Falcons Lose a Heartbreaker to Skyline 26-21 in State Semifinals

The magical undefeated season for the second ranked Woodinville (12-1) football team came to a close Saturday afternoon as they dropped a heartbreaker to Skyline 26-21. But, with a seventh championship game appearance and Damian Greene running the ball at an almost unstoppable pace at times, the Spartans held off the Falcons 26-21 in the State 4A Football Semifinals on Saturday afternoon in a thriller.

"It was a great game, " Skyline coach Mat Taylor said. "Our kids, when they get to the Tacoma Dome, understand the expectations when they get here."

The Spartans controlled the first half for the most part as Greene got the scoring started on a two yard touchdown reception from Max Browne and then a one yard touchdown run in the second quarter, sending Skyline into halftime with a 12-0 lead.

"They did a good job of controlling tempo in the first half," Falcons coach Wayne Maxwell said.

Woodinville would fight back in the second half, with a balanced offensive attack led by senior quarterback Brett Arrivey who threw for 273 yards—a season high—and two touchdowns. Arrivey hit running back Alec Schwend on a three yard touchdown pass to cut the Spartan to lead to five in the opening minutes of the third quarter.

Then Greene got his third and most important touchdown of the day on a screen pass from Browne that he took 60 yards for a touchdown pushing the lead back to 19-7.

Taylor talked about the determination of his senior running back in this playoff run.

"He's been unbelievable," Taylor said. " He's running possessed."

Browne lauded Greene's play as well on both sides of the ball.

"He was huge today," Browne said of Greene. "He's a big time player who made big time plays." Browne also was efficient in the passing game completing 22 of 31 for 292 yards and two touchdown passes.

Defensively, Greene caused a fumble on a lateral, recovered it setting up a Nic Sblendorio 30 yard touchdown run to put the Spartans back out ahead 26-14 with just over three minutes left.

The Falcons did not back down, narrowing the gap to 26-21 when Arrivey hit Kyle Adkins on a five yard touchdown pass with 1:28 to go in the game. Then then Wyatt Smith recovered the onside kick and the Falcons would drive down to the Skyline 14-yard line before having to the ball over on downs with less than 30 seconds to play in the game.

"We moved the ball well in the second half," Maxwell said. "We just didn't execute at the end on that final drive."

Maxwell said, however, that he was very proud out of his outgoing group of seniors and his team.

"This is a tough hard nosed group, that really enjoyed competing," he said.

On the Skyline sideline a relieved coach Taylor expressed what was going through his mind on the final drive.

"I was terrified," he said. "It was like last year against Curtis, you think they have the game wrapped up and then holy smokes here they come."

The Spartans, with three losses on their record, have had to deal with more adversity than normal but Browne believes that losing those games early has helped them in the post season to this point.

"You hate to lose, but you learn from losing," Browne said.

Skyline will face either Skyview or Lake Stevens next Saturday for the 4A Championship and Taylor knows that both teams will be very formidable opponents.

"Skyview has a great running back and defense, Jake Nelson has Lake Stevens rolling, "Taylor said.

Kickoff time for the 4A State Championship Game at the Tacoma Dome is 7:30 pm on Saturday, Dec. 3.

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