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These Skyline Eagles were tasked with defending yet another streak established over decades, long before any of them could even recall the lights of Friday night off 3900 South in Salt Lake City. They knew it almost too well.In 2013, Skyline failed to qualify for the postseason for the first time in 30 seasons.
The Eagles' absence from the playoff picture was short-lived, as they returned in 2014 and again faced another streak manifested over decades of postseason glitz and glamour. In hosting Logan on Halloween night, Skyline tested its 37-0 home playoff record against the fast-paced offense that produced the Nelson brothers, among other Division I quarterbacks.
"Tell you, we really tried hard not to talk about [the streak] because I didn't want the kids to go out there shouldering the burden," said first-year head coach Justin Thompson.
Entertaining the do-or-die of another streak dating back to the Roger DuPaix days came about Thursday evening in the team meeting. It, in fact, helped. They defeated the Grizzlies 29-13 in the 4A first-round matchup Friday afternoon to advance to the 4A quarterfinals next week.
"We came in confident with that 37-0 mindset," said Skyline quarterback Braxton Chipman.
How many teams have the comfort — or dread — of guarding such a streak? Skyline embraced it 24 hours ahead of defeating Logan. Chipman threw for two touchdowns, Michael Binford ran for another, kicker Steven Barrett drilled three field goals and the Eagles are suddenly back where they're so used to being.
"We're starting to remember what we're all about," Thompson said.
Without star running back Aleck Russon, a player who rushed for over 1,100 yards and had 16 rushing touchdowns in the regular season, Chipman and the Skyline offense showed they've adjusted after a rough three-game losing streak in the tail-end of the season. Binford opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 14-yard touchdown run, but the Grizzlies soon answered on a 2-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Hunter Horsley to Hartman Rector.
The Eagles' defense was up to the challenge and only allowed one more touchdown, a 6-yard run by Horsley with five seconds left in the first half to knot the score 13-13. In the third quarter, Chipman went to work and found 6-foot-5 tight end Riley Sharp for two touchdowns.
"I've got to find someone over my 6-foot-7 tackle," Chipman said. "For a 5-11 quarterback, it's a little hard, but seeing [Sharp], a great athlete, great hands, I know he's going to come down with the ball."
Twice Sharp did. On a 55-yard pass and another on a 3rd-and-15 at the Logan 17-yard line.
The Skyline defensive line came up with back-to-back sacks late in the fourth quarter, and on a 4th-and-23 attempt with 5:45 left, hit quarterback Kinkade Widman as the ball fell to the turf. The Eagles killed clock from there, driving to the Logan 6-yard line where Barrett kicked a 22-yard field goal to ice the game.
"We went out there, battled, executed our game-plan on both sides of the ball amazingly well," Thompson said.
And kept a storied streak alive.
Twitter: @CKTribune —
Skyline 29, Logan 13
O Skyline improves to 38-0 in home playoff games.
• Eagles quarterback Braxton Chipman throws a pair of TD passes to tight end Ridley Sharp.