Mission accomplished for Skyline football team.
For the second straight season, the Spartans gathered at the Tacoma Dome 50-yard line and hoisted a championship trophy toward the hollow concrete roof — something they envisioned from the start of the season.
Their athletes have collided on fields, courts and tracks countless times.
But Friday, the intense athletic rivalry between Skyline and Issaquah will move to one of the state’s largest stages when the schools clash for the 4A state football championship at the Tacoma Dome.
Bring on Skyline.
Issaquah is in the Class 4A state championship after rolling over Central Kitsap 31-13 in the semifinals Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.
The Eastside Catholic volleyball team came up just shy of a state title Friday, falling to Shadle Park of Spokane, 25-18, 25-16, 25-19 in the championship match.
Three area football teams participated in the state quarterfinals last weekend. Issaquah and Skyline advanced to the 4A semifinals and have the potential to face one another for the state championship. Eastside Catholic dropped a heartbreaker to Lakes in the 3A quarterfinals. For complete wrap-ups of the weekend’s games, visit the sports section. Or, for photos, click on “photo galleries.”
The fireworks went off 47 minutes and 49 seconds too late for the Liberty Patriots Friday night in the Class 3A state quarterfinals.
Gavin Schumaker was more upset at himself than any teammate or coach. Just before halftime, the normally sure-footed kicker nicked the tee and missed a 26-yard field goal by a good 10 yards.
Panic isn’t in Skyline’s vocabulary.
It showed again Saturday afternoon, as for the second straight week the Spartans fell behind early and battled back to crush an opponent. Skyline emphatically defeated previously unbeaten Auburn, 38-2, moving into the state semifinals, Nov. 29 against Ferris in Spokane.
When Zach Cuaresma’s 25-yard pass skipped off the fingertips of wide receiver Troy Perry Friday night, a look of disbelief swept across the Eastside Catholic sidelines.
The Wolfpack girls cross country squad, coached by Sammamish resident Todd Starnes, finished second at the Nike Cross Regionals in Boise, Idaho last weekend. The team, which consisted of 28 girls from Eastlake High School, had two varsity squads and one junior varsity team compete. The same group of varsity runners that won the 4A state meet, Nov. 8 were able to edge out Gig Harbor again, scoring 110 points. Gig Harbor finished third with 128 and Jesuit of Portland, Ore., won the event with 47.
The Gymnastics East Level 6 girls competed Nov. 9 at the Chocolate Classic in Everett, hosted by Leading Edge Gymnastics. Listed below are results for the Issaquah/Sammamish girls:
Sammamish Little League registration is now open for boys ages 5-12 and girls 5-14. For more information, go to www.sammamishlittleleague.org.
The scoreboard suggested Liberty’s season was nearly over. Looking at a 17-0 deficit against a Kennedy team that specializes in running the ball and running time off the clock, the Patriots had their work cut out for them.
Eastside Catholic players and coaches have said it all season, but now they believe it more than ever.
The Skyline soccer team advanced to the 4A state semifinals Saturday, beating Bellarmine Prep 1-0 at Spartan Stadium.
When the Issaquah football players hopped on a bus, in uniform, with bags over their shoulders a 4:50 p.m., Saturday, Kentwood fans were left wondering if they arrived at the wrong field.
With the game on the line and 4 minutes remaining, Issaquah left itself one option Saturday night — hand the ball to Grant Gellatly.
As he’s done all season, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound junior answered his team’s call. Gellatly, who rushed 31 times for career-best 313 yards, had five consecutive carries for 27 yards in the final three minutes. As a result, Issaquah ran out the clock and sealed a 31-28 win over Kentwood.
Skyline junior Andie Taylor added to her impressive list of prep accomplishments Saturday afternoon, notching her fifth career state championship at the 4A state meet in Federal Way.
In 10 contests, no opponent had scored before Skyline this season. In fact, no one managed a single point in the first quarter — until Federal Way made its way to the Plateau Friday for the opening round of the 4A state playoffs.
