BROOMFIELD — You had to know there was going to be fireworks.
Both Skyline and Holy Family have offenses that are capable of lighting up a scoreboard — even with the injuries they suffered last week in critical spots — and both were more than well aware that it was going to be special defensive plays throughout the game that were going to be the difference.
On Friday night at Mike G. Gabriel Stadium in a cross-classification matchup of top-10 teams it was 3A No. 8 Holy Family that outlasted 4A No. 6 Skyline 47-35 behind huge defensive plays from Jake Alderman and Joseph Hepp in the fourth quarter to preserve the win.
Skyline (3-2) was down 41-35 late in the fourth quarter and facing a huge fourth down and inches play at the Holy Family 10-yard line. The Falcons and quarterback Chase Silva had thrown the ball well all night — in fact he was a prefect 9-for-9 in the second half leading up to the fourth down — and he once again took to the air to try and tie the game. But his pass to Jack Wathen was batted down in the end zone by Alderman.
Holy Family was forced to turn to Kyle Helbig at quarterback after starter Cal Carter broke his collarbone in the victory at Roosevelt last week, and the senior didn’t disappoint. With several scouts and college coaches on hand, Helbig dazzled on both sides of the ball and it was his 42-yard run with 1:03 to play that iced the game for the Tigers (4-1).
Helbig threw two touchdown passes, a 10-yard strike to Braedon Peters in the first quarter and a 21-yarder to Devin Doroff at the end of the second quarter, and also ran for four touchdowns. In all he rushed for 154 and threw for 294.
The Falcons were equally as impressive on offense. Unofficially Silva threw for 420 yards on 30-of-38 passing and connected with Jack Wathen 14 times for 241 yards and three touchdowns. Kyle West caught 12 ball for 110 yards.
Skyline star running back Jeremy Hollingsworth was limited in his number of touches in the first half with just six, and finished the night with 91 yards on 17 carries.
Holy Family will open up 3A Northern Metro League play next week at All-City Stadium against Denver North. Skyline, after to back-to-back losses, will try to bounce back at Everly-Montgomery Stadium against Silver Creek in their Longs Peak League opener.
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Holy Family 47, Skyline 41
At Mike G. Gabriel Stadium
Skyline (3-2)72176—41Holy Family (4-1)142166—47
First quarter
Holy Family — Braedon Peters 10 pass from Kyle Helbig (Liam Gray kick). Skyline — Jack Wathen 6 pass from Chase Silva (Ben Kalisher kick). Holy Family — Hayden Strange 12 run (Gray kick).
Second quarter
Holy Family — Helbig 1 run (Gray kick). Skyline — Wathen 34 pass from Silva (Kalisher kick). Holy Family — Helbig 1 run (Gray kick). Skyline — Jeremy Hollingsworth 24 run (Kalisher kick). Skyline — Hollingsworth 15 pass from Silva (Kalisher kick). Holy Family — Devin Doroff 21 pass from Helbig (Gray kick).
Third quarter
Skyline — Hollingsworth 5 run (Kalisher kick). Holy Family — Helbig 7 run (kick failed).
Fourth quarter
Holy Family — Helbig 42 run (pass failed). Skyline — Wathen 12 pass from Silva (kick blocked).
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Skyline: Jeremy Hollingsworth 17-91, Kyle West 3-2, Chase Silva 5-(minus-9). Holy Family: Kyle Helbig 18-154, Hayden Strange 8-80, Trevin Johnson 11-41.
PASSING — Skyline: Silva 30-38-1-420. Holy Family: Helbig 17-28-0-294.
RECEIVING — Skyline: Jack Wathen 14-241, West 12-110, Hollingsworth 2-35, Grayden Bridwell 2-9, Andrew Dietz 1-24. Holy Family: Braedon Peters 6-134, Devin Doroff 5-92, Ben Nappe 4-46, Josh Baker 1-16, Johnson 1-6.
