Skyline football dominates Lincoln, 50-7
On Friday, Nov. 1, the Skyline Spartans faced the Lincoln Lynxes at Skyline High School and delivered a 50-7 resounding victory for the home team.
With the crowd cheering, both teams took the field, adrenaline pumping. The Spartans wasted no time putting points on the board when quarterback Mason Pirello connected with Cameron Weir on a long bomb up the left sideline for a 50-yard gain and the first touchdown of the night on their first possession. However, a failed 2-point conversion meant the Spartans had to settle for the 6-point lead.
From there, things only got worse for the Lynxes when the Spartans managed to tackle a Lincoln player in the end zone for a 2-point safety.
It seemed the Lynxes failed to learn from their prior left side coverage mistake when Pirello snapped to Bupe Chisanga Jr., who ran up the left sideline for another Spartan touchdown and a 15-0 advantage.
The Spartan defense stalled the Lynx offense to regain control of the ball for another opportunity for Skyline. Initially, the Spartan progress was slower until Pirello found Chisanga Jr. for another touchdown and a 22-point lead for Skyline.
Unable to turn possession into points, the ball came back to the Spartan offense for one more touchdown during the first quarter. This time, Joshua Menold ran, undetected, up the right sideline into the end zone to give Skyline a 29-0 early rout.
Unfortunately for Lincoln, the second quarter held more of the same. The Lynxes failed to capitalize on a 40-yard-long bomb that initially looked promising until control turned over to the Spartans as their defensive line held the visiting offense to no gain.
On their next possession, Pirello threw a short pass to Menold, who ran down the left sideline, with Lincoln defenders pawing at him as he scored a 93-yard rushing touchdown for a 36-0 lead.
It became clear that both teams were beginning to feel the exhaustion of play as a series of fumbles brought excitement and unexpected possession changes. Unable to capitalize on the opportunity of returned possession on a Skyline fumble, Lincoln was once again held to a quick three-and-out. Making their way down field, Pirello connected with Luke Morgan for an 83-yard gain deep into Lynx territory. Finishing off the series, Morgan added another touchdown to end the half with an insurmountable 43-0 Skyline lead.
Clearly, Lincoln needed to make some changes, and it appeared they used the break to do so. Not only did the Lynxes hold the Spartans scoreless the entire third quarter but they also set themselves up to avoid a goose egg. With promising field position to open the final quarter, Lincoln’s Landon Jones intercepted a pass in the last seconds of the third quarter.
Capitalizing on the Spartan mishap, Jacob Smith threw a 40-yard bomb to Henry Kozu to advance the Lynxes down field into Skyline territory. Despite a possible momentum changing sack by Jeffery Walker, the Lincoln offense continued their mission toward the end zone. Refusing to give up, Montrese Weaver Jr. finally wrestled past the Skyline defense to put the Lynxes on the board, 42-7, for their first and only touchdown in the game.
In control of play once again, the Spartans marched down field for one more touchdown. This time, Corbin Hundrup broke through the Lincoln defensive line, running up the middle only to weave right for a 70-yard run into Lincoln territory before being taken down. With one more opportunity, Hundrup finished the job with another 20-yard gain for a touchdown and a 50-7 final victory for the Spartans.
Skyline completed regular season play with a 6-3 record.
Postseason district qualifiers begin Friday, Nov. 8. The Skyline Spartans face the Emerald Ridge Jaguars at Sparks Stadium at 7 p.m.
