Skyline Ousts Mead 27-17 in 4A Playoffs

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by Sam Adams, SWX Anchor/Reporter - bio | email

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Greater Spokane League is down to one last representative in the WIAA state playoffs. Injury-plagued Mead was eliminated by Skyline, 27-17, in the opening round on Saturday.

The GSL co-champion Panthers led 9-7 after the first quarter, on an Andy Weztel touchdown pass to Dan Mattingly and a safety. But the Spartans took a 13-9 lead on an Max Browne 82-yard touchdown strike to Taggart Krueger in the second quarter and never looked back in the ten-point victory.

Mead has been riddled by injuries since the start of the postseason. Davian Barlowe (16 carries, 123 yards) and Wes Bailey (8 carries, 33 yards) both left the game with injuries. Bailey returned to the game in the second half in limited duty.

Browne, a highly-touted junior quarterback who has already received scholarship offers from USC, Notre Dame, and Clemson, was held to just 12 completions in windy and snowy conditions, but did pass for 222 yards and three touchdowns in the victory.

With the win, the Spartans will host Central Valley in the 4A quarterfinals. Skyline has been to the state championship game in each of the past two seasons, beating Ferris in 2009, and losing to the Saxons in 2010.