Playoff time is all about making memories.
The Skyview Storm are a perfect 10-0 heading into the state football playoffs.
The Seton Catholic Cougars trailed four different times Friday night before an epic rally to make it to state.
The Woodland Beavers showed their league title was no fluke, also qualifying for state.
Those three teams will continue their seasons next week, and two more teams from Clark County have a shot to make it to state on Saturday.
Clark County Today made it to parts of two games Friday night, witnessing the first half of Seton Catholic’s contest against Connell in Class 1A before going to the Skyview-Bethel game at Kiggins Bowl for a Class 4A playoff game.
The first half at Seton Catholic was wild. There was a kickoff return for a touchdown, a blocked punt, a safety, a pick-six, and a scoop-and-score. At the end of the half, Connell led 28-23.
The second half was pretty crazy, too, and so much better for the Cougars.
Connell took a 35-31 lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Cougars would score the next three touchdowns for a 52-35 victory. Graham Dumas had a long bomb reception from James Kautz to give Seton the lead for good.
Over at Kiggins Bowl, there was no need for dramatic finishes. Skyview took care of Bethel pretty early, creating a running-clock situation by the start of the second half. Skyview would end up prevailing 49-14.
Still, Adarius Sparrow sure had some dramatic flashes of brilliance.
The Skyview wide receiver caught a swing pass from Dugan Logue and Sparrow and surprised even himself with a 62-yard touchdown. He broke a tackle in between two defenders, and he did that right along the sideline, too. Not only did he escape the tackle, but he kept himself from falling out of bounds, and then sprinted the rest of the way for the score.
“I just climbed that tightrope. I don’t know how I made it happen, but I made it happen,” Sparrow said. “It’s all instinct, I’m not going to lie. And I’m glad I had my brothers out there, behind me blocking. I knew they had my back.”
Later in the first half, he caught a deep pass from Logue for another touchdown. This time, Sparrow skied high against solid coverage in the end zone.
Defensively, Skyview was on point for most of the game, as well. Bethel did not score until it was a running clock.
“They can’t really do anything on us. Run, and we’ll stop it every time. Pass, and we’ll stop it every time,” senior defensive back Jacob Rojas said. “We watched all the film. We knew exactly what they were going to do every time. We’re just always there.”
Next up for this week’s winners will be to find out their seeding for state playoffs, as well as their opponents.
Skyview knows it will get a home game in the opening round of the Class 4A state playoffs next week. Still, the Storm were not thrilled with where they were placed for the Week 10 matchup. It should be noted that the seeding committee will reseed for the 16 4A teams that qualified for state. Those seeds are expected to be announced Sunday.
“Everyone’s been doubting us, everyone up north,” Rojas said. “We’re the real deal.”
Skyview clearly showed it was ready for playoff football on Friday with this statement.
“I know some people have their doubts about us, but I’m glad we were able to show what we can do as a team,” Sparrow said.
Only 12 teams make it to state in Class 1A football. Seton Catholic is one of those teams and will now wait until Sunday to find out its seeding. The Cougars will not receive a first-round bye — that is for the top four seeds. But there is a chance for a home game in the first round.
There was another home game for the region, as well, on Friday night. Woodland took care of business 28-14 against Bainbridge in the Class 2A Week 10 playoff. The Beavers, who proved to be the best team in the 2A Greater St. Helens League, are going to state.
Four other Clark County teams lost Friday night.
In Class 4A, Camas made an incredible comeback to tie the game, but Olympia scored last in a 48-41 victory. The Papermakers’ season ends with a 6-4 record.
In Class 3A, Evergreen lost to Meadowdale 28-14. The Plainsmen also finished with a 6-4 record.
In Class 2A, 2A GSHL South Division champion Hockinson fell to Archbishop Murphy. The Hawks finished the year 5-5.
Washougal, meanwhile, just missed on the road against Franklin Pierce, falling 32-28. Washougal finished 4-6.
On Saturday, Ridgefield is on the road against Prosser in a 2A playoff.
In Class 1A, La Center is hosting Cascade-Leavenworth at 2 p.m.
King’s Way Christian, by the way, qualified for Week 10 but forfeited its game against Royal due to a number of injured players.
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