Class 4A quarterfinal football matchup
Auburn Trojans (11-1) vs. Skyview Storm (9-3)
Friday, 7:30 p.m., Kiggins Bowl, Vancouver
About Auburn – The Trojans are in the quarterfinals for the second year in a row and the state playoffs for the fifth straight year. Auburn is 22-2 over the past two seasons. Auburn features a pair of dangerous running backs in juniors Austin Embody (6-0, 195) and Alphonse Wade (5-11, 180), who both have more than 1,000 yards rushing. The Trojans lost two-way standout and University of Washington bound Chris Young to a season-ending suspension but have won two postseason games without him, including a 25-22 come-from-behind win over Marysville-Pilchuck last week.
About Auburn’s coach – Gordon Elliott is in his eighth season with Auburn. Elliott is a product of Lake Washington High School and the University of Puget Sound. He also was the head coach at Camas from 1983-85 and Columbia River from 1986-93 before coaching the UPS Loggers from 1994-2001.
Gordon Elliott on Skyview: “Skyview is a very accomplished football team. They are well coached and execute very well on both offense and defense.”
About Skyview – The Storm from Vancouver is on a tear, winning eight in a row since losing two of its first three games of the season. Skyview lost its opener to Union, 14-9, then two weeks later dropped one to Marysville-Pilchuck, 47-41. Both of those teams made the state playoffs. Skyview quarterback Austin Dodge is having a monster season with 2,945 yards passing and 31 touchdowns. He was named co-Greater St. Helens League offensive player of the year with Heritage quarterback Garrett Grayson. Skyview had 11 players on the first team, including defensive lineman Dallin Shirley, the league’s defensive player of the year. Dodge, a 6-3, 205-pound senior, passed for a school-record 424 yards and six touchdowns against Federal Way two weeks ago and had 216 yards and two touchdowns in a 40-21 win over Bethel last week. Matt Spears had 33 carries for 167 yards and four touchdowns against Bethel.
About Skyview’s coach – Skyview is led by Steve Kizer, who’s been the Storm’s head coach since 2004.
The pick– Skyview appears to have the total package and seems to have gotten better as the season has progressed. Skyview, 27-20.
Ron Newberry, CoachesAid.com
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