Week 11
Skyline Spartans (8-2) vs. South Kitsap Wolves (10-0)
Time: 7 p.m. Saturday @ Mount Tahoma High School.
Skyline Coach: Matt Taylor, second year.
League Affiliation: Class 4A KingCo.
Offensive formation: Spread.
Defensive formation: 4-3.
Last year’s Record: 14-0 overall and 5-0 in league.
2008 playoff results: Defeated Issaquah 20-15 to win the Class 4A state championship.
Key returners: WR/DB Connor Brandt, 5-11, 174, sr.; OL/DL Jase Butorac, 6-4, 289, sr.; OL/DL Evan Day, 6-3, 255, sr.; OL/LB Anthony De Matteo, 6-1, 218, sr.; WR/DB Michael Ford, 5-10, 172, jr.; QB Jake Heaps, 6-2, 205, sr.; TE/DL Cooper Pelluer, 6-4, 229, sr.; WR/DB Jordan Simone, 6-0, 170, jr.; RB/DB Nick Washburn, 5-11, 190, sr.; WR Kasen Williams, 6-2, 197, jr.
Skyline vs. South Kitsap: First meeting.
Last week: Skyline defeated Kentridge 42-0 in a state play-in game.
Overview: Skyline opened in 1997 and went winless in its inaugural season. But it did not take long for former coach Steve Gervais to build the program into one of the state’s best. Gervais guided the Spartans to a perfect season (13-0) and their first Class 3A state championship in 2000. Skyline won two more titles under Gervais before he left after the 2007 season to coach at the University of Washington. The program has remained successful under Matt Taylor, who guided the team to another perfect season and a 4A state title last year. It all starts on offense for the Spartans. Jake Heaps, who committed to Brigham Young during the summer and is considered by some as the nation’s top quarterback prospect. He has completed 152 of 252 passes for 2,256 yards, 29 touchdowns and four interceptions this season. His top target is one of the nation’s top wide receivers in the 2011 Class. Kasen Williams, the son of former University of Washington wide receiver Aaron Williams, reports offers from most of the Pac-10 and elite national programs such as Florida and Louisiana State. He has 935 yards and 11 touchdowns on 52 receptions. Heaps has several other receivers, including Jordan Simone, whose older brother, Gino Simone, now plays at Washington State. The younger Simone is second on the team with five touchdown receptions. Senior Nick Washburn is the team’s main ball carrier with 739 yards and four touchdowns on 101 carries. On defense, lineman Cooper Pelluer — son of former WSU and NFL linebacker Scott Pelluer — leads the team with eight sacks. Linebacker Anthony De Matteo has a team-high 81 tackles. Skyline has scored at least 42 points in seven games this season, while its defense has shutout three opponents.
