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ORDER GAME PHOTOS
In a heavyweight bout between Skyline (10-3) and Bishop Kelly (12-1), the two sides traded blows for three quarters before the Grizzlies ran away in the fourth to earn their third consecutive 4A state football championship Friday night at Holt Arena by a score of 50-35.
Senior running back Abrahn Silverio rushed for 123 yards and five touchdowns in the win for Skyline. The IdahoSports.com Player of the Game, Silverio also set a new Idaho 4A record for most touchdowns in a playoff game with five and most total points in a playoff game with 32.
Both sides started fast, and the action at times resembled a track meet. Skyline scored on their opening drive when Lachlan Haacke found Kenyon Sadiq for a six-yard touchdown in the back corner of the end zone. With 8:36 to play in the first, the Grizzlies led 7-0.
Bishop Kelly responded on their opening drive as well when fullback Ryder Bordner scored on a four-yard plunge, and with 2:14 to play in the first quarter, the contest was knotted at 7-7.
Skyline regained the lead just five seconds into the second quarter when Silverio scored the first of his five touchdowns on a 24-yard scamper.
Bishop Kelly scored on their next possession when Zach Jacobs scored on a seven yard run to the outside. With 3:19 to play in the opening half, the two sides were dead even again at 14-14.
The score remained that way until halftime, and then a third quarter explosion occurred. The fireworks started on the opening kickoff of the second half, as Bishop Kelly's Cole Miller bobbled the ball at his own four-yard line, then proceeded to break loose for a 96-yard return for a score. Quarterback Hadley Smith ran in the two-point conversion as well, and the Knights led for the first time at 22-14.
The lead was short-lived, as Bishop Kelly was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct following the two-point try, and a short kickoff only traveled to Skyline's 46-yard line. On the very next play, Haacke threw a screen to Sadiq, and the University of Oregon commit took the pass 54 yards for a score. Haacke found Silverio for the two-point conversion and less than a minute into the third, the two sides were tied again at 22-22.
Veteran Skyline coach Scott Berger rolled the dice on the ensuing kickoff, attempting an onside kick. Skyline was flagged for an illegal procedure, which moved the kick further back, and everyone assumed that the Grizzlies would kick the ball deep. Instead, Berger doubled down and went for the onside kick again. A high bounder was ultimately recovered by freshman Amani Morel at the Bishop Kelly 45-yard line.
The Grizzlies took advantage, as Silverio scored on a one-yard run, and the Grizzlies retook the lead at 29-22 with 10:34 to play in the third.
The Knights wouldn't be denied, though, as Jacobs scored on a 20-yard run and a 29-29 tie with 9:14 remaining in the third.
After Bishop Kelly forced a Skyline punt, Sadiq uncorked a kick that went nearly 60 yards and was downed at the Knights' one-yard line. On the next play from scrimmage, Peter Minnaert fumbled at his own five-yard line, and Sadiq came away with the recovery.
One play later, Silverio was in the end zone from five yards out, and the Grizzlies again jumped ahead 36-29.
Minnaert would score on Bishop Kelly's next drive on a four-yard run, but the extra point try was blocked by Crew Searle. That left the deficit at 36-35, and that would mark the last time Bishop Kelly would score.
In the fourth quarter, Silverio scored his fourth and fifth touchdowns of the night from 51 and 11 yards away, respectively.
In addition to Silverio's heroics, Haacke was 13-of-16 for 269 yard and two touchdowns for Skyline. Sadiq caught six passes for 130 yards and a score.
Minnaert led the BK attack with 175 yards rushing and a touchdown, while Jacobs chipped in with 42 yards and two scores on the ground.
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