Photo by Rocky Ross
SKY SCRAPER. Curtis cornerback Jordan Copeland leaps high to defend against a Skyline pass.
Even the steady rain that hung over University Place for most of the afternoon before the game could not put a damper on the excitement building for the 4A quarterfinal showdown to come later that night. But by the end of the first quarter, everything was over but the shouting, as the Skyline Spartans buried the Curtis Vikings with a score of 49 to 14 last weekend.
Skyline now looks forward to their rematch with top ranked Bothell in the state 4A semifinals this week (Nov. 28, 7 p.m.) in the Tacoma Dome.
“They are a very well coached team, you can see why they and Bothell are the top two teams in the state,” said Viking coach Clay Angle.
This was the Vikings’ only loss this season, as they finished the year with an 11-1 record. Skyline’s outstanding quarterback and B.Y.U. commit, Jake Heaps, operated an offense that scored on its first seven drives.
The Spartan defense, meanwhile, threw a blanket over Rahmel Dockery and the rest of the Curtis offense as the mercy rule was invoked for the entire second half.
“They wanted to bring a lot pressure early, so we went to our entire stable of weapons to offset that,” said Heaps, whose stable of skill position players had the Viking defenders on their heels the entire first half.
“Mistakes usually get magnified when they pile up, but against this team they absolutely bury you,” said Angle, who also emphasized the deflated mood in the locker room at halftime.
Curtis’ Rahmel Dockery did give the Vikings’ fans a highlight moment, sort of.
He broke open a dazzling 90-yard kickoff return that was called back for a penalty.
In the second half, Jason Walker scored for the Vikings on a 53-yard run and Richard Southern scored on a 2-yard run – memories from an otherwise forgettable defeat.
“We saw a similar team in looks to Curtis in Jesuit High of Portland in that they brought the same amount of pressure and after that first series we didn’t have much trouble adjusting to it,” said Heaps.
Regardless of the loss, Curtis finished a very successful season with many starters coming back, including both Rahmel Dockery and Tyler Jamison.
“It was a tough way to go out, but our seniors left a great legacy and with the amount of returners we should compete well into the postseason next year, too,” said Angle.
The Skyline vs. Bothell rematch is a must-see game for all high-school football fans this weekend. It’s too bad it’s in the semifinals that the two best teams in the state have to meet.
“I can’t wait to get back at Bothell in the semis next Saturday night (Nov. 28) at the Dome,” Heaps said.
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