Skyview coach: ‘We’ll be back’ after 49-21 loss to 3A’s top-ranked team

Are the Eastside Crusaders, the No. 1-ranked Class 3A team and winners of state titles in 2014 and ‘15, the real deal.

No hesitation from Skyview coach Steve Kizer, whose Crusaders beat his 4A Storm, 49-21, Friday night at Kiggins Bowl.

“Yeah, they’re a good team,” he said. “Absolutely.”

The win is the second straight by Eastside Catholic over a 4A opponent. A week after needing three overtimes to beat Spokane’s Gonzaga Prep, Eastside Catholic (2-0) enforced the 40-point running-clock on the Storm (1-1) in the first half when 4-star recruit Gee Scott, Jr.’s 29-yard touchdown reception made it 49-6 just before halftime.

After a three-and-out on Eastside Catholic’s first possession, it didn’t look back.

Quarterback Ze’Shaun Lewis threw two of his four touchdown passes in the first quarter, Malik Putney returned a punt for a touchdown and Gio Ursina rushed for another touchdown to account for the Crusaders’ 28-0 first-quarter lead.

Scott had two first-half touchdown receptions; his longest was a 50-yarder that made Eastside’s lead 42-6 with 1:32 left in the half.

Jovon Sewell’s 17-yard touchdown reception and Austin Holland’s 2-yard touchdown run in the second half highlighted Skyview’s second half scoring drives. Holland finished with 23 yards on four carries and Sewell had two catches for 42 yards.

Skyview played without standout Cole Grossman. The receiver injured his shoulder in last week’s win over Sunset (Ore.) and announced Friday on Twitter he wasn’t cleared to play against the Crusaders. He told The Columbian pregame he may return as early as next week.

Next week it’s another top-tier 3A team for Skyview: second-ranked O’Dea at 5 p.m. next Friday at Seattle’s Memorial Stadium.

Kizer knows his team will learn more from a loss than a win if it’s a handled correctly.

And it will be, he said.

“We’ll do our part,” he said. “We’ll coach better and they’ll play better. We’ll bounce back.”

EASTSIDE CATHOLIC 49, SKYVIEW 21

E. Catholic 28 21 0 0—49

Skyview 0 6 8 7—21

First quarter

EC — David Pritchard 42 pass from Ze’Shaun Lewis (kick good)

EC — Gio Ursina 12 run (kick blocked)

EC — DJ Rogers 16 pass from Lewis (run good)

EC — Malik Putney 41 punt return (kick good)

Second quarter

EC — Fumble recovery in end zone (kick good)

Sky — Tavis Pinkney 68 run (kick failed)

EC — Gee Scott, Jr. 50 pass from Lewis (conversion good)

EC — Scott 29 pass from Lewis (conversion good)

Third quarter

Sky — Jovon Sewell 17 pass from Max Rose (Rose run)

Fourth quarter

Sky — Austin Holland 2 run (kick good)

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Skyview: Angelo Sarchi 8-17, Max Rose 8-18, Jalynnee McGee 4-21, Tavis Pinkney 1-68, Austin Holland 4-23, Nick Stewart 2-11; Eastside Catholic: Ze’Shaun Lewis 4-19, Gio Ursino 8-60, Tahi Angilau 2-5, Michael Franklin 3-7.

PASSING — Skyview: Max Rose 7-14-1-66, Nick Stewart 1-1-0-6; Eastside Catholic: Ze’Shaun Lewis 7-14-1-228

RECEIVING — Skyview: Tavis Pinkney 2-13, Jovon Sewell 2-42, Wyatt Stallman 2-13, Jalynnee McGee 1-(minus-1); Eastside Catholic: Gee Scott, Jr. 3-131, David Pritchard 1-42, DJ Rogers 2-48, Kelton Pelotti 1-9