An incredible performance from Skyview, and so many more teams, as the high school football season begins

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

There are no trophies won, no championships crowned on the first Friday of the high school football season.

But there can be some statements made … in victory, and even in defeat.

At Kiggins Bowl, the Skyview Storm shut out a perennial power from Oregon, a team, it is believed, that had not been shut out in more than a decade. 

Earlier in the evening, the Hudson’s Bay defense did not allow any points in a win over Heritage, and Heritage, with a new coach, showed vast improvement from a year ago. 

Over at Camas, the Papermakers defense was in championship form. Even in defeat, falling to defending Class 3A state champion Yelm 8-7.

And La Center got its first win over Hockinson since 2010. 

Those were just some of the statements that were loud and clear on the first Friday of the 2023 high school football season.

Me? I took in the doubleheader at Kiggins Bowl. I wanted to see two teams that I have not seen a lot of in recent years, Heritage and Hudson’s Bay. Then I wanted to witness Skyview, wondering if that team was as good as advertised. 

While it was unplanned, I ended up on the broadcast for both games, working for VPS Game Time. 

That just made my 23rd consecutive opening Friday even more memorable. 

Yes, this is Year 23 for me covering high school football in Clark County. The best job in the world.

Here’s my statement for the 2023 season: My passion for high school football remains. 

But enough about me. This is about the players, the coaches, the fans. 

And they have a lot to look forward to this season.

Jake Kennedy just kept doing Jake Kennedy things for the Skyview Storm on Friday night. The quarterback, who can get things done through the air or on the ground, had two touchdown runs for the Storm in a 28-0 victory over the Crusaders.

Wait, 28-0? That seems odd. When was the last time a Jesuit team failed to score? The Oregon Schools Activities Association has game-by-game records that go back to 2013, and Jesuit has scored in every game. So I found another year-by-year account that goes back a little more, and it looks like Jesuit lost 17-0 to another Washington team — Skyline — in 2009. 

Can’t say for sure that it was the last time. High school record keeping through the years has not always been reliable. But the point is Jesuit usually scores.

Not Friday. Not against Skyview.

In fact, the Skyview defense scored more than the Jesuit offense.

Jerrid Secor had a crazy night to remember as a defensive back for the Storm.

A pick-six. A forced fumble that led to a Skyview recovery. And a tackle-for-loss, a crushing hit on a Jesuit receiver. That last hit will go down as a tackle-for-loss. It could have been even more, but the official was shielded away and did not see the ball come out for a fumble. Looked like a fumble on the replay we saw in the broadcast booth, but it was a difficult call in live action.

No one was complaining. Fumble or no fumble on that play, this was a dominating performance by the Storm.

Secor’s touchdown came off a tip-drill. Colby Warner of Skyview stepped in front of the intended receiver, tipped the ball, and Secor, playing behind the receiver, tracked the ball in the air.

“It felt like God came down, blessed me with the ball right in my hands,” Secor said. “Running it back, I was seeing the (Jesuit) linemen. I said, ‘That lineman is not going to catch me.’ I made it into the end zone. Felt great. I loved it.”

That made it 14-0 just minutes into the game. Moments earlier, Kennedy broke a long run, then capped Skyview’s opening drive with a touchdown run.

A few minutes after the defensive touchdown, the Storm offense got the ball back, and went on attack. Trey Jacob scored on a nifty run, making it 21-0 less than seven minutes into the game.

Kennedy would break free for another long touchdown run in the fourth quarter, and the Skyview defense came up big down the stretch to preserve the shutout. 

“We put a new system in,” Skyview coach Steve Kizer said of his team’s defense. “Maybe we caught them by surprise. It’s still a work in progress, but I was happy how it started.”

Kennedy and the Storm surprised even themselves, a bit, with the final score.

“It’s actually insane,” Kennedy said. “We didn’t expect to blow them out. We thought it was going to be a tough game. It was tough. We just wanted it more.”

Secor said the Storm were thinking about this game even before last season ended. Jesuit got past Skyview by a field goal last year.

Secor missed last season due to injury. He’s back, and loving his time on the field.

“Feels great to be under these lights, see all these people cheering for us, for the Storm. I love it,” he said. 

Kennedy said he thought he was going to be nervous, but instead he was comfortable from the get-go, ready. 

“It was just an awesome feeling to be out here,” he said. “I love our atmosphere.”

Earlier in the evening, the Hudson’s Bay Eagles opened their season with a 31-7 victory over Heritage. This was a 10-7 game at halftime, but the Eagles got long touchdown runs from Rafael Bauman and Aqeel Bauman to take a 24-7 lead. Aqeel added another in the fourth quarter.

The Bay defense was tough all night. Heritage’s only points came on special teams.

“I just want to credit my D-line. They set me up,” said linebacker Talan Leon Guerrero, who was making plays all night for the Eagles.

Leon Guerrero loved finally being able to take on an opponent instead of just practicing.

“I’ve been hitting my teammates all week. I was glad to be able to hit another team,” he said. 

Hudson’s Bay coach Mark Oliverio calls opening night special.

“It’s the longest, most anticipated game of the year. You start talking about it the minute you see the schedule,” Oliverio said. 

Kevin Peterson was making his debut as Heritage’s coach. He has been an assistant with the program and a longtime teacher. So he knows the good history, and all about the recent struggles at Heritage.

“Compared to a year ago, we are twice as good as we were,” Peterson said. “I am beyond ecstatic about our performance.”

This was a 10-7 game at halftime, after all.

“Yeah, we lost the game … but a year ago, that game would have turned into a running clock,” Peterson said.

Beyond Kiggins Bowl, there was a battle of powerhouses between Yelm and Camas. Both defenses got the job done. Yelm’s defense allowed a lot of yards but rarely broke, stopping Camas from scoring several times in the red zone. Then again, Camas’ defense had one incredible night, holding the Tornados to one score. Yelm scored 28 or more points in 13 of its 14 wins last season.

La Center had lost six consecutive games against Hockinson. The Wildcats ended that streak, beating the Hawks for the first time since 2010. Ridgefield went up north and held off W.F. West 27-21. Battle Ground shut out Mark Morris 43-0. And Woodland took care of Kalama 44-30.

Those were just some of the highlights from Clark County teams on opening night.

What a night, and it’s only the beginning.