SAMMAMISH – It took just 14 seconds, but that first play will haunt Kamiak for a while.
Skyline High School’s Tony Chidiac returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and it proved to be the difference as the Spartans held off Kamiak 28-21 Saturday night in a Class 4A football state quarterfinal at Skyline Stadium.
Chidiac also caught a touchdown pass and teammate Brett Kaluza rumbled for 171 yards and two TDs to prolong the season for Skyline (11-1 overall). The Spartans will play defending state champion Pasco (12-0) in a state semifinal at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. Pasco, which also won the state title in 1998 and 2000, routed Bethel (10-1) 70-28 Saturday afternoon.
Kamiak (8-4) battled back from the early stunner, giving itself a chance to tie the score with two minutes, 30 seconds remaining. But Tyler Pelluer stopped Kamiak running back Austin Curran for no gain on fourth-and-3 from the Skyline 9-yard line. The Spartans picked up a couple of first downs to run out the clock.
After showing plenty of resilience, Kamiak saw its season end largely because of a shocking start. “I though out kids really rebounded off of that,” Kamiak coach Dan Mack said. “It’s a little bit deflating, obviously, when they run back the opening kickoff, but I’m just very proud of our kids and the way they responded in the second half. It seemed like that one kickoff return is the difference, really.”
Senior quarterback Mark Iddins completed 14 of 24 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns for Kamiak. “I’m just really proud of our guys,” Iddins said. “We fought the whole time. We were down 21-7, and we just kept fighting.”
Kamiak pulled to within 21-14 on its first drive of the third quarter. Curran had a 50-yard burst up the left sideline on the second play of the drive and Iddins found tight end Chase Mancuso three plays later on a 17-yard TD pass. Mancuso caught three passes for 42 yards and two TDs.
One week after rushing for a career-high 238 yards and four touchdowns, Curran managed 77 yards on 23 carries against an attacking Skyline defense led by Kaluza, a defensive back, linebacker Jonny Siregar and a slew of tough linemen.
Skyline, from the Kingco 4A Conference, won the 3A state title in 200 and is competing in its first season at the 4A level. The Spartans have advanced to the state quarterfinals four of the last five seasons.
Kamiak responed to Chidiac’s electrifying return with a 10-play, 65-yard drive to tie it at 7-7. Iddins found Mancuso for a 5-yard TD pass with 7:07 remaining in the first quarter. Iddins was 6-for-6 on the drive.
Chidiac scored his second TD with about three minutes to go in the first quarter. He took a pass from quarterback Aaron Hasson in the right flat and out-raced the Kamiak defense to the left corner of the end zone to make it 14-7.
Skyline turned an Iddins interception into another touchdown to build a 21-7 advantage. Kaluza picked off a third-and-6 fade pass intended for Kamiak’s Sean Hermes along the left sideline. Seven plays later, Kaluza shot in for a 4-yard TD with less than 10 minutes to play in the first half.
Kamiak defensive back Thomas Callandret made a leaping interception at the Knights’ 1 to foil another solid Skyline drive late in the first half. But the Knights punted and trailed 21-7 at halftime.
After Kamiak’s TD drive to start the second half, Kaluza finished a five play, 74-yard drive with a 20-yard run up the middle to help the Spartans take a 28-14 lead that held up through three quarters.
But after Skyline failed to convert a fake punt on fourth-and-6 from its own 44 late in the third period, Kamiak drove 46 yards for a score. Nate Hadley’s 2-yard TD run made it 28-21 less than one minute into the fourth quarter.
After forcing Skyline to punt, Kamiak started its last-chance drive from its own 26. Iddins completed several key, clutch passes, including a 12-yard out to Rebel Hall on fourth-and-10 from the Skyline 28. But Skyline’s defense tightened up to end the comeback attempt.
Kamiak’s Mack said he will remember this season as one in which his players fought through plenty of setbacks. Kamiak forfeited two Wesco South victories for using an academically ineligible player earlier this season. The Knights also battled injuries to key starters but still managed to make the playoffs and win a first-round game against fellow Wesco South rival Meadowdale.
“I’ll think back on the kids and how hard they practiced every week and just how mucj I cared for each one of them,” Mack said. “They’re special. To see a group of young men rally together … to overcome so many obstacles this year.”
At Sammamish
Kamiak7077-21
Skyline14770-28
Skyline-Chidiac 90 kickoff return (Leach kick)
Kamiak-Mancuso 5 pass from Iddins (Hawkinson kick)
Skyline-Chidiac 9 pass from Hasson (Leach kick)
Skyline-Kaluza 4 run (Leach kick)
Kamiak-Mancuso 17 pass from Iddins (Hawkinson kick)
Skyline-Kaluza 20 run (Leach kick)
Kamiak-Hadley 2 run (hawkinson kick)
Records-Kamiak 8-4 overall. Skyline 11-1.
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