9/3/2026
Skyline 28, Kentwood 19
(Kent, WA) The 2026 football season kicked off for the both the visiting Skyline Spartans and Kentwood Conquerors at French Field in Kent.
Both teams are coming off of good seasons, but both also graduated a lot of experience. This game was truly a game of 2 halves they couldn’t have been more different.
1st Half Sloppy play bogged down both teams
Both team’s offenses struggled mightily in the 1st half with a combined 5 1st downs. Both teams had a good chance to get on the board but none better than Kentwood who actually scored.
Conks QB Calvin Ibale hit Eden Gilbert in stride as he jetted 77 yards for the touchdown with about 2:30 left to play in the half. But an ineligible man downfield penalty called it back and the two squads limped into the locker room in a 0-0 tie.
Half time woke both teams up!
On the 1st drive of the 2nd half the Skyline Spartans had a decent drive but were facing a 4th and 17 near midfield. Spartan punter Cooper Logue came on and took the snap and then stunned the Conks defense when he took off over the right side and scooted 37 yards to the 11 for a massive 1st down.
On 3rd and goal from the 10, freshman qb Knox Carr pumped faked to the far right of the endzone and checked down to his big tight end Leo Houpis who was wide open for the easy pass and catch for the score. Logue came on for the PAT and booted it through and with 7:41 to go in the 3rd it was 7-0 Skyline.
After three back and forth possessions, the Spartans had great field position again to start their drive on the Kentwood 45 with 3:03 to play in the 3rd.
Skyline QB Carr had been able to get the Conks to jump offside multiple times with a hard count. The biggest one may have been on a 4th and 5 making it a 4th and 2.
On the next play Logue took the hand-off and ran it to the 10-yard line for a 1st and goal. Aristotle Gibbons then got the rock and was headed for the edge over the right side when a huge hole opened up just in before and he stuck his foot and darted through to the end zone untouched, Logue added the PAT and it was suddenly 14-0 with 2:53 to play in the 3rd.
An Electric 4th Quarter
As the final quarter began, Kentwood had a 1st down on their own 40-yard line. Head Coach Quincey Davison thought why not go back to that play that got called back in the 1st half?
And that’s what they did as Ibale dropped back and dropped a perfect ball into the hands of Gilbert in stride, and he went 60 yards for the score and this time no
yellow hankies were on the field. Paul Wenzel hit the PAT, and it was 14-7 with 11:49 to play in the game.
Skyline got the ball back on their own 22 and on 3rd and 9 Spartan coach Peyton Pelluer went deep in his playbook for the old double pass. Gibbons took the backward pass from Carr then launched a perfect pass to Logue who had fooled everyone and was wide open but then dropped the ball.
Not happy with himself he then connected on a 60-yard punt pushing the Conks back to their 17.
The Fun Begins
Kentwood had a little momentum rolling and they wanted to take advantage of it and on the 1st play Ibale dropped back and zipped a shot to Jacob Bail who took it to the house for 83 yards and pulled within 1 of tying it. However, the Spartan rush got through and blocked the PAT to maintain a 1-point lead.
On the ensuing kick-off, Chance Savini booted it deep, driving Logue back to the 6-yard line where he caught the ball. Logue, still mad about dropping a sure TD, was determined to make up for it and was off and running.
Logue swerved and dodged and then found running room and didn’t stop until he scored a 94-yard kick-off return. He then had to catch his breath and kick the extra point pushing the Spartan lead to 8, 21-13.
After a 3 and out, Skyline got the ball back on the Kentwood 35 after another big special team’s play forcing a bad punt. Moving it to the 23 on a 1st and 10, Carr found Gavin Simmons for a 23-yard TD strike. Logue then made it 28-13 with 8:29 to play in the game.
The Conks got a big 45-yard kick-off return of their own to the Spartan 45 with 8:13 to play in the game. Facing 4th and 6, Ibale came through again finding Gilbert again for a 26-yard strike cutting the lead to 28-19 with 5:40 remaining.
Kentwood went for 2 and Gilbert motioned from right to left and Ibale handed him the ball as he tried to sweep around the outside, but a swarming Skyline defense denied him the goal line and maintained a 2-possession lead of 28-19.
Skyline got the ball back and ran the clock down to 2:43 before giving it back to KW on their own 24. The Conks moved the ball but ran out of time and time-outs and the Spartans pulled off the win.
Sumner Holiday Inn MVP of the Game
Dropping a wide open for sure touchdown usually does not lead to being named the MVP of the game. But Cooper Logue was simply too hard to look past with everything he did on the field tonight.
The fake punt on a 4th and 17, he had another big run setting up the 2nd score. He returned the kick-off 94 yards and kicked all the PAT’s. Despite missing on literally the easiest play he had all game he more than made up for it and was the clear MVP of the night.
What’s Next? (Each team’s next opponents)
Skyline is off to a great start at 1-0. The Spartans will play again next Thursday at Bethel.
Kentwood began the year last season with a frustrating loss at Emerald Ridge and are 0-1. But they bounced back quickly last year and hope to repeat that pattern next Friday at home against the Jaguars of Emerald Ridge.
Game Highlights
Skyline’s Cooper Logue with a huge fake punt
| Knox Carr finds Leo Houpis for a 10 yard TD |
Spartans take a 2 TD lead on a 10 yard scamper by Aristotle Gibbons
The Conks QB Calvin Ibale finds Eden Gilbert for a 60-yard TD
| The Conks pull within 1 on a 83 yard TD pass from Calvin Ibale to Jacob Bail |
Cooper Logue jets 94 yards for the TD to extend the Spartans lead.
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