Skyview shines in 49-10 win against Battle Ground

When the lights at Kiggins Bowl inadvertently shut off 15 minutes before kickoff Friday against Battle Ground, the Skyview football team emerged from the locker room and ran through its breakaway banner in the shadows.

Once the field was fully illuminated and the game started, nothing shined brighter than the Storm.

One week after suffering its first loss of the season to Camas, Skyview rolled to a 49-10 win over previously-undefeated Battle Ground and climbed up to second place in the 4A Greater St. Helens League standings heading into the final week of the regular season.

“It just kind of got us back in our rhythm. We really needed this,” Skyview junior safety Micah Robison said. “Putting up 49 against an undefeated team, it gives us a lot of confidence, and now we just gotta keep working, keep getting better.”

Though they posted just nine points last week, the Storm’s high-flying offense was back on track Friday behind senior quarterback Jake Kennedy’s three passing touchdowns, all to senior receiver Riley Artis, and one rushing touchdown. The latter touchdown on the ground, combined with rushing scores from Trey Jacob and Eric Botnen during a 21-point third quarter gave the Storm a commanding 42-10 lead.

“You got two options after you face a defeat like that — you can either fold or you can shake off what you done been through and keep it pushing,” said Artis, describing Skyview’s response to the 21-9 loss.

Early on, the connection between Kennedy and Artis set the tone for Skyview’s offense.

Two quick trips to the red zone resulted in touchdown receptions of 12 and 5 yards from Artis in the opening eight minutes.

The receiver’s third and final catch of the half came with 1 minute, 46 seconds left in the second quarter — a deep strike thrown by Kennedy that Artis ran under then sprinted to the end zone for a 65-yard score.

“This ain’t just a one-time thing, it’s all season, and our connection is definitely growing stronger,” Artis said. “But, I like it, because now they know that we don’t just got one receiver, you know? We’re a team full of threats and we’re all dogs.”

Battle Ground boasted some buzz with an undefeated 7-0 mark coming into Friday, especially after last week’s monumental win over 4A GSHL foe Union.

The Tigers (7-1, 1-1) hung with the Storm for the opening 24 minutes.

Senior running back Jacob Champine’s 2-yard touchdown run, set up by an interception from senior Noah Currie, and a 38-yard field goal from sophomore Bryland Fick had the Tigers within 21-10 at halftime. Skyview coach Steve Kizer called Battle Ground “much improved” from recent seasons.

“Woody (Battle Ground coach Mike Woodward) is a great coach,” Kizer said.

But in the third quarter, Skyview’s defense simply overwhelmed Battle Ground. The Storm grabbed a pair of interceptions, one by Robison (his second of the game) and another by junior Kaden Hamlin, both of which led to Skyview touchdowns. The Storm didn’t allow a single first down to the Tigers over four possessions in the quarter.

“They do so much stuff, so many different formations, so many motions and shifts, it’s tough to line up (against Battle Ground),” Skyview coach Steve Kizer said, lauding his defense’s alignment. “But I thought we did a good job with that part.”

A swift response to last week’s defeat was an encouraging sign for Skyview players and coaches. A 4A GSHL title may no longer be in the cards, but the Storm are back on solid footing heading into a Week 9 tilt against Union with a postseason berth up for grabs.

“They just worked hard,” Kizer said. “They’re up at 6 in the morning lifting weights two days a week and we get off (practice) at 6:30 (p.m.); that’s a long day. You get out of something what you put into it; those guys put a lot into it. They’re not going to let go of that rope. Hopefully, this (win) is going to turn this thing around and get the second season going.”

SKYVIEW 49, BATTLE GROUND 10

Bat. Ground 7 3 0 0—10

Skyview 14 7 21 7—49

First quarter

S — Riley Artis 12 pass from Jake Kennedy (Ethan McClinton kick)

BG — Jacob Champine 2 run (Bryland Fick kick)

S — Artis 5 pass from Kennedy (McClinton kick)

Second quarter

BG — Fick 38 field goal

S — Artis 65 pass from Kennedy (McClinton kick)

Third quarter

S — Trey Jacob 7 run (McClinton kick)

S — Kennedy 1 run (McClinton kick)

S — Eric Botnen 4 run (#39 kick)

Fourth quarter

S — Rex Allinger 45 run (#39 kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Battle Ground: Ethan Adams 7-25, Jacob Champine 16-45, Jordan Young 4-44, Artem Bahnyuk 1-41, Cody Clarke 5-20, Team 1-(minus 3); Skyview: Trey Jacob 15-67, Jake Kennedy 6-99, Gavin Packer 2-(minus 5), Eric Botnen 5-38, Rex Allinger 1-45, Rylan Clayton 3-5.

PASSING — Battle Ground: Adams 8-23-3-45; Skyview: Kennedy 7-17-1-165.

RECEIVING — Battle Ground: Saveliy Tkachenko 5-35, Angel Lopez 1-2, Champine 1-1, Grayson Gambee 1-7; Skyview: Riley Artis 4-93, Gavin Poffenroth 1-29, Packer 1-24, Jerrid Secor 1-19.