SAMMAMISH — What made Saturday’s season-ending Class 4A state quarterfinal loss even tougher to swallow for Skyview quarterback Jake Kennedy were mistakes the senior wish he could take back.
“I want to go back,” he said after the Storm’s 17-14 loss to Eastlake, “and fix everything we did wrong.”
There were plenty of highlights defensively: a goal-line stand on fourth down, a blocked field goal, a fumble recovery, a momentum-building interception.
In a game that started out flawlessly for Skyview — touchdowns in its opening two drives to take the momentum early — the momentum finished with Eastlake’s eventual game-winning drive capitalized with a 24-yard field goal with 2 minutes, 18 seconds to play.
Ultimately, Eastlake scored 17 unanswered points after the Storm raced out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead. The loss ends Skyview’s season at 10-2.
“Emotions are running high right now,” junior Hezechariah Tua said, “but no matter what side of the field, it’s these guys I lost with, and I’m proud of that. It wasn’t the game we wanted, but it’s a proud group right here.”
Skyview’s fourth-and-1 goal line stand just before halftime highlighted a first-half defensive and special teams performance that likely kept 10 points off the scoreboard that helped the Storm keep a 14-7 advantage. Earlier in the half, Jerrid Secor went unblocked off the edge to get a hand up to block a 31-yard field goal attempt on Eastlake’s opening drive. To end the first half, Riley Artis was the first player to get to Eastlake’s Grady Woodward, stopping the senior from reaching the endzone with 3:43 left in the first half.
Yet, in the second half, Skyview’s offense stalled. It attempted trickery using a fake punt but failed to get enough yardage for a first down. That turnover on downs set up Eastlake in short field position, leading to a Landon Renfroe 10-yard rushing touchdown that tied the game at 14-all.
On the following Skyview series, the Storm reached third and goal at the Eastlake 1, but Kennedy’s second interception turned the ball back over to Eastlake with 9 minutes to go.
That set up what turned out to be the Wolves’ game-winning drive, orchestrating their signature drive.
Eastlake went 73 yards, chewed up nearly 7 minutes off the clock. It converted a third and fourth-down, and had a trio of first-downs — including two by its Woodward, a receiver-turned-tailback — to get to the Skyview 7.
Ultimately, Eastlake settled for a 24-yard field goal by Alex Dreher for the 17-14 advantage, yet still left plenty of time for Kennedy and the Skyview offense for a potential game-winning drive.
Cameron Crooks’ kickoff return to the Eastlake 43 put Skyview near midfield with 2:12 on the clock. Two plays later, Secor’s 28-yard catch put the Storm in Eastlake territory at the 35 with 1:20 to go. But facing fourth and 6 at the 31 and following a timeout, Kennedy’s pass to Gavin Packer was broken up, turning the ball over on downs to Eastlake.
“That was the biggest push we had since the beginning of the game,” Kennedy said.
Even though Saturday was the first time since 2016 Skyview reached the 4A state quarterfinals, Tua believes it’s the start of something special.
“This is a little small hint of where we want to go,” he said. “It’s a fraction of how we actually play.”
EASTLAKE 17, SKYVIEW 14
Skyview 14 0 0 0 — 14
Eastlake 0 7 7 3 — 17
First quarter
S — Kennedy 3 run (kick good)
S — Gavin Poffenroth 23 pass from Kennedy (kick good)
Second quarter
E — Grady Woodward 3 run (kick good)
Third quarter
E — Landon Renfroe 10 run (kick good)
Fourth quarter
E — Alex Dreher 24 FG
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Skyview: Trey Jacob 7-25, Rex Allinger 1-0, Jake Kennedy 9-25.
PASSING — Skyview: Kennedy 16-21-2-279.
RECEIVING — Skyview: Jacob 4-29, Riley Artis 3-81, Gavin Poffenroth 3-58, Gavin Packer 3-37, Jerrid Secor 3-73, Allinger 1-1.
