Sherwood grinds out win over Skyview

The Skyview defense couldn’t get off the field in the second half.

And the Storm couldn’t hold off the Sherwood Bowmen.

For the second consecutive year, the Bowmen from Oregon opened the high school football season with a victory over the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League champions.

Sherwood quarterback Dusty Crabtree threw for 248 yards and a touchdown, and the Sherwood power game on the ground led the way Friday night for a 27-24 victory at Kiggins Bowl.

“The only thing that matters is we learn from this and we continue to get better as the year goes on,” Skyview coach Steve Kizer said. “God, I’m tired of saying that.”

The Storm lost 42-28 last year to the Bowmen, who would go on to win Oregon’s Class 5A state title. The Storm also were on the wrong end of a high-scoring loss to Marysville-Pilchuck early in the 2009 season. But each time, Skyview rebounded when it mattered, in league play, to claim the 4A GSHL title.

Still, the Storm were hoping to get a win in one of these tough non-league games. They nearly had this one, too.

The Storm held a 24-19 lead with 6 minutes left in the third quarter, but Sherwood took 35 snaps on offense in the final 18 minutes to Skyview’s seven plays from scrimmage.

“That’s what they’re known for,” Kizer said of the Bowmen’s power game.

Travis Dyer’s 5-yard touchdown run with 11:28 left in the fourth quarter capped an 18-play drive. The two-point conversion gave the Bowmen a three-point lead.

Sherwood then recovered a surprise onside kick. Skyview eventually got the ball back and drove deep into Sherwood territory, but lost the ball on downs with 6:48 remaining in the game.

Sherwood never gave Skyview another chance, using 14 plays to run out the clock.

Skyview opened the year with a six-play, 80-yard drive that took less than two minutes. Parker Henry, who had 135 yards on 21 carries, blasted in from two yards out for a 7-0 advantage.

“He had a great effort on both sides of the ball,” Kizer said of Henry, who also in a linebacker. “He made a bunch of tackles, and he kept running hard. No quit in him.”

Sherwood responded in four plays, with Dyer punching it in from a yard out for the tie.

Both teams missed scoring opportunities the rest of the first quarter, then got going again in the second.

Forrest Russell got behind the Sherwood defense and scored on a perfect pass from Kieran McDonagh. The play covered 34 yards, capping an 85-yard drive.

McDonagh finished with 187 yards passing, but was held to 36 yards in the second half.

The Bowmen bounced right back, scoring on a 3-yard run from Connor Munro. The snap/hold combo failed on the extra point, keeping the Storm in the lead by one.

The Storm took an eight-point lead at the half, capitalizing on a turnover. Skyview’s Riley Bockmier recovered a fumble on Sherwood’s 13-yard line with 1:29 left in the half. Reiley Henderson caught a swing pass from McDonagh and scored from nine yards out to make it 21-13.

Crabtree found Brandon Blackshear for a 7-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter to make it 21-19. Crabtree finished 9 of 14 passing, with of his completions going for 37 or more yards.

Hayden Schuh’s 27-yard field goal increased the lead to five for Skyview midway through the period.

From there, it was all Sherwood on offense, picking up first down after first down and enough points to hand Skyview the loss.

It does not get easier for the Storm. They travel to Idaho to take on Coeur d’Alene, a team that has a lot in common with Sherwood.

“We’ve got another state champion next Saturday,” Kizer said.

SHERWOOD 27, SKYVIEW 24

Sherwood 7 6 6 8—27

Skyview 7 14 3 0—24

First quarter

Sky — Parker Henry 2 run (Hayden Schuh kick)

Sher— Travis Dyer 1 run (Nate Montgomery kick)

Second quarter

Sky — Forest Russell 34 pass from Kieran McDonagh (Schuh kick)

Sher — Connor Munro 3 run (PAT failed)

Sky — Reiley Henderson 9 pass from McDonagh (Schuh kick)

Third quarter

Sher — Brandon Blackshear 7 pass from Dusty Crabtree (run failed)

Sky — Schuh 27 FG

Fourth quarter

Sher — Dyer 5 run (A.J. Spencer pass from Crabtree)

Individual statistics

Rushing: Sherwood — Dyer 16-71 Christian Morris 2-10, Cody Setere 10-46, Munro 9-54, Paul Dodson 6-30, Joseph Balfour 1-9, Dusty Crabtree 2-4, Spencer 1-5; Skyview — Henry 21-135, McDonagh 7-33, Mo Morrison 1-8, Alex Mangin 4-20.

Passing: Sherwood — Crabtree 9-14-0-248; Skyview — McDonagh 16-22-0-187.

Receiving: Sherwood — Dylan Flannery 3-122, Brandon Blackshear 3-74, Munro 2-43, Spencer 1-9; Skyview — Russell 6-111, Henderson 9-69, Morrison 1-7.