Skyline coach Mat Taylor knew it wouldn’t be a problem for his team to get ramped up for this week’s game against rival Issaquah.

But he also knew after two weeks of tough losses — the program’s first multi-game losing streak since 1998 — there was a danger of pressing too hard.

“The biggest thing we talked about all week is that we’ve just got to erase everything from the last few weeks … and not get freaked out,” Taylor said.

The Spartans answered their coaches’ call in a big way on Friday night, beating the undefeated Eagles 41-14 in front of their home crowd.

The key for Skyline, which led 17-14 at halftime, was a near flawless second half.

“We just kind of settled down and trusted our play calls,” said junior quarterback Max Browne, who ended the game 29 of 41 for 366 yards and five touchdowns. “Our play calls were great. We just said we’ve got to step on the gas pedal because we can’t lose this one.”

The Spartans, who converted a key 4th and 1 play on the opening drive of the second half, scored two plays later when Browne found Damien Greene for an 8-yard TD.

Browne hit Trevor Barney for two more second-half scores, connecting on a 33-yard wide receiver screen and a 5-yard crossing route to the back of the end zone.

While the offense was in sync in the second half, so was the defense.

Skyline, which allowed Lake Oswego’s Steven Long to rush for 420 yards and seven TDs last week, put the clamps down on Issaquah. The Spartans held the Eagles to 61 total rushing yards and forced four turnovers — three in the second half.

“They were bound and determined all week,” Taylor said, of his defense.

For Issaquah, they just couldn’t find an answer. In five possessions, the Eagles punted twice, threw two interceptions and fumbled once.

“I think we just came out flat in the second half,” said obviously disappointed senior wide receiver Jake Bakamus. “We didn’t come out with any heart, that’s what it was.”

Issaquah led twice on Friday, taking a 7-0 lead at the 6:02 mark of the first quarter. Quarterback Ethan Kalin (16-29, 182 yards) found sophomore Derek Champman on a 21-yard pass. After briefly falling behind, the Eagles took the lead again with just over 4 minutes left in the first half, 14-10, when Kalin found Jack Gellatly on a 24-yard screen pass for a TD.

Skyline got the lead back with 1:25 left in the first half when Browne connected with junior Matt Sinatro for a 7-yard score. Sinatro ended the game with seven catches for 117 yards.

The Spartans improved to 2-2 overall and are 1-0 in league. It marked their seventh straight victory over the Eagles dating back to 2007.

“It’s definitely a big one, not just for bragging rights of cross-town rivals but for KingCo standings,” Browne said.

Skyline hosts winless Redmond (0-4) next.

Issaquah, which dropped 3-1, faces non-league Kamiak (1-3) next Friday at home.