pass from Browne and scampered into the end zone to extend the lead to ten with 6:57 left in the third quarter. The score was 24-14.
Taylor, the coach, was pleased about starting the second half so strong: "That drive was huge for us. We wanted to come out of the half and get up by two scores." he said.
After another defensive stand by the Spartan defense, the special teams got into the act with a partially-blocked punt. That set the Skyline offense up at the Issaquah 33-yard line. Shortly after, Browne and Barney slammed the door on the contest on a 33-yard catch and run by Barney. He outraced several Eagle defenders to put Skyline up 31-14 and put the game out of reach.
The Spartans would add a couple more scores cashing in on more Issaquah turnovers. Browne would hit Barney on another touchdown from five yards out and a Sean McDonald 30-yard field goal to cap the scoring.
Taylor lauded his defensive squad's efforts to rise up and get better after the losses to Bellevue and Lake Oswego. "We knew after the Lake Oswego game that we were going to be better," he said.
Browne had plenty of praise for how the offense responded by valuing the football with just one interception on the night, and executing so efficiently against a tough Eagle defense.
"We trusted our play calls from the coaches," Browne said Friday. "It was also easier on offense tonight, turnovers had killed us the last two games.
Skyline returns home on Sept. 30 to take on . Kickoff time is 7 p.m.