The intense rivalry between the Issaquah and Skyline bleachers was palpable at the varsity football game on Oct. 21, with both sides cheering as loudly as possible. Even with the bigger crowd, Skyline came out on top with a score of 18 compared to Issaquah’s 7. Senior Nolan Crothers, a tight end, states, “It was a hard game, but I’m proud of the effort the team put in as a whole, even if we ended with a loss.”
Issaquah’s football coach, Joshua Brookshire, truly demonstrated the team’s and his effort that has been being put into strategy, as he stated that “the team watches at least three films on the other opponent and breaks it down statistically.” This step is often overlooked in how hard and how much preparation and time must be put into every game. Senior Ben Short, a wide receiver, stated that “it helps me understand what I have to do and what I’m up against.”
The first quarter started out slow, with both teams being shut down by each other’s defense. This pattern of back-and-forth attacks quickly ended when Skyline’s number 9, Michael Grimmer, threw a 64 Yd pass completed for a touchdown. Skyline then proceeded to go for the extra two points and succeeded, putting them ahead with a score of 8 to 0. This first touchdown in the first 4 minutes of the game created a great atmosphere for the intensity and competitiveness of the game.
The second quarter was as, if not more, intense than the first, with each team giving away barely any yardage until the last 4 minutes of the quarter where #22 Josh Menold scored a 15-yard rushing touchdown, which was followed by a conversion kick to put Skyline 15 points ahead of Issaquah’s 0. Ending the first half with Skyline two touchdowns ahead of Issaquah set the tone for how the game would play out.
Even with low morale and a tough second half ahead of them, Issaquah fought back in the third quarter with Freshman #4 Jace Paget’s 10-yard rushing touchdown and a successful extra point, narrowing the score to 15-7. The game remained intense with both teams’ defenses making critical stops and interceptions, mostly by Skyline.
In the fourth quarter, Skyline’s defense rose to the occasion, recovering a fumble and intercepting a pass, crushing any chances Issaquah might have had for a comeback victory. With less than a minute left, Skyline kicker #34 Sean Lee sealed the victory with a 27-yard field goal, making the final score 18-7.
This tough loss for the Eagles put their regular season record at zero wins and six losses within the district league. With one more game left in the season, the Eagles still have a chance at one victory.
