Skyline topples Puyallup, 25-22, in overtime 4A football playoff win, 3 takeaways

Spartans' kicker Sean Lee knocks back 23-yard field goal in overtime, Jaxon Menold comes up with game-sealing interception

SAMMAMISH, Wash. – In a game where neither offense truly found a solid rhythm, Skyline did just enough down the stretch to keep its season alive, holding off a ferocious Puyallup comeback bid in a 25-22 victory.

After turning away the Vikings' offense as time expired to send the game into overtime, the Spartans' offense managed a 23-yard field goal off the foot of Sean Lee to take a 25-22 lead.

Skyline's defense took the field next looking to put an end to the game. The Spartans got exactly what they were looking for, knocking the Vikings back on their first two plays to make them face a third-and-long.

Ninth-grader Brayden Paulino fired off a pass on that third down that was intercepted by Skyline's Jaxon Menold, putting an end to the game.

Skyline running back Josh Menold scored the game's first touchdown on a 61-yard run and wide receiver Luke Morgan had a touchdown run of 28 yards and 45-yard touchdown reception.

Kaden Rolfsness scored all three of the Vikings' touchdowns on a 14-yard run, five-yard reception and five-yard run.

Here are three takeaways from the game:

SKYLINE LIMITS BIG PLAYS

While the Spartans got beat down the field a couple of times for big gains, Skyline kept Puyallup's offense in check for much of the game.

Every Vikings' score was the result of long, sustained drives where Puyallup dinked and dunked its way down the field.

"We let those two balls get over our heads on go routes," Skyline coach Steve Gervais said. "Cam (Weir) is an all-league corner and he's as good as it gets. You're always trying to make them work to get (scores)."

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DEFENSE COMES UP BIG ALL GAME

Outside of the game-sealing interception by Jaxon Menold, the Skyline defense picked up the offense from the first whistle.

Two fumbles by Skyline quarterback Michael Grimmer in the second half could have buried the Spartans, but the defense forced Puyallup's offense to stall out.

"Our defense has played great all year and it was just great execution by the defense in the overtime period," Gervais said.

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STRICTLY BUSINESS FOR GERVAIS

Gervais, a former Puyallup quarterback, has connections to his alma mater that are alive and well today.

Even with all those links and relationships to the Vikings and this season being his first back at Skyline in more than a decade, Gervais deflected to the team.

"I'm thrilled for our kids," he said. "I've had some great things over the years and to see these kids be able to experience this win in the first round is a great thing."

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