By Jon Clifford

| Special to The Tribune

It was a game Skyline had been preparing for since camp began in August, which explains the massive celebration at night’s end.

The Eagles defense held Herriman to nearly half its average point total and quarterback Tyler Snyder engineered a game-winning drive in the final minutes in a 24-23 victory Friday night.

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At a glance

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Highlights

Herriman entered with a 42.2 points-per-game average, but was held to almost half that.

» Skyline’s winning touchdown came with 58 seconds remaining.

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Snyder’s 6-yard run with 58 seconds remaining tied the score, and a celebration penalty turned the extra-point kick into a 35-yard field goal that kicker Stuart Barrett converted.

"We knew we had to go out and make a play," said Snyder, who also threw two touchdown passes. "And we wound up doing it. "

Herriman’s final drive was stuffed by a Jake Wittwer sack of Tueni Lupeamanu, and the quarterback’s fourth-down incompletion sent the Eagles (3-3, 2-0 Region 7) and their fans into pandemonium.

Skyline coach Steve Marlowe said the defensive coaches began working this summer on how to slow the high-scoring Mustangs (4-2, 1-1).

"Everything we did in summer camp was geared toward their offense," said the first-year head coach. "And our offensive coaches have worked on the evolution of a pass game, and that’s helped us be balanced. With two minutes left in the game, we can now go down and score."

Herriman had taken the lead early in the fourth quarter on an 89-yard kickoff return by Brandon Farmer. The Mustangs were done in by their kicking game, which missed two field goals and an extra point.

Lupeamanu and Francis Bernard each scored on 4-yard runs for the Mustangs, who entered the game second in the state in scoring at 42.2 points per game.

"Our defense came out and stepped up to the challenge," Snyder said. "They wanted to win this game. They put together a perfect game plan and executed it."

On the Eagles’ winning drive, Snyder connected with Chris Williams for a 21-yard completion on fourth and 16. Snyder scored on the next play. Williams caught eight passes for 113 yards.

Snyder threw touchdown passes to Nick Greene (39 yards) and Garrett England (5), and Skyline amassed 187 yards through the air.

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