When in doubt the answer is simple for Skyline — put the ball in the hands of 6-foot-3, Division-I college-bound wide receiver Kasen Williams.
That’s exactly what the Spartans did in Friday’s 4A state quarterfinal matchup against rival Issaquah, earning a 42-21 victory, and a fourth consecutive trip to the state semifinals.
“I told the team, I’m going to take you guys on my back,” said Williams, after Skyline faced a 21-14 halftime deficit.
He was true to his word.
Sophomore quarterback Max Browne connected with Williams eight times in the second half for 210 yards and three touchdowns. He ended the game with 10 catches for 241 yards, and added a 28-yard fumble return for a TD early in the contest.
“When the game was on the line, we told our kids the ball was going to come to him,” Issaquah head coach Chris Bennett said. “He’s just Kasen. I don’t know how many tackles he broke tonight – a million.”
Browne, who completed 26 of 33 passes for 401 yards and five TDs, found Williams for his first score late in the third quarter. The University of Washington-bound senior caught a short slant over the middle, broke several tackles up the right sideline, and fell into the end zone for a 59-yard score.
After intercepting an Issaquah pass, Skyline answered four plays later when Browne found Williams on an out-route to the right sideline. Williams broke through a slew of Eagle defenders up the sideline for a 46-yard score and a 28-21 advantage.
“When you have a guy like Kasen Williams on the outside, you’ve got to like your chances of getting some points,” Browne said.
The duo connected once more on a play similar to the previous two. This time Browne found Williams on a short out, and the senior scrambled free for a 51-yard score with 6:04 left in the contest.
Browne added a 19-yard TD pass to Teran Togia with four minutes left in the game.
As much as they struggled in the second half (98 yards of total offense), the Eagles were equally as strong in the first half. Issaquah out-gained Skyline in yardage, 237-91.
“Give Issaquah credit,” Skyline head coach Mat Taylor said. “In that first half, as a play caller, it’s real frustrating when you don’t know what to do. They really mixed it up and they did a really nice job.”
The Eagles capitalized on a Spartan fumble on the opening kickoff, capping off a 22-yard drive Taylor Wyman’s 1-yard TD.
Skyline used Williams’ fumble return and a 20-yard TD pass from Browne to Jordan Simone to pull ahead 14-7.
Issaquah battled back before halftime when quarterback Braden Bouwman found Spencer Warren for a 38-yard TD. The senior then gave the Eagles a 21-14 lead floating a perfect pass 14 yards to the left corner of the end zone to a diving Evan Peterson.
Friday’s game featured eight combined turnovers. Issaquah fumbled three times and threw two interceptions, while Skyline coughed the ball up twice and threw one interception.
This was the second straight season the Eagles reached state quarterfinals after reaching the championship in 2008. They ended with a 9-3 record.
“Our effort was phenomenal,” Bennett said. “The seniors will go out as the winningest class of Issaquah school history. They’ve set a nice tone and kind of put us on the map as a football school.”
Top-ranked Skyline (11-1) will face second-ranked Curtis (12-0) at 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 27 in the Tacoma Dome.
“With Skyline, it’s always one game at a time,” Williams said. “Every year it’s just one game at a time, and that’s just how we’re going to take it again this year.”
