SEATTLE — The Skyview Storm gave the two-time defending Class 3A state football champions a scare Saturday night.
The Eastside Catholic Crusaders, though, are plenty battle tested.
The Crusaders held off Skyview 31-16 in the late, late show at the Memorial Football Classic.
The 8 p.m. scheduled game did not kick off until close to 9:30 p.m. as the earlier games in this event went long.
That just meant more time looking at the iconic Space Needle, which rises above historic Memorial Stadium.
Skyview (1-1) was tying to do something monumental, too.
The Crusaders, the unanimous No. 1 team in 3A football according to The Associated Press poll, are not accustomed to losing. It showed, too, because when it got close, the Crusaders made the plays down the stretch to pull away for a 15-point win.
Skyview’s Hayden Froeber had himself a night, rushing for 163 yards on 31 carries. He scored his team’s first touchdown, a 4-yard run to tie the game at 7 in the first quarter.
Eastside Catholic scored the next 10 points to take a 17-7 lead at the half.
The Storm responded with a 14-play, 80-yard drive to open the second half. They converted on two fourth-down plays. Tavis Pinkney scored on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Brody Barnum, with Pinkney bouncing off would-be tacklers to fight his way into the end zone. The extra point was blocked.
“We were real proud of the effort,” Skyview coach Steve Kizer said. “We have a bunch of really, really tough kids.”
Skyview made it a one-point game on a Travis Yajko field goal late in the third quarter.
Eastside Catholic got a long kickoff return, then scored a touchdown a minute later to go up by eight.
Still, the Storm had more chances.
Skyview’s ensuing drive made it to the Eastside 12-yard line before the Storm lost the ball on downs with 7:30 to play in the game.
The Crusaders then went into championship mode. Run some clock. Get a score. Put a dagger in the opponent.
Ten plays and four minutes later, they were in the end zone again for the final margin of victory.
Barnum finished with 191 yards passing for the Storm. Yajko had four catches for 79 yards, and Cole Grossman finished with seven receptions for 71 yards.
Eastside Catholic quarterback Ze’Shaun Lewis was 16 for 20 for 227 yards and three TD passes.
The Storm took their time getting to Seattle because they heard their game was going to be delayed. Still, they made it in plenty of time to enjoy the atmosphere at the old stadium.
“You’re underneath the Space Needle, for crying out loud,” Barnum said before the game. “It’s incredible. Not many places like this. You’re right underneath a landmark. It’s a cool experience, especially to play under the lights.”
There were three day games at the stadium. Then Skyview gave Eastside Catholic a tough match in prime time.
“It’s the same bad taste in our mouth,” Kizer said.
A loss is a loss, even while playing a strong game against a tough opponent.
However, this is what the non-league season is for, to prepare for more important battles later.
“It’s still progress. We made big progress from Game 1 to Game 2,” Kizer said. “If that continues, we’ll be in the mix.”
EASTSIDE CATHOLIC 31, SKYVIEW 16
Skyview 7 0 9 0—16
Eastside C. 7 10 0 14—31
First quarter
EC — Hunter Bryant 42 pass from Ze’Shaun Lewis (Benjamin Petersen kick)
Sky — Hayden Froeber 4 run (Travis Yajko kick)
Second quarter
EC — Chris Lefau 45 pass from Lewis (Petersen kick)
EC — Petersen 25 FG
Third quarter
Sky — Tavis Pinkney 8 pass from Brody Barnum (kick blocked)
Sky — Yajko 31 FG
Fourth quarter
EC — Tyler Folkes 2 run (Petersen kick)
EC — 18 pass from Lewis (Petersen kick)
Individuals statistics
RUSHING — Skyview: Froeber 31-163, Barnum 10-14, Angelo Sarchi 3-12. Eastside Catholic: Folkes 13-49, Lewis 10-50, Marcus Stoebner 1-1.
PASSING — Skyview: Barnum 17-30-0-191. Eastside Catholic: Lewis 16-20-1-227.
RECEIVING — Skyview: Pinkney 4-40, Cole Grossman 7-71, Yajko 4-79, Froeber 1-0, Skyler Martin 1-1. Eastside Catholic: Zach Sanidad 5-17 Marcus Stoebner 3-21, Folkes 2-14, Bryant 2-71, Lefau 2-54, No. 82 2-50.
