Skyline stops Jesuit, 17-0

For Skyline players, the excitement of a new season was building all summer.

The Spartans saw games against out-of-state teams like Jesuit (Portland) and Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.) looming, giving them something to focus on through a summer of weight training, 7-on-7 workouts, camps and fall practice.

That excitement got the best of the Spartans' offense early against Jesuit, the top-ranked Class 6A team in Oregon, in the Emerald City Kickoff Classic Saturday night at Qwest Field.

However, enthusiasm rarely hinders a defense.

The relentless Spartans from Sammamish shut down Jesuit's offense long enough for quarterback Jake Heaps to find a rhythm in a 17-0 season-opening win by the state's top-ranked 4A team.

"They got off the ball better than we did up front," Jesuit coach Ken Potter said. "They established the line of scrimmage on defense, so our guys were a foot back. When you're back, you're not going to be able to run the ball."

Led by defensive end Cooper Pelluer and middle linebacker Anthony DeMatteo, Skyline held Jesuit to minus-11 rushing yards in the first half.

Pelluer had a pair of sacks early in the game, delivering a message to Jesuit senior quarterback Jeff Elorriaga, a first-year starter.

"I just moved down to defensive end and my objective was to get some pressure on the quarterback and wreak some havoc back there," Pelluer said.

The senior scored the Spartans' only touchdown of the first half. Faced with a heavy rush, the only thing Heaps saw was an arm waving in the end zone. The quarterback threw up a bit of a prayer, but Pelluer pulled it down for a 6-yard touchdown.

"I was waiting forever," the tight end said.

Heaps settled into a rhythm in the second half and finished 18 of 33 for 152 yards and two touchdowns.

"We came out so amped up and ready to go that we were playing out of ourselves," Heaps said. "We really need to play our game and do what we do best. After the first half, we really got that taken care of."

Jesuit's Keanon Lowe, who has committed to play receiver at Washington, caught five passes for 41 yards. He also gained 23 yards on 10 carries for the Crusaders, who were held to three yards rushing.

Mason Kelley: 206-464-8277 or mkelley@seattletimes.com