LONGMONT – Three weeks ago, the defending Class 4A runner-up Skyline football team lost on its home turf and suddenly found itself needing to turn things around, and quickly.
On Friday night back on the same turf at Everly-Montgomery Field, the Skyline boys rolled to a 52-8 victory over a strong Silver Creek squad.
Since the Falcons fell below .500 with an 11-6 loss to Brighton on Sept. 20, they beat rival Longmont for the first time in decades and did it in shutout fashion; won a shootout with Holy Family by one point; and emerged victorious in their Longs Peak League opener on Friday night against another crosstown rival.
It appears the Falcons’ soul-searching produced some answers.
“We just needed to turn the momentum around,” Falcons quarterback Chase Silva said. “We were just in our own heads and everyone was doubting us coming back after last year. We weren’t the same team as last year but now we’re rolling and everyone is starting to play like we know we can.”
Against Silver Creek (3-3, 1-0), Silva threw three touchdown passes to three different receivers and has now thrown for nearly 600 yards in the Falcons’ past two games. Skyline (4-2, 1-0) led 24-0 at halftime of Friday’s game and, while the defense held Silver Creek under 130 yards, continued to pour it on offensively until the 40-point running clock started with 6 minutes, 30 seconds remaining in the game.
Skyline rushed for 262 yards led by Mike McKrola’s game-high 89 and a pair of touchdowns. Silva punched in the game’s first touchdown on a 3-yard dive in the first quarter, kicker Gabe Sosa hit a 49-yard field goal in the second quarter and Grayden Bridwell scored on a 32-yard scamper in the fourth quarter that proved to be the final nail in the coffin. Freshman Finn Torello was outstanding, rushing for 86 yards.
“We executed really well on both sides of the ball,” Silva said. “Defense got the job done and we were clicking on all cylinders on offense. They couldn’t stop the run and that opened up the pass. We were all just clicking and gelling and that’s how we need to be from here on out.”
Dealt their third straight loss, the Raptors struggled on offense especially after losing senior wide receiver Cole Riters, who had 175 yards on 13 catches last week, to an injury midway through Friday’s game. They turned the ball over three times and had a punt blocked.
“I think we let it get into our heads a little bit when we had some opportunities early and we didn’t take advantage of them,” Raptors head coach Brian McGee said. “I thought our defense, for the most part, played pretty well just gave up a few big plays. Then we had some injuries hit us that took us out of our normal personnel.
“But we’ll be back to work on Monday morning and hopefully things will be better next week.”
The Raptors will host Greeley Central next week while Skyline looks to make it four in a row at Monarch.
