Max Browne
In Washington high school football's version of Red Sox-Yankees, Class 4A power
Skyline (Sammamish) defeated 3A juggernaut
Bellevue 28-21 Saturday night at Seattle Memorial Stadium.
Sophomore quarterback
Max Browne threw three touchdown passes – including two to senior receiver
Michael Ford – to help Skyline (1-1) rattle off 28-straight points after falling behind 14-0 in the second quarter. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Browne is in his second game as starter following the graduation of BYU freshman Jake Heaps, who led the programs to three state titles.
"They came out with all their weapons, but we executed very well and it's a big win for us," Browne told Mason Kelley of the Seattle Times.
Recent University of Washington verbal commitment Kasen Williams was on the receiving end of Browne's other scoring strike.
Senior running back Kai Jandoc put the game out of reach for Bellevue (1-1) with a short touchdown run in the third quarter to make the score 28-14. It also helped the Spartans avoid an unthinkable 0-2 start after losing to Liberty (Renton) last week.
Bellevue's Kendrick Van Ackeren added a 40-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough for the defending 3A state champion Wolverines.
It was the first meeting since 2007 between the rival schools, located less than 30 minutes from each other east of Seattle. Skyline also won that game, 6-0.
The programs have combined to win 12 state championships since 2000. Bellevue was won seven of the last nine titles at the 3A level while Skyline has finished on top three times in Class 4A and twice in 3A.
The Spartans won't have much time to celebrate the come-from-behind victory as they face Oregon 6A power Lake Oswego next week.