Prep football: Skyline battles back but falls in Rocky Mountain Rumble
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POCATELLO — Morgan (Utah) quarterback Beck Sheffield was perfect in the first half, leading the Trojans to a healthy 26-6 halftime lead at the Rocky Mountain Rumble Saturday morning.
Skyline, though, stopped Sheffield and the high-flying Morgan offense in the second half. And the offense, led by seniors CarMyne Garcia and Trey Kirkham, made things very interesting.
After scoring a touchdown with under two minutes to play, the Grizzlies recovered an onside kick and had a chance to tie or take the lead. But a leaping interception from Lincoln Gilson ended the threat, and Sheffield kneeled out a 26-20 Morgan victory.
Sheffield completed all 14 of his pass attempts in the first half, for 249 yards and two touchdowns. He added another 31 rushing yard and two more scores on the ground.
The Grizzly defense held him to 29 rushing yards and 108 passing yards, on 8-for-14 passing in the second half, picking him off twice.
After the game, Skyline head coach Scott Berger addressed the second-half improvements.
“We talked about, at halftime, competing, playing hard,” he said. “The No. 1 goal of our program is to get better everyday — well you can reduce that down to get better every play, too. I was proud of the kids.”
The only offense Skyline could muster in the first half was an 80-yard kick return from Kirkham, a senior wide receiver.
Like the defense, the Grizzly offense found its footing after the break.
Garcia completed just six of 12 passes for 101 yards and two interceptions in the first half. He hit on 10 of 19 attempts for 126 yards and two scores in the second half.
Kirkham added a 24-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter.
“We’ll get better. In the big picture, I would have loved to have won this game, but we’re just fine,” Berger said of his team’s performance.
Skyline, the coach continued, was playing in its first game of the season, while Morgan has two wins under their collective belt.
“The biggest improvement (of the season) comes between your first and second game,” Berger said. “We’ll improve by next week, I promise you.”
Skyline is back in action Friday when they travel to Blackfoot to take on the Broncos (1-0).