KingCo 4A | Skyline crushes Issaquah, 38-0

ISSAQUAH — The Skyline bus pulled into the Issaquah parking lot to an absolute frenzy. Spartans players walked off to jeers from every part of the lot, from the tailgaters and from the line of fans that wound from the stadium.

Almost two hours before kickoff, the stadium was almost sold out.

"It was crazy," Skyline receiver Gino Simone said. "We took the field at 6 o'clock, and the seats were already full."

Even the oldest Issaquah fans could only pick out a handful of nights like this one, with the stands so full, the energy so tangible. Two towns and two teams so closely entangled had rarely played against each other with such a buildup.

The 4,200-plus fans came to see two undefeated teams decide a division championship. But five minutes into Skyline's 38-0 victory, when Jake Heaps' first touchdown gave the No. 1 Spartans the lead, all that energy from the Issaquah side of the field sprouted a leak not even Joe the plumber could fix.

What followed was a "an old-fashioned butt-kicking," according to Issaquah coach Chris Bennett. His third-ranked Eagles came in hurting, and wounded themselves more with their mistakes.

But to lay this simply on Issaquah's injuries and errors would not give enough credit to a near-perfect effort by Heaps, to the state's best group of receivers or to a starting defense that hasn't allowed a point in seven games.

"We had that complete game," Skyline coach Mat Taylor said.

On Friday night, the Spartans held Issaquah -- averaging 35 points and 388 yards -- scoreless with just 59 total yards. In the second half, Issaquah could muster only nine plays for no net yards.

"Everyone was expecting it to be a close game, but in the back of our heads, we wanted a shutout," Skyline lineman Grant Engel said. "When we want something, we'll get it."

What Skyline wanted most on Friday was the KingCo 4A Crest Division title, of which the Spartans earned at least a share. They clinched the division's spot in the KingCo championship game, which will be against Bothell on Oct. 30 at Skyline. The cable channel ESPNU will carry the game.

"It was unbelievable, coming out of that game 38-0," Heaps said.

For the past five weeks, Heaps has barely played into the second half of Skyline routs, and he averaged just 163 passing yards. But if anyone forgot about the quarterback rated as high as No. 1 among the country's juniors, Heaps had a 322-yard reminder on Friday.

He threw four touchdown passes to four different receivers and ran for another score. With a blitzing Eagle about to hit him, he threw a perfect 87-yard touchdown pass to William Chandler -- who had six catches for 150 yards. Heaps threw flawless fades for two more touchdowns to Jake Knecht and Kasen Williams.

He threw his final touchdown to Simone, who faced double coverage most of the night but emerged with 106 yards of total offense on 15 touches.

And as Heaps walked off the field, the fans had filed out, and the only noise came from his friends and family, each of whom wanted a hug.

On this night, Heaps had no problem spreading the love.

Tom Wyrwich: 206-515-5653 or twyrwich@seattletimes.com

Other games

Bothell 19, Inglemoor 0

In the annual Spaghetti Bowl game at Pop Keeney Stadium, four players recovered fumbles as the Cougars (5-2, 4-0) won their fifth straight to clinch the Crown Division's top playoff seed and a spot in the KingCo title game. Mitch Muller passed for 155 yards and three touchdowns, all to Perry Conricode, as Bothell beat Inglemoor for the seventh consecutive time. Conricode had six catches for 86 yards and Patrick Ottorbech carried 18 times for 87 yards for Bothell. The Vikings (4-3, 2-2 Crown) were held to 136 total yards.

Woodinville 47,

at Lake Washington 14

Matt Brumfield ran for three touchdowns and Jordan Todesco had 118 yards and two TDs on 15 carries as the Falcons (6-1, 3-1) bounced back from their loss to Bothell last week by beating the Kangs (1-6, 1-3) in a Crown Division game. Tim Ip completed 12 of 15 passes for 183 yards and another Woodinville score, and linebacker Jesse Meier made nine tackles and intercepted a pass for the Falcons.

Roosevelt 22, Ballard 10

At Seattle Memorial, the Roughriders (5-2, 2-2 Crown) kept their playoff hopes alive with a victory over the Beavers (0-7, 0-4) in the first Anchor Bowl game between the schools. Nick Foster ran for a TD and threw scoring strikes of 25 and 65 yards to Andrew Johnson, and Kalliy Ceesay carried 24 times for 183 yards as Roosevelt controlled the game on the ground. Backup A.J. Baxter added seven carries for 90 yards for the Roughriders.

At Eastlake 42, Newport 13

Drake Furcini threw three touchdown passes and ran 29 yards for a score as the Wolves (4-3, 2-2) beat the Knights (4-3, 2-2) in a battle of Crest Division playoff hopefuls. Furcini had 239 total yards (139 passing, 101 rushing), and Jeff Grotjahn had 71 yards on four receptions with two scoring catches for Eastlake. The Wolves, who led 28-6 at halftime, outgained the Knights 414 yards to 154.

At Redmond 49, Garfield 7

The Mustangs (1-6, 1-3) got their first victory as David Gilbertson passed for two TDs and ran for one against the Bulldogs (0-7, 0-4) in a Crest Division game. Gilbertson completed 10 of 16 passes for 180 yards. Sean Shewey had 116 yards on 17 carries and Michael Conforto added 66 yards on only seven attempts for Redmond. Cameron Sandquist had a TD run, a scoring catch and made seven tackles for the Mustangs.

Tom Wyrwich: 206-515-5653 or twyrwich@seattletimes.com