Storm put quick end to OT

Parker Henry barely got touched on the way to his game-winning touchdown run, and the Skyview Storm barely beat the Heritage Timberwolves.

Heritage got the best of the stat sheet, but the Storm managed to win the turnover battle and special teams on the way to a 28-21 overtime victory to open the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League schedule Friday night at Kiggins Bowl.

Henry scored on the first play of overtime — his 25-yard touchdown run was his longest outburst of the night by far — and Mo Morrison intercepted a Heritage pass on the Timberwolves’ first play of overtime, sealing the victory.

“That’s my first overtime game of my life,” Henry said. “It was definitely amazing. Best football game I’ve been a part of.”

Henry finished with 113 yards on 21 carries — never gaining more than 10 yards on a carry until it mattered most.

“We just kept chipping and chipping, and in the end, we wore them down,” Henry said.

Skyview (2-1, 1-0 GSHL) came into the contest as the two-time defending league champion with a 1-1 non-league record against quality opponents. Heritage, however, was 0-2, including a loss to a 2A program.

The game was far from a mismatch, though. In fact, Heritage outgained Skyview 388-307 in offense.

The Timberwolves had five turnovers and two breakdowns on special teams, allowing the Storm to escape with the home win.

“You’ve got to give (Heritage coach) Nate (Becksted) and his staff a lot of credit,” Skyview coach Steve Kizer said. “I told our guys that the preseason doesn’t matter. It’s all about league play. Heritage demonstrated that tonight.”

Skyview showed something, too.

“We never give up,” receiver Karl Graves said. “We really take pride in the fourth quarter. We’re always the best-conditioned team. It’s all about pride.”

Heritage took a 14-13 lead late in the third quarter on Michael Rivers’ second touchdown of the night, this one a 5-yard pass from quarterback Riley O’Dell.

The Storm would not score on their next two possessions, but regained the lead with 3:11 left in the fourth quarter when Kody Watts found Reiley Henderson on a 66-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown. Watts ran in for a two-point conversion for a 21-14 lead.

“As soon as I caught it, I was thinking, ‘Make a play. Make a play. Get the momentum back to us.’ I got a great block (from Graves) and made it happen,” Reiley Henderson said.

The advantaged lasted all of 16 seconds.

Heritage struck back on an 80-yard pass from O’Dell to Ben Lyons to tie the game.

With four seconds left in regulation, the skies opened up. And overtime turned into quite the Storm.

“At the end of the fourth quarter, we got together and shouted N-B-L-C,” Watts said, referring to the Nothing But League Champs motto that has defined the program in recent years. “That’s what it’s all about. That first play of overtime, we really believed it.”

Watts just had to hand off the ball to Henry on that play, but Watts had a strong night to keep Skyview in the game. He finished 12 for 21 for 183 yards and the touchdown. He also scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter.

O’Dell and Jake Dahlberg combined to throw for 309 yards for the Timberwolves. O’Dell finished 18 of 23 for 273 yards and two touchdowns. Dahlberg also had a touchdown pass.

But O’Dell’s last pass fell into the hands of Skyview’s Mo Morrison — his second interception of the night and fourth in the past two weeks. In fact, Morrison’s pick late in the game last week sealed a two-point win for Skyview over Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

“It was kind of weird. I didn’t expect them to throw the ball to me this time,” Morrison said. “I was just trying to catch the ball and get down.”

He did, and then his teammates and the fans surrounded him to celebrate.

Skyview took advantage of a short field in the first quarter after Heritage’s punter was tackled. Watts would score on a 1-yard run. On Heritage’s next punt, Ellis Henderson returned it 53 yards for a touchdown and 13-0 lead.

The Storm looked to turn the game into a blowout on their next possession, driving deep into Heritage territory. But Andy Bemis stuck a hand out and picked off a pass, returning it 79 yards to the Skyview 12-yard line. The next play, Rivers caught a TD pass from Dahlberg.

Heritage’s defense, led by Bemis and Gage Boyce — who had several tackles for loss — kept getting the ball back to the offense. Then the Timberwolves struck in the third quarter, O’Dell to Rivers, capping an 80-yard drive.

From there, both teams would score in the fourth quarter, but it was the Storm who managed the only points in overtime.

“The kids gained their composure, and they weren’t going to let this one slip away,” Kizer said.

SKYVIEW 28, HERITAGE 21, OT

Heritage 0 7 7 7 0—21

Skyview 13 0 0 8 7—28

First Quarter

Sky — Kody Watts 1 run (kick blocked)

Sky — Ellis Henderson 53 punt return (Nick Phillips kick)

Second Quarter

Her — Michael Rivers 12 pass from Jake Dahlberg (Garrett Worle kick)

Third Quarter

Her — Michael Rivers 5 pass from Riley O’Dell (Worle kick)

Fourth Quarter

Sky — Reiley Henderson 66 pass from Watts (Watts run)

Her — Ben Lyons 80 pass from O’Dell (Worle kick)

Overtime

Sky — Parker Henry 25 run (Phillips kick)

Leaders

RUSHING — Heritage: Rajheem Carrie 12-30, Rivers 5-26, Gage Boyce 5-25; Skyview: Henry 21-113.

PASSING — Heritage: O’Dell 18-23-1-273, Dahlberg 7-14-3-36; Skyview: Watts 13-21-1-183.

RECEIVING — Heritage: Lyons 4-106, Rivers 4-69, Nate Mitchell 3-45, Steven Nichols 6-31, Trey Robinson 3-25, Andy Bemis 2-18, Carrie 2-14, Boyce 1-1; Skyview: Reiley Henderson 2-75, Ellis Henderson 5-59, Karl Graves 2-31, Mo Morrison 2-14, Forrest Russell 1-4.