BATTLE GROUND — Steve Kizer’s first question to his Skyview Storm postgame on Friday consisted of four words.
“Are you tired yet?” the longtime Storm coach asked.
Nearly in unison, Skyview’s team answered no after a 51-0 victory over Prairie at Battle Ground’s District Stadium.
Fifteen months after their 2019 season ended in the playoffs, the Storm are now 2-0 their first two weeks of the condensed spring 2021 season.
Skyview felt like it had plenty of energy for more football beyond 48 minutes.
Friday’s performance was vastly different from last week’s 26-20 overtime win at W.F. West, a game that came together 24 hours before kickoff and with little preparation for its 2A opponent.
That’s life in the COVID-19 era of high school football, where cancellations and postponements — or new opponents — can happen at a moment’s notice.
But with a full week of preparation against Prairie, the reigning 3A Greater St. Helens League champions, Skyview dominated from start to finish, holding the Falcons to fewer than 100 yards of total offense.
“We got in a lot of time to practice (this week) and were able to polish everything that we were struggling with last week,” said senior Brenner Tobiasson.
Xavier Owens and Gabe Martin each scored two first-half touchdowns as part of the Storm’s 27-0 halftime lead. Owens dazzled on offense (three catches, 64 yards), and defense at safety and special teams. He had two returns for more than 40 yards — both of which set up eventual touchdowns. His 45-yard punt return set up a first-and-10 at Skyview’s 16, and two plays later came Martin’s second rushing score on a 2-yard run.
Owens is a Western Oregon signee who, like his teammates, is making the best of this condensed spring season. For Owens, it starts with working on the little things to become a better football player.
“I want to take this time and take all the training these past few months and put it into play,” Owens said, “and see what I can do and what I can improve on going into college.”
Skyview scored on eight of its first nine possessions Friday, and defensively, didn’t leave much room for Prairie to find a rhythm offensively.
Prairie played without reigning two-way all-leaguer Dustin Shelby (back), who left last week’s loss to Evergreen in the second quarter. The Falcons relied on a slew of rushers, including sophomore Alexander Ford (seven carries, 42 yards).
Vire’s 34-yard touchdown catch on a third-and-5 from backup quarterback Mason Packer set the game into a running clock with 2 minutes, 45 seconds left in the third quarter at 44-0. Defensively, Skyview recovered two lost fumbles, including one from Brenner Tobiasson. He also scored on a 1-yard touchdown to open the 17-point third-quarter scoring.
Tobiasson said he hopes the all-around performance Friday can set the tone moving forward. Skyview plays Union next week in what could be a defacto league championship.
“We’ve got to keep our heads forward,” Tobiasson said. We have to push as hard as we can. We can’t let off the gas pedal.”
Skyview 13 14 17 7—51
Prairie 0 0 0 0— 0
First quarter
S — Xavier Owens 13 pass from Clark Coleman (Jordan Mann kick)
S — Gabe Martin 3 run (kick failed)
Second quarter
S — Owens 16 pass from Coleman (kick failed)
S — Martin 2 run (Rhett Sarvia pass from Coleman)
Third quarter
S — Brenner Tobiasson 1 run (Fedya Hendrichs-Tarasenkov kick)
S — Hendrichs-Tarasenkov 38 FG
S — Caden Vire 34 pass from Mason Packer (Hendrichs-Tarasenkov kick)
Fourth quarter
S — Joshua King 10 run (Mann kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Skyview: Gabe Martin 10-49, Jaydin Knapp 8-56, Clark Coleman 1-(minus 3), Brenner Tobiasson 1-1, Mason Packer 2-9, Joshua King 4-15; Prairie: Alexander Ford 7-42, Brandon Baum 5-1, Ian Davis 3-10, Jason Wilsox 2-3, #9 2-8.
PASSING — Skyview: Clark Coleman 6-10-0-106, Mason Packer 4-7-0-39; Prairie: Brandon Baum 4-8-0-19; #9 2-4-0-6.
RECEIVING — Skyview: Xavier Owens 3-64, Teddy Beaver 3-10, Bycen Doman 1-5, Caden Vire 1-34, Owen Filburn 1-1, Tanner Beaman 1-34; Prairie: No. 88 3-1, Ian Davis 1-6, Alexander Ford 2-20.
