Decatur High School’s football team keeps turning heads in the local community by continuing their undefeated streak, beating Skyview, a consensus top ten 4A team, 15-14.
The game took place under the lights of Federal Way Memorial Stadium, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m., where we saw the Decatur Gators (now 5-0) face off with the Skyview Storm (3-2). The Gators managed to hold Skyview to two touchdowns while also coming out on top for a hard fought win.
Coming into the match, many believed that Skyview was going to come out on top in this game making Decatur the underdogs. Skyview came into the game averaging 31 points per game in their three wins this season.
However, there were others who believed Decatur was going to win because of their pervious, perhaps surprising, win over Enumclaw High School and because of Skyview’s upsetting loss against West Linn High School (losing 45-0).
Approaching the game everyone was doubting Decatur because of Skyview’s star Wide Receiver Gavin Packer. But although Skyview has some star players, so does Decatur.
The Gators got off to a slow start, as they couldn’t seem to get their offense on the field, let alone sustain drives when it did. The two fierce defenses were on display through the first half, tallying a 7-7 tie at halftime.
After a muffed punt, which gave the Storm a first and goal, one play later Skyview took the lead 14-7.
Late in the fourth quarter, a forced fumble gave Decatur the chance they needed to drive down the field and score. Because of an impressive catch by Maddox Heyliger with less than 10 seconds in the game, Decatur scored what would be the game winning touchdown. Decatur went for the 2-point conversion, and were successful – putting them ahead of the Storm by one.
Skyview’s last hope disappeared with Jasonni Prum’s game sealing interception on the last play of the game.
After asking Decatur’s starting tight end and OLB Tj Riggins (#7) if he thought him and his team were going to win against one of the states top teams he responded, “Yes I always believe in us” indicating that he has tremendous trust over his team and will do whatever it takes to win.
“We just never give up. We play for each other, that is something we have gotten better at every single year… Decatur is here, a state contender. We are coming,” said Senior Maddox Heyliger.
After this performance from Decatur High School, they seek to go 9-0 this season as their next games don’t appear to be as tough as the games before. If you want to see more Decatur football as their hopes of a perfect season stay alive, they will be facing Auburn Mountainview on Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.