Skyview sees similarities in 2010 beginning

SHERWOOD, Ore. — The Skyview Storm have been here before, coming off an early season loss, coming off a defensive lapse.

Just like last year, in fact.

Well, 2009 turned out quite all right for the Storm. The 2010 squad can look for last year as inspiration.

After a 20-20 tie in the first half, the Sherwood Bowmen scored the next 22 points and held off Skyview 42-28 Friday to open the football season.

A year ago, Skyview fell to Marysville-Pilchuk 47-41 in another wild game between top programs in Week 3.

This contest featured the Storm, Class 4A Washington semifinalist in 2009, against Sherwood, a Class 5A Oregon semifinalist.

“We have a lot of first-time starters,” said Skyview senior Ellis Henderson, who was impressive in defeat with 140 yards receiving and two touchdowns. “I remember my first start. It is overwhelming almost. There is so much going on.”

As a leader, Henderson said he needs to remind his younger teammates that if they are committed to working hard, the biggest improvement in their play will come from Week 1 to Week 2. Now that they know what it is like to start under the lights with varsity intensity, it will get easier, he said.

“I think our team has enough heart to bounce back,” Henderson said. “We’ve done it in the past.”

Parker Henry ended up with 109 yards and a touchdown four Skyview.

The Storm would like to forget about the third quarter of this game, though.

Steven Long scored on touchdown runs of 50 and 11 yards, part of his monster game for Sherwood. He ended up with 141 yards on 19 carries and three touchdown runs, plus he returned a punt 72 yards for a score in the first quarter.

Long said his team was thrilled to play one of Washington’s best in the opener.

“We’ve worked our butts off,” he said. “They’re a great team. They gave us a run for the money. In the end, it was the conditioning that really paid off. And our line did an awesome job.”

After picking up eight first downs in the first half, the Bowmen tallied nine in the third quarter alone, out-gaining the Storm 130-25 in the period.

And when Christian Morris scored from 10 yards out early in the fourth quarter, the Bowmen had a 22-point lead.

“We shut down a lot of their plays, but they came back with new ones we hadn’t seen before,” Skyview defensive lineman Albert Chon said. “We were a little unprepared for that, and we need to wrap up a lot better.”

The Storm got a gift touchdown after Sherwood fumbled on its 2-yard line midway through the fourth quarter. Taylor Millard scored on the next play for Skyview.

The Storm recovered another fumble a few minutes later but were unable to cash in to make it a one-score game.

Long opened the scoring on a 72-yard punt return. Henderson came right back on a 33-yard catch-and-run from quarterback Kody Watts.

Another Bowmen touchdown was answered by another Watts-to-Henderson play, this time covering 66 yards.

Watts, in his first varsity start, threw for 208 yards.

Skyview took a 20-14 lead on Henry’s 4-yard run with 1:39 remaining in the first half. Sherwood, though, answered with a touchdown a minute later.

Skyview coach Steve Kizer said this game reminded him of the Marysville-Pilchuk game, as well.

“We’re going to make improvements. The coaches aren’t going to let these kids down,” Kizer said. “Every thing is correctable. We’ll fix it and rebound against Coeur d’Alene next week.”

SHERWOOD 42, SKYVIEW 28

Skyview 7 13 0 8–28

Sherwood 14 6 14 8–42

First quarter

Sher — Steven Long 72 punt return (Chad Pollock kick)

Sky — Ellis Henderson 33 pass from Kody Watts (Nick Phillips kick)

Sher — Chris Organiz 1 run (Pollock kick)

Second quarter

Sky — E. Henderson 66 pass from Kody Wats (Phillips kick)

Sky — Parker Henry 4 run (kick failed)

Sher — Long 8 run (kick blocked)

Third quarter

Sher — Long 50 run (kick failed)

Sher — Long 11 run (Michael Balfour run)

Fourth quarter

Sher — Christian Morris 10 run (Michael Smith run)

Sky — Taylor Millard 2 run (Karl Graves pass from Watts)

Leaders

Rushing — Skyview — Henry 17-109; Sherwood — Long 19-141, Balfour 16-117, Trent Duppenthaler 8-46, Organiz 8-44.

Passing — Skyview — Watts 15-31-0-208; Sherwood — Jordan Ramp 2-6-1-34.

Receiving — Skyview — E. Henderson 5-140, Reiley Henderson 4-40, Graves 2-17, Henry 1-9, Forrest Russell 3-2. Sherwood — Long 1-27, Jake Lawrence 1-11.