Skyline forces big turnovers, pulls away from Liberty, 62-27

SAMMAMISH — Max Browne will take the football just as fast as the Skyline Spartan defense can give it to him.

Trailing 21-14 in the first half to the same Liberty team which defeated the Spartans to open the 2010 season, the lanky junior quarterback calmly led his offense down the field in seven succinct plays to tie the score.

Liberty followed with turnovers on its next four possessions and failed to record a first down during the third quarter as Skyline scored 55 consecutive points en route to a 62-27 season-opening victory at a packed Spartan Stadium.

Skyline's defense barely gave the offense time to take their helmets off between series as the top-ranked Spartans pulled away.

"Our motto is 'Get the offense the ball, and we'll score' " said Browne, who threw for 50 touchdowns as a sophomore. "Our defense making turnovers is the key, and then it's up to our offense to put points on the board."

The victory was redemption of sorts for Browne, whose first game as starting quarterback was a 39-34 loss to the Patriots last season.

"Going into this game I had a bitter taste from last year's loss," said Browne. "But we got it done. Our (offensive and defensive) line showed that they will be something to reckon with this year. We had a nice run game going and it was nice to get the second and third string in there."

Browne completed 15 of 17 passes — one incompletion was from spiking the ball — for 178 yards and three touchdowns. His only pass of the second half was a nine-yard scoring strike to Mason Gregory.

Junior backup Nate Gibson was equally efficient, with 75 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 5-of-6 passing.

Gibson, who took over for good with 5:35 to play in the third quarter, tossed his first touchdown late in the first half. Browne rolled to his right, then pivoted and delivered a perfect lateral to Gibson, a left-hander. Gibson then released a soft toss from 23-yards out to Taggart Krueger to put the Spartans in front to stay, 27-21. Krueger led all receivers with seven catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns.

Having a quality backup quarterback is a nice asset for Skyline coach Mat Taylor.

"(Nate) is a coach's dream," said Taylor. "I asked him if he wanted to learn a different position instead of being buried behind Max and he said he wants to be ready to play if Max goes down. He wants to win state, too."

Junior linebacker Peyton Pelleur dominated the front line for the Spartans, keying on Liberty running back Hamilton Noel. Noel had 52 yards on 18 carries and it always seemed like Pelleur was waiting in the hole for him. Pelleur pounced on a blocked punt in the end zone early in the third quarter to essentially put the game away, making the score 48-21.

Before things collapsed for Liberty, senior quarterback Jordan West threw three first-half touchdowns. West finished 10 for 22 for 170 yards and one interception. West scored on a 30-yard run to end the game.