Prep Football: 4A: Skyview knocks out No. 3 Auburn, 34-21

VANCOUVER, Wash. — One more big play on offense.

One more defensive stand.

They had become standard practice for the third-ranked Auburn Trojans this year. But with their season on the line in the fourth quarter against Skyview of Vancouver, they couldn't come up with either as they fell 34-21 in a Class 4A quarterfinal game at Kiggins Bowl.

"We just didn't make plays when we needed to," coach Gordon Elliott said. "In the playoffs, you've got to do that. Somebody's got to step up and make big plays. We had it 21-21, and somebody's got to make a play, and we just didn't do that."

The Storm did, and advances to the semifinals for the first time in school history. Skyview (10-2), which has won nine games in a row, plays the winner of today's quarterfinal between No. 8 Eisenhower of Yakima (11-0) and No. 10 Ferris of Spokane (8-3) next Saturday in either Yakima or Spokane.

Auburn finishes the season 11-1, losing in the quarterfinals for the second straight year, despite the 268 rushing yards of junior Alphonse Wade.

"I wanted to do everything I could to get us to the next game," Wade said.

It was his second 62-yard touchdown dash of the game that helped the Trojans draw even at 21 with 8:57 left in the third quarter, but the offense sputtered from there.

Skyview, eliminating a South Puget Sound League team for the third week in a row, posted a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to send the Trojans home — the final a 1-yard keeper by quarterback Austin Dodge with just 57.1 seconds left.

The Storm is loving its underdog role.

"Southwest football is a little underrated," said Dodge, who completed 16 of 23 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown. "We're out to shock the state."

Matt Spears rushed for 102 yards and a TD and also threw a 6-yard touchdown pass that put the Storm ahead for good.

Auburn scored on its first two possessions of the game, but Skyview's Ellis Henderson had a 97-yard kickoff return in between.

The second period was all Skyview. Down 14-6, Dodge hit Ian Zarosinski with a screen pass that turned into a 34-yard TD.

Two plays later, the Trojans fumbled near midfield and Skyview capitalized. Spears ultimately scored on a 6-yard run and Henderson added a two-point conversion off a fake kick for a 21-14 lead that stood at halftime.

Auburn pulled even early in the third quarter on Wade's second 62-yard burst, but the Trojans were shut out for the final 20 minutes and 57 seconds.