Turnovers, Skyline force end to Curtis’ season
DOUG PACEY; The News Tribune
The Curtis High football team welcomed the challenge.
In the week leading up to the Class 4A state quarterfinal against second-ranked Skyline, the Vikings talked about wanting to prove themselves among the state’s elite teams.
Fifth-ranked Curtis found out just how deadly the state’s top-tier teams are when handed three first-quarter turnovers. Skyline jumped on the Vikings early and never let up, beating Curtis, 49-14, in University Place on Saturday night.
“When you make mistakes against a team like that,” Vikings coach Clay Angle said, “they put the pedal to the metal on you.”
The Spartans (10-2) scored touchdowns after each turnover in the first period. The Spartans had five possessions in the first quarter and started inside their own 48-yard line just once. The good field position, plus a precise and efficient offense carried them to a 35-0 lead 12 minutes into the game.
Skyline coach Mat Taylor said the Spartans’ offense has been making the most of its opportunities recently after struggling to capitalize on mistakes early in the season. Skyline scored touchdowns on all seven of its first-half possession, staking a 49-0 halftime lead.
In the first half, quarterback Jake Heaps completed 10 of 16 passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns, while running backs Nick Washburn and Nick Beauchamp combined to rush for 107 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries. Receiver Kasen Williams led the Spartans with three receptions for 32 yards and two touchdowns.
“Things just snowballed for (Curtis),” Taylor said. “We had an offensive and defensive game plan, but that was unexpected.”
Curtis running back Jason Walker burst up the middle for a 53-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and running back Richard Southern added a 2-yard scoring plunge in the fourth quarter.
Skyline did its best to not give Curtis’ Rahmel Dockery a chance to return any kickoffs.
The speedy and elusive junior has four kickoff returns for touchdowns this season and the Spartans noticed, keeping the ball away from him by using an onside kick, pooch kicks and angle kicks. But Dockery finally got a handle on one kickoff in the first quarter and showed why he’s among the state’s most dangerous kick returners.
Trailing 21-0, Dockery lined up deep to receive the kickoff, but it landed far to his left. He sprinted to pick up a loose ball near the 10 and ran backward toward the opposite sideline before cutting back across the field.
He raced up Skyline’s sideline and then outran a couple Spartans for an apparent 90-yard touchdown that might have quelled Skyline’s momentum. But the play was called back because of an illegal block and four plays later Curtis committed its second turnover of the quarter.
Curtis, the SPSL South champion for the second consecutive season, finished 11-1. Despite the humbling defeat, Angle said there was plenty to be proud of.
“We have our whole season to look back on,” he said. “One game does not make this season.”
Skyline’s seasons goes on. The Spartans will face nemesis Bothell in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. The top-ranked Cougars beat Skyline, 25-20, four weeks ago.
“From what I’ve seen,” Angle said, “Bothell and Skyline are the two best teams in the state.”
Doug Pacey: 253-597-9271
doug.pacey@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/preps
