As many are unable to go down to Skyline’s first game in Portland against Eugene, Oregon’s Sheldon High School, The Plateau Times correspondent Ben Blustein is at PNC Park giving live updates over the phone.
First Half
Skyline 6, Sheldon 0 — Pass from Jake Heaps to Jake Knecht, Missed PAT
Skyline 6, Sheldon 0 — Ben: “Joey Evans is running all over Sheldon”
Skyline 6, Sheldon 0 — End of First Quarter
Skyline 6, Sheldon 0 — Sheldon fumbles on Skyline 1, Possession Switches
Skyline 6, Sheldon 0 — End of First Half
Ben’s Notes from the First Half
The Spartans started out well and have played solid defensively, making two goal line stands, one to force a fumble early in the second and once to end the half. The offense, on the other hand, has stalled. The passing offense is mediocre: Heaps has missed passes and Simone has dropped 3-4 balls. The only bright spot is the running game, as Evans has been tearing it up.
This is shaping up to be just like the Bellevue game from last year — except 300 miles away. The atmosphere in PNC is solid, and Skyline fans are really getting into it on defense.
Second Half
Skyline 14, Sheldon 0 — Simone makes an 87-yard WR run for touchdown, Heaps-to-Chandler for 2 point conversion.
Skyline 21, Sheldon 0 — Kasen Williams returns an interception off Johnson for a touchdown, Sheldon is all but done.
Skyline 21, Sheldon 0 — End of Third Quarter
Skyline 21, Sheldon 0 — Sheldon QB Johnson leaves game with injury
Skyline 21, Sheldon 0 — Final, Skyline (1-0) wins, Sheldon (1-1) loses.
Game Wrap-up
Skyline won the game by a considerable margin, revving up its offense in the second half — but not by much. The team only scored one good touchdown, their first. Heaps, at half, was 3/12 with a touchdown, and the other two scores were off an interception and a long touchdown run. Not exactly a great start for the Northwest’s best passing offense. The surprise: Joey Evans, who ran over a decent Sheldon defense.
On the opposite side of the ball, Skyline really impressed. Not only did they get a fumble recovery right as Sheldon was about to put a touchdown in, but they shut the Oregon Class 6A defending champion down on the goal line to end the second quarter. One of those touchdowns and the game is much different as Skyline would have likely been trailing. Two interceptions, one from Williams, one from Weil, and the game is in the books.
My prediction of a 28-20 Skyline victory was a little off, but at least the good guys won!
Comments
The toughness that Matt Taylor brought to the team as an assistant really shows as Head Coach. Taylor will help his team build on this great shoutout victory as the progress throughout the season. His players are strong, fast and proven winners. Bet on Skyline to wind up in the finals and you won’t be sorry. I can’t wait to see them on ESPN later in the year for the weekly HS game. It’s about time SHS got the good national press. Bellevue ain’t the only game in town!