PR Sports

Friday’s high school football game between rivals Highland and Skyline was meaningless on paper.

The defending 5A state champion Rams had already wrapped up the top seed from District 5-6 and were just tuning up for another title run.

The Grizzlies, who got off to an impressive 4-0 start before dropping three straight and being eliminated from the playoff hunt with a loss to Madison last week, were playing for pride.

Pride won out at Ravsten Stadium.

Skyline built a 35-14 lead when Max Asay returned the second half kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown, then held on for a 42-35 win over Highland.

“We kind of had a rough month, and this is what we had to go for,” said senior quarterback Michael Berger, who rushed for two touchdowns and threw for two more. “This was big.”

Asay, who rushed for 79 yards on nine carries and was a constant threat on kick returns, couldn’t have agreed more.

“This was huge for everybody,” the senior running back said. “I knew we were going to come out with great energy, but I’ve never seen us play like that.”

The Grizzlies treated Friday’s matchup against Highland, a team they haven’t beat since 1992, as their playoff game.

Highland grabbed a 7-0 lead on Kai Campbell’s 1-yard TD run midway through the first quarter, Skyline answered with a 10-play, 74-yard drive capped by Berger’s slant pass to Nate Rhoades.

The teams traded touchdowns on the next two drives — Skyline got a tough 7-yard TD run from Steven Frei while Highland got an 85-yard kickoff return from Tyler Underwood, and the game was tied.

That’s when the Grizzlies took control.

Berger faked a handoff, moved to his right and outran the Highland defense for a 34-yard score and a 21-14 lead.

On their next drive, Berger hit Michael Buford with a fade pass from 8 yards out to make it 28-14.

Asay gave the Grizzlies a spark to start the second half when he fielded a kick at the 15, broke through a pack of tacklers in the middle of the field then outran the final two defenders for the score.

Highland wasn’t done, especially with junior quarterback Tanner Nielson, who completed 19 of 33 passes for 288 yards, much of it coming in the second half.

The Rams got within a touchdown and got the ball back with 30 seconds left near midfield. An incompletion and fumble later, the Grizzlies had their season-ending win.

“We wanted to finish strong,” Skyline coach Scott Berger said. “I’m so proud of this team. We could have rolled over after last week, but we said no, let’s make this our championship game. Let’s show we can compete with any team in the state.”

SKYLINE 42, HIGHLAND 35
Highland    14    0    14    7    —    35
Skyline    14    14    7    7    —    42

First quarter
H-Kai Campbell 1 run (Paul Muzzo kick)
S-Nate Rhoades 11 pass from Michael Berger (Colter Yde kick)
S-Steven Frei 7 run (Yde kick)
H-Tyler Underwood 85 kickoff return (Muzzo kick)

Second quarter
S-Berger 34 run (Yde kick)
S-Michael Buford 8 pass from Berger (Yde kick)

Third quarter
S-Max Asay 87 kickoff return (Yde kick)
H-Dillon Filiaga fumble recovery in end zone (Muzzo kick)
H-Brenn Schiess 20 pass from Tanner Nielson (Muzzo kick)

Fourth quarter
S-Berger 12 run (Yde kick)
H-Jace Hansen 13 pass from Nielson (Muzzo kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Highland: Nielson 8-44, Ean Filiaga 1-1, Kai Campbell 4-18, Mason Gonzalez 1-5. Skyline, Berger 16-66, Frei 13-39, Asay 9-79, Michael Glaser 3-31.
PASSING-Highland: Nielson  19-33-0 288. Berger 12-19-1 139.
RECEIVING-Underwood 3-104, Hansen 5-59, Derrek Evans 1-16, Ryan Castillo 1-4, Campbell 4-63, Filiaga 3-7, George Casper 1-15, Sehiess 1-10. Skyline: Buford 2-26, Houston Moore 4-49, Rhoades 2-12, Spencer Raish 2-17, Tanner Bodily 1-13, Asay 1-22.