Kasen Williams leads parade of 2011 best efforts from individuals, teams
December 27, 2011
Peyton Pelluer (right), Skyline High School junior linebacker, and teammate Nic Sblendorio (9), junior defensive back, combine to throw Woodinville senior running back Devin McKee to the turf during the 4A state semifinal game Nov. 26. By Greg Farrar
It was a year of state titles for Skyline High School, and the end of a career for a Spartan who always seemed to be in championship form.
When he graduated last spring, Skyline’s Kasen Williams left a legacy that might never be duplicated in the Issaquah School District. He was definitely the most dominant figure in the local sports scene in 2011.
Skyline Spartans continue dynasty, conquer state championship
December 6, 2011
Skyline wins sixth title since 2000 with 38-7 dominance over Skyiew
Mason Gregory, Skyline High School senior wide receiver, outleaps Skyview senior defensive back David Garlington for a 35-yard touchdown catch. By Greg Farrar
TACOMA — Before heading to the field for his second 4A state championship football game as a starter, Skyline High School junior quarterback Max Browne sat in the same chair in the same locker room as he did last year.
Skyline beats Skyview at its game
December 6, 2011
Skyview, which had rolled by 11 opponents en route to the Class 4A state title game in the Tacoma Dome, finally felt what it was like to get shut down.
“A little bit of a role reversal there, huh?” said Skyview coach Steve Kizer in an interview with The Columbian newspaper. “Looks like they (Skyline) took a page out of our book.”
Skyview was averaging 47.8 points per game. But something was different this time. On a night where the word “sky” seemed to be omnipresent — the Storm never got its offense off the ground.
“Their coverage was great today,” Skyview quarterback Kieran McDonagh said. “That (Skyline) was a real physical team.”
Skyline Spartans clinch state football championship
December 4, 2011
NEW — 9 a.m. Dec. 4, 2011
The Skyline Spartans are state champs for the fourth time in five years after beating the Skyview Storm 38-7 Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.
Skyline used a strong running attack and typical air attack to take it to Skyview.
But The Spartan defense also played a huge role in the dominant effort at state. Three different defenders intercepted passes from Skyview’s Kieran McDonagh, including Jack Valencia’s 74-yard interception return for a touchdown with 34 seconds left in the game.
Junior quarterback Max Browne finished the night completing 15 of 22 pass attempts for 222 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Running back Damian Greene ran the ball 16 times for 76 yards and a touchdown. Valencia finished with 43 yards rushing and also punched through for an 11-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Family LB heritage safe in hands of Skyline’s Peyton Pelluer
December 2, 2011
NEW — 11 a.m. Dec. 2, 2011
Back when Scott Pelluer was playing linebacker for the New Orleans Saints, he would occasionally play catch with a teammate’s son.
The teammate was quarterback Archie Manning. The son was future National Football League star quarterback Peyton Manning.
Pelluer and his wife, Kim, liked the name so much they named their youngest son after the Manning child, who became the first pick of the 1998 draft and a four-time league MVP.
As Peyton Pelluer grew up, genetics took over and he didn’t follow in Peyton Manning’s footsteps. Now a junior at Skyline High School, Peyton Pelluer is one of the top middle linebackers in the state.
Skyline Spartans defense does in Woodinville Falcons, 26-21
November 29, 2011
Max Browne, Skyline High School junior quarterback, breaks the tackle of Woodinville senior linebacker Jacob Hollister on a keeper for nine yards to the Falcon 8-yard line as the Skyline sideline looks on during the first quarter. By Greg Farrar
Even when the Woodinville Falcons were poised for a last-minute comeback, the Skyline High School football team seemed confidant that on the field things would go its way. Read more
Skyview stands in way of Skyline’s sixth title
November 29, 2011
The Sky is definitely the limit.
Two high schools, both with “Sky” in their names, who opened the same year (1997), collide at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 for the 4A state football championship in the Tacoma Dome.
Skyline’s Spartans (10-3) will be seeking a sixth state title. The Spartans have won a state title four times in the past five years. The Tacoma Dome has been like a second home field for the Spartans, who have won nine of their last 10 games in the stadium.
Skyview (11-2), located down in Vancouver, Wash., is making its first title appearance. The closest the Storm has ever come to the finals was in 2009 when it lost to Ferris, 46-41, in the semifinals.
Tacoma Dome is a second home for Skyline
November 25, 2011
NEW — 10 a.m. Nov. 25, 2011
Every time Skyline High School football coach Mat Taylor drives past the Tacoma Dome with his family, his boys, Jackson and Cole, say the same thing.
“That’s where daddy plays.”
Since Jackson was born in 2005, the Spartans have advanced to the state-title game five times. Cole, 3, has not experienced a season in which his father’s team didn’t finish indoors.
“It’s kind of what my family has grown up with,” said Taylor, who met his wife, Katie, during the school’s 2000 championship season. “Not just the success, but just being a part of Skyline football.”
The Spartans (9-3) are again heading back to the Tacoma Dome, this time to play second-ranked Woodinville (12-0) Saturday in the Class 4A semifinals at 1 p.m.
Skyline Spartans claim opening round in run for state title, 27-17
November 15, 2011
Skyline High School’s football team is renowned for always having an explosive offense. However, the Spartans also know that this time of the year a team had better be playing solid defense, especially if it has aspirations of playing for a state title in the Tacoma Dome.
And Skyline always has those aspirations.
The Spartans, coming up strong on defense, moved another step closer to the Tacoma Dome Nov. 12, when they defeated the Greater Spokane League Champion, 27-17, in a first-round game in Spokane’s Joe Albi Stadium.
With the victory Skyline, 8-3, hosts Central Valley, another Spokane-area team, at 1 p.m. Nov. 19 in a Class 4A state quarterfinal. The winner of the game will meet either Union or Woodinville in the semifinals Nov. 26 in the Tacoma Dome. The semifinal winners play for the state title Dec. 3 in the Tacoma Dome.
Eagles senior leaves legacy of honor
March 8, 2011
When Nik Landdeck entered the Tacoma Dome for the first time, he was a bright-eyed, gleeful little fan, enraptured by the sweeping football glory.
Now, however, only 10 years later, when Landdeck graces the Dome, he does not hold a basket of hotdogs in the energized stands. Instead, he holds a grass-stained football in the open field, leading the Issaquah High School varsity football team.
Nik Landdeck holds the first Nik Landdeck Award, which was started by his basketball coach Jason Griffith. It will be given to a deserving Issaquah High School player annually. By Staci Landdeck
Landdeck, an 18-year-old senior, is a multitalented football and basketball powerhouse.
In his senior year, he lettered in varsity football and earned first-team 4A All KingCo honors as an inside linebacker and second team honors as a fullback. In basketball this winter, Landdeck averaged 9.1 points a game for the season (18 games) and had a total of 163 points. When the 4A all-KingCo team was selected, Landdeck earned honorable mention.
At the recent year-end banquet for baseball, he was given the first Nik Landdeck Award by head basketball coach Jason Griffith.
