Storm play host to rival Titans at Kiggins Bowl Friday

Skyview Storm (4-3, 1-1 4A GSHL)

Week 1: Skyview 31, Sunset (Ore.) 20
Week 2: Eastside Catholic 49, Skyview 21
Week 3: O’ea 38, Skyview 7
Week 4: Skyview 49, Mountain View 21
Week 5: Skyview 42, Columbia River 6
Week 6: Camas 38, Skyview 20
Week 7: Skyview 48, Battle Ground 13
Next: vs. Union, 8 p.m. Friday at Kiggins Bowl

Win No. 100 for head coach Steve Kizer at Skyview as the Storm bounced back from a loss to the defending champion Camas Papermakers and now prepare for Union in Week 8.

100:

Skyview coach Steve Kizer recorded win No. 100 with the Storm in this one. But he said it is his coaching staff and players that should share in the milestone.

“It’s us. It’s we. I haven’t made a tackle or thrown a ball,” Kizer said.

“The program has come a long way since the 3-7 days,’’ he said. “I didn’t think I was going to live long enough to win 100.”
Kizer had a lot of family members at this game in anticipation of No. 100.

“It was a great experience,” he said. “That was really cool.”

What Week 8 means for Skyview:

Simple math, really. Skyview needs a win over Union in order to have a chance at the playoffs. Which means this might as well be a playoff game for the Storm.

If Union wins Friday, Camas and Union will play for first and second place in Week 9, and Skyview will be out of the playoffs.

If Skyview wins Friday, the Storm would be assured of at least playing in some sort of tiebreaker if they take care of business in Week 9..

Of course, many believe that if Skyview wins Friday and again in Week 9, the Storm will be the second-place team from the 4A Greater St. Helens League. Not necessarily. Skyview could win Friday, but what if Union beats Camas in Week 9? There would be a three-way tie for first place, meaning a tiebreaker would have to be played for the two playoff berths.

For Skyview, Week 9 means nothing unless it can win in Week 8.

See a pattern:

The Skyview defense put on a first-half clinic Friday against the Tigers.

There were back-to-back three-and-outs to start the game. Battle Ground did have something going on its next drive, but then there was a fourth-down sack.

That was followed up by three consecutive three-and-outs.

Jevon Kelly got a sack in the first series. The defensive line used a perfect stunt to get around any offensive linemen who were supposed to block him, and Kelly easily got to the quarterback.

On the next series, Battle Ground got into Skyview territory but lost the ball on downs. Jayden Chatman got the fourth-down sack.

Chatman was at it once again the next series, getting a sack on third down, which led to another Battle Ground punt.

Pinkney takes the long way for this TD:

Tavis Pinkney caught three touchdown passes from quarterback Max Rose in this one. The first went for 51 yards, the second for 20, and the third, officially, went for 39 yards.

That 39-yarder is misleading.

Pinkney caught the pass down the left sideline, cut back behind two defenders and then searched for a way to get into the end zone.

It turned out, that path led him to run “horizontal,” not “vertical.” Pinkney ended up going sideway all the way to the right sideline.

Then he got help from a great block by Jovon Sewell, which allowed him to turn upfield for a few more yards, and then he found just enough space for the final yards of his touchdown.

Let’s see … a football field is 53.3 yards wide. So Pinkney probably ran about 50 yards sideways on his way to the end zone. So it was more like 89 yards on that score.

Coach Speak:

What did Kizer think of his team’s performance? “We tackled really well. They had moved the ball on everybody. I thought we stopped them really well. Offense, we made less mistakes and were more disciplined. Made giant leaps from the week before.”

MVP on offense: “Chatman, our tight end. He blocked great,’’ KIzer said. “He was our best defensive players, too.”

MVP on defense (other than Chatman): Chad Eigsti, weakside linebacker. “He was money. He was taking care of his gaps. I thought he played really well,’’ Kizer said.

Thoughts on Week 8 vs Union: “It’s a late night, it’s senior night, and there are a lot of things we have to take care of, let alone stopping that quarterback and that offensive group,’’ Kizer said. “They’re pretty good. They’re pretty good on defense, too. We’ve got some challenges. Should be a good game.”