Skyview runs out of time in loss to Auburn

The Skyview Storm needed one more chance.

They wanted one more opportunity.

They knew they would make it work.

Only it never happened.

Auburn’s impressive ground game ripped off the final six minutes of the game, a 13-play clock-killer to kill Skyview’s season Friday night at Kiggins Bowl.

The Trojans jumped out to a 21-point lead, rushed for 301 yards, and survived a Skyview comeback for a 28-21 victory in the first round of the Class 4A state football playoffs.

“They just came ready to play,” Skyview junior Parker Henry said. “They have some big dudes, and they were ready to play.”

The loss, while disappointing to the Storm, cannot erase the achievements made by the seniors. Skyview has won the past three 4A Greater St. Helens League titles and advanced to state the past three seasons.

“This is definitely the funnest four years of my life,” said senior Karl Graves, who caught a touchdown pass in his final game with the Storm. “It’s just gone by so fast. When it’s over, you realize you’re not going to play with your best friends. … It was too much fun.”

Fellow senior Ellis Henderson echoed those thoughts.

“I honestly could not think of a single more important thing in my life that I’ve taken part of,” Henderson said. “Every single senior here put their heart and soul into this team. We really played like a family. It was a brotherhood. We held each other accountable. We pushed each other.”

The Storm went 26-9 the past three years, including a trip to the state semifinals last season.

“That’s the winningest class we’ve had,” Skyview coach Steve Kizer said. “What a tight, great group of kids. That’s who I feel bad for.”

As far as the younger Skyview players?

“We’ll be back,” Kizer promised.

They will be looking for more wins. Even as they remember how this one was lost.

Auburn dominated time of possession, with 60 carries for those 301 yards before two victory formation kneel-downs. In all, the Trojans had 69 offensive snaps — not including special teams — and had the ball for more than 34 minutes.

Skyview’s high-scoring offense got the three touchdowns but was held to 35 snaps in less than 14 minutes.

“We prepared, but we did not execute,” Graves said. “It was obvious we didn’t play perfect. We did not deserve to win at all.”

Still, there was hope in that final quarter. Auburn scored late in the third quarter on an 18-yard run by Austin Embody to take a 28-14 lead.

The two teams exchanged possessions and then Skyview’s offense showed what it could do — score in a hurry. The Storm went 67 yards on four plays, with Reiley Henderson catching two balls for 28 yards, then Henry scoring on a screen pass from Kieran McDonagh to make it 28-21 with 6:02 remaining.

But even with all three timeouts remaining, the Storm never saw the ball again.

Auburn quarterback Max Pratt and running back Embody made sure of that.

“Lots of leg cramps, a lot of shoulder pain, but I knew that my heart would hurt a lot more than my legs and shoulder in the morning if we lost this game,” Embody said. “I had to keep playing, get first downs, and keep the clock running.”

Embody finished with 82 yards on 13 carries, filling in for the injured Alphonse Wade, who left in the first half. Pratt ended up with 27 carries and 117 yards — both season highs.

“We just wanted to kill the clock and secure the ball,” he said.

Wade’s 30-yard touchdown run was the only score of the first quarter. Pratt made it 14-0 with 3:47 left in the first half with a 2-yard run to cap a 13-play drive.

Dylan Rutledge followed with the play of the night on defense, intercepting a Skyview pass and returning it 50 yards for a 21-0 lead less than a minute later.

Skyview’s offense got the jolt it was looking for when Ellis Henderson broke free for a 38-yard run. A few plays later, he scored on a 22-yard run.

After Skyview’s defense forced a three-and-out punt, the Storm offense went back to work. McDonagh found Graves behind the defense for a 52-yard touchdown to make it 21-14 with 13 seconds left in the half.

But the Skyview offense struggled again to open the second half, gaining four yards on its first three possessions. That gave time for Auburn to push the lead to 14 again.

And time is what Auburn absolutely loves.

AUBURN 28, SKYVIEW 21

Auburn 7 14 7 0—28

Skyview 0 14 0 7—21

First quarter

Aub — Alphonse Wade 30 run (Aaron McMahon kick)

Second quarter

Aub — Max Pratt 2 run (McMahon kick)

Aub — Dylan Rutledge 50 interception return (McMahon kick)

Sky — Ellis Henderson 22 run (Nick Phillips kick)

Sky — Karl Graves 52 pass from Kieran McDonagh (Phillips kick)

Third quarter

Aub — Austin Embody 18 run (McMahon kick)

Fourth quarter

Sky — Parker Henry 34 pass from McDonagh (Phillips kick)

Leaders

Rushing — Auburn: Pratt 27-117, Embody 13-82, Wade 5-48. Skyview: E. Henderson 3-65, Henry 13-43.

Passing — Auburn: Blake Ellison 2-2-0-62, Tyler Casias 2-3-0-29, Pratt 1-2-0-7. Skyview: McDonagh 10-14-1-126.

Receiving — Auburn: Kevin Shelton 2-46, Embody 1-28, Wade 1-17, Rutledge 1-7. Skyview: Graves 4-81, Henry 1-34, R. Henderson 1-28, E. Henderson 3-(minus-17).