TACOMA — Damian Greene sat next to Max Browne on a bus bound for Sammamish last year after Skyline fell to Ferris in the Class 4A title game.

The junior running back looked at the sophomore quarterback and said, "We'll be back. We're going to get the job done."

A year later, the senior is doing everything he can to make good on the pledge. Greene was the difference during Skyline's 26-21 victory over second-ranked Woodinville in the Class 4A semifinals Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.

On offense, he scored three touchdowns. On defense, he forced and recovered a fumble that led to a touchdown. He also had a touchdown-saving tackle and broke up a pass on the final drive of the game to help hold off the Falcons (12-1).

"He's been unbelievable," Skyline coach Mat Taylor said. "Early in the regular season we're thinking, 'Gosh, he was such a talent when we went to team camp, 40-yard runs all over the place.' We just needed to get him going. I think a big thing was confidence. It takes a little while. He's just running possessed right now."

The Spartans (10-3) will play Skyview of Vancouver, which popped Lake Stevens 38-14 in the other semifinal. The Class 4A championship game will be at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 3. Skyline advances to the title game for the seventh time in eight years.

Earlier this season, Greene's father, former Husky and Seahawks receiver Danny Greene, sent his son a simple message. He told him to "make a play."

"It's a second chance at the Dome," said Damien Greene, who had 12 carries for 31 yards and a touchdown and six catches for 102 yards and two scores. "Make a play. Make something happen. Great players make great plays."

Greene opened the game with a 2-yard touchdown catch on Skyline's first drive. He put the Spartans up 12-0 in the second quarter with a 1-yard score before adding his third touchdown on a 60-yard reception in the third quarter.

"He was huge today," said Browne, who also played well, completing 22 of 31 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns. "He's a big-time player and he made big-time plays."

Greene saved some of his biggest contributions for the fourth quarter. He forced a fumble on a lateral and then fell on the ball to set up Nic Sblendorio's 30-yard touchdown run to put the Spartans up 26-14 with 3 minutes, 8 seconds left.

The Falcons answered, cutting Skyline's lead to 26-21 with 1:28 to play. Then Wyatt Smith recovered the onside kick for Woodinville. On the second play of the drive, Woodinville quarterback Brett Arrivey hit Beau Vintertun on a deep pass over the middle. He sprinted toward the end zone, but Greene ran him down. Greene broke up a pass later in the drive, doing a little bit of everything to help the Spartans advance.

"I had to step my game up," Greene said. "My team needed it. We needed big plays. I just had to come through when it mattered."

Note

• Skyline defensive back Adan Lopez suffered a concussion on the third play of the second half. The senior was taken off the field on a stretcher and sent to the hospital as a precautionary measure.

Mason Kelley: 206-464-8277 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it