Football Notebook | Tougher schedule for 5-0 Spartans

SAMMAMISH — It has been almost five weeks since Skyline quarterback Jake Heaps took a meaningful snap in the second half. Heaps, the most sought-after quarterback in the state, has thrown just 15 times per game. His top receiver, Washington State recruit Gino Simone, has just 10 catches.

They'll take it. Not only are the top-ranked Spartans 5-0, they have been as dominant as any team in the state. The Spartans have outscored opponents 216-8, and the starting defense has yet to give up a point. And because the Spartans have been ahead so much, so early, the first-team offense has led just one drive in the past four second halves.

"Our defense has been playing so outstanding that we've had some short fields," Skyline coach Mat Taylor said. "The kids haven't played a whole lot of quarters."

But the Spartans' schedule takes a sharp turn this week, with Eastlake visiting on Friday and a road game at undefeated Issaquah next week. Eastlake has been to the postseason the past three seasons, and the Spartans like the prospect of playing a tough game from start to finish.

"I'm so excited," Simone said. "It's been tough going one catch, and you're pretty much done for the game."

Skyline hasn't played Eastlake since 2005, when the teams were undefeated heading into the season finale. Skyline won 35-19 and went on to win the Class 4A state title.

For this game, Skyline has brought in extra bleachers to accommodate what should be a capacity crowd.

"Since the Sheldon game, we haven't played a big game like this," said Heaps, referring to the Spartans' opener against Sheldon of Eugene, Ore., a 21-0 victory. "We're as excited as all get out to get something going and finally play a game to show what we're really all about."

The Spartans have a chance to show that to the country in three weeks, when they will have a home game televised on the cable channel ESPNU. The game will be at 5 p.m. on Oct. 30, regardless of where Skyline finishes in the KingCo Crest division. If Skyline wins the KingCo Crest, the game will be the KingCo 4A championship game against the Crown division champion.

"It's an exciting opportunity," Taylor said. "But we've still got three weeks to go. We can't start thinking ahead."

Cascade's Frye makes

smooth move to fullback

In his first game as a fullback, Cascade senior Aaron Frye rushed 26 times for 271 yards — four short of a school record — and three touchdowns in a 30-7 win over Mountlake Terrace last Friday.

In an effort to fix a stagnant offense, the 6-2, 195-pound Frye volunteered to move from quarterback to fullback, the focal point of the Bruins' wing-T offense. The production was far beyond anything coach Jake Huizinga could have imagined.

"He's probably our best athlete, so we wanted to get him running the ball as many times as we could," Huizinga said.

Late AD's kindness

gives Ingraham a big lift

One random act of kindness might have saved the future of Ingraham football.

When fundraising efforts to finance a weight room fell through last spring, the Rams were left with only scattered free weights for offseason strength training.

In desperation, Ingraham track coach Michael Richards went a couple blocks down the road to Lakeside School, the Rams' North Seattle neighbor, where then-athletic director Ed Putnam offered to donate old weights.

"I thank Lakeside and Ed Putnam from the bottom of my heart," Ingraham coach Jason Bergstrom said. "We had nothing before and, thanks to him, we were able to have a great summer weight program."

Putnam, who died of cancer in August, is recognized in the Ingraham football program for his contribution.

Bonney Lake coach

wants company on road

Bonney Lake coach Jeff Gardner hopes for a big turnout for Friday's showdown of second-place SPSL 3A teams at Peninsula of Gig Harbor. He sent out a mass e-mail to teachers and supporters encouraging them to make the trip across the Narrows Bridge in carloads, even suggesting a dinner stop on the scenic Tacoma waterfront on the way.

"Our Panthers always play better when the fans are in the house!" the e-mail said.

Notes

• Wenatchee's 34-12 victory over Rainier Beach last Friday was the school's 500th, according to figures of national high-school historian Robert Dowcett of Texas. The top five in the state, including this year's records: Everett 586, Gonzaga Prep 549, Puyallup 537, Pasco 513 and Wenatchee 500.

• No structural damage was found in the non-throwing shoulder of Monroe QB Bryan Sonneveldt, who injured it while playing linebacker last Friday. He will meet with doctors to determine if he can play Friday at Arlington. The Bearcats will be without junior TE Cody Baermann, who has a hip injury.

• Nick Baker set Lake Stevens records for touchdown passes (5) and yards (369) in a game, and touchdown passes (18) in a season, in the Vikings' 50-49 overtime loss to Jackson last week.

• The Franklin coaching staff includes Keauntea Bankhead, The Seattle Times' 2003 state player of the year and Parade All-American from Ballard High School.

• After a season-opening loss to 4A Kentwood, Kennedy has played four Seamount teams with a combined 3-16 record, outscoring them 192-18. The Lancers (4-1 overall) play Renton (3-2, 3-1) Friday. Renton's only league loss was to Lindbergh, 30-26.

• Curtis (4-1, 4-1), which has won four in a row since a season-opening loss to Graham-Kapowsin, plays Puyallup (4-1, 3-1) Friday in the SPSL South. Puyallup also has lost only to unbeaten G-K (35-34 in OT).

Times staff reporters Sandy Ringer

and Craig Smith and freelancer

Joshua Mayers contributed to this report.