Gavin Packer, Jake Kennedy lead Skyview to 49-21 playoff win over Bethel

The Skyview Storm were in full stride as they entered the postseason on Friday night.

Gavin Packer scored four touchdowns and Jake Kennedy threw six touchdown passes as the Storm rolled past Bethel of Spanaway 49-21 in a Class 4A state preliminary round game Friday at Kiggins Bowl.

“We’ve just really came together lately,” Packer said. “Talking to each other more, just telling each other things that are open, things that we see, just more communication really.”

What fans at Kiggins Bowl saw Friday was a lot of Jake Kennedy throwing the ball to Packer.

After the Skyview defense got a quick three-and-out on Bethel’s first possession, Kennedy hit Packer in the flat and the junior ran the rest of the way for a 36-yard touchdown pass on the Storm’s first play from scrimmage.

On Skyview’s second possession, Kennedy hit Packer again for a 17-yard touchdown pass.

“The were in Cover-4, so they were laying back, so we just screened them to death,” Packer said.

When the Bison started to cover Packer tight to prevent the screen, Kennedy hit Packer over the top for a 69-yard touchdown to put Skyview up 28-7 in the second quarter.

After taking a 35-7 lead into halftime, the Storm did not let up in the second half. Bethel booted the second-half kickoff past Packer, who chased the ball down at the 2-yard line and brought it back 98 yards for a touchdown.

“I was going to let it go into the end zone, and then I just grabbed it last second on the 1 and took off,” Packer said.

Kennedy finished 15 of 17 passing for 269 yards and six touchdowns. Besides his three to Packer, Kennedy also had two to Riley Artis and one to Gavin Poffenroth.

Packer finished with five catches for 172 yards.

Coach Steve Kizer was also pleased with how his defense played.

“We watched film of them against Graham-Kapowsin, and they just ran the ball down the field on them,” Kizer said of Bethel. “They’re old-school and they can trap, run power and counter. They even threw option in there. So they were a great challenge for us. I don’t think we’ll see another team under center this year.”

After a Week 6 loss to Camas, the Storm (9-1) have won three straight, averaging 44 points a game. Kizer hopes that’s enough to impress the seeding committee when state matchups are announced Sunday.

“I think we’ve bounced back well,” Kizer said. “Camas is sitting at No. 3 (in the Associated Press polls) and we’re No. 5. We should get another home game if everything goes right, maybe another after that. That’d be nice.”

SKYVIEW 49, BETHEL 21

Bethel   7  0  0 14—21

Skyview 14 21 14  0—49

First quarter

S — Gavin Packer 36 pass from Jake Kennedy (Ethan McClinton kick)

B — Elijah Pula 1 run (Christian Bernardo kick)

S — Packer 17 pass from Kennedy (McClinton kick)

Second quarter

S — Riley Artis 9 pass from Kennedy (McClinton kick)

S — Packer 69 pass from Kennedy (McClinton kick)

S — Gavin Poffenroth 2 pass from Kennedy (McClinton kick)

Third quarter

S — Packer 98 kickoff return (McClinton kick)

S — Artis 20 pass from Kennedy (McClinton kick)

Fourth quarter

B — Pula 31 run (Austin Miller pass from Vashon Igitol)

B — Roy Lockley III 28 fumble return (run failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Bethel: Elijah Pula 13-113, Roy Lockley III 17-71, Vashon Igitol 25, Evan Barnes 3-(-10). Skyview: Trey Jacob 6-42, Rex Allinger 5-25, Jake Kennedy 3-7, Eric Botnen 3-3, Levi Webb 2-1, team 2-(-34).

PASSING — Bethel: Evan Barnes 2-6-1-11, Vashon Igitol 0-2-0-0. Skyview: Jake Kennedy 15-17-0-269.

RECEIVING — Bethel: Jordan Williams 1-4, Elijah Pula 1-7. Skyview: Gavin Packer 5-172, Riley Artis 4-46, Trey Jacob 1-19, Gavin Poffenroth 2-13, Jerrid Secor 1-17, Rex Allinger 1-3, Cameron Crooks 1-3.