Skyline overwhelms Prosser in football home opener
The first home game of Skyline High School’s football season on Friday, Sept. 8, was action packed as the Spartans decisively took charge to deliver a 56-21 victory over the Prosser Mustangs.
The opening quarter proved to be quite busy for Skyline as Michael Grimmer jumpstarted the offense with an aggressive rocket pass to Nathan Fischer at the 43-yard line. Cam Weir immediately added to the Spartan advance with a 35-yard reception, putting Skyline in scoring position early in the first quarter. After a quick handoff, Josh Menold drove into the end zone for the Spartans first rushing touchdown of the game, giving them a 7-0 lead.
The Prosser possession was short-lived with a brief, unproductive four downs that led to an immediate punt return to Skyline. The Spartans wasted no time bringing the ball down field 90 yards in three plays, just shy of the goal line with less than a minute in the quarter. Luke Morgan’s advance into the end zone ended the first quarter with a 14-0 advantage for the Spartans.
With momentum on their side, Skyline continued to add to the scoreboard in the second quarter. With pinpoint precision, Grimmer, once again, teamed up with Fischer to find the end zone, pushing their lead to 21-0 lead.
But, Prosser, while battling the large deficit, was not ready to give up. The Mustangs managed to find the end zone on their next possession, putting their first points on the board for a score of 21-7.
The last five minutes of the second quarter were fast-paced and tense. Skyline, with what appeared to be an impenetrable defense, managed to hold the Mustangs at the 2-yard line for two plays. But Prosser was desperate to add to their total and pushed hard as the Mustangs broke through the Spartan defense to add one more touchdown in the half for a 21-14 game. It looked like a close competition.
But the Spartans did not let their last mistake go unanswered. Alex Tucker provided a well-timed block, allowing JP Jones to score a running, 43-yard touchdown bringing the score to 28-14.
The Spartans got the ball back after a quick four downs for the Mustangs. With time running out, Menold managed to cross the goal line one more time for his second touchdown of the night. Skyline ended the half with a significant, 35-14 lead.
The Spartans were just as aggressive in the second half, never allowing the Mustangs an inkling of an opportunity to add to their score throughout the third quarter. Fischer, with a stroke of luck, was in the right place at the right time and snagged the ball back for the Spartans on an unexpected interception, advancing 20 yards before he was stopped at the 2-yard line. With Skyline in scoring position, Agassi Owen received a quick hand-off to increase the Spartan score to 42-14 for a rushing touchdown.
The Spartans’ offense seemed unstoppable as Grimmer dropped back and once again, sent a bullet pass to Fischer as he ran up the right field sideline. On the next play, Grimmer found Weir on a short pass in front of the end zone, allowing Weir to tiptoe easily into the end zone for another Spartan touchdown and an overwhelming 49-14 Skyline advantage to close the third quarter.
Skyline would score one more time, in the fourth quarter, when the Spartans took advantage of another Mustang mistake for an interception by Blake Goldthwait, who ran 50 yards to cross the goal line, adding to their rout, 56-14.
In a final attempt to scramble for points, the Mustangs inched towards the end zone to make their last touchdown of the night. With one more trip down field, Prosser managed to close the gap slightly, but in the end, the Mustangs simply could not outmaneuver the Skyline defense. The Spartans prevailed with a significant margin of victory, and the Mustangs carried a loss back to eastern Washington.
The Spartans will face the Eastlake Wolves for the battle on the plateau on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 6:00 p.m. at Eastlake High School. Both teams are currently undefeated with 2-0 records.
