State championship football preview: Skyview vs. Skyline

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Tacoma Dome (4A state playoff). TV: ROOT Sports. Webcast: www.wiaanetwork.com . Live chat: www.360preps.com .

Last meeting: First meeting.

At stake: Class 4A state championship

SKYLINE (10-3)

Last week: beat Woodinville 26-21 in state semifinals.

Players to watch: QB Max Browne (273-389 3813 passing yards, 43 TDs); RB Damian Greene (105-642 rushing, 6 TDs); WR Taggart Krueger (54-839 receiving, 9 TDs); WR Trevor Barney (48-614 receiving, 9 TDs); WR Mason Gregory (26-320 receiving, 4 TDs); WR Matt Sinatro (38-532 receiving, 4 TDs); WR Andrew Giese (28-388 receiving, 3 TDs); Nic Sblendorio (32-411 receiving, 8 TDs); LB Peyton Pelluer; OT Ben Vavra.

Notes: The Spartans from Sammamish placed second in the KingCo 4A Crest Division to Eastlake. … Skyline opened the season 1-2, losing back-to-back games to Bellevue (31-17) and Lake Oswego, Ore. (56-46). Bellevue is playing for the 3A state title this weekend. Lake Oswego is in the Oregon 6A semifinals this weekend. … Skyline also lost to Eastlake (28-21), which lost to Lake Stevens in the 4A quarterfinals. … Skyline has played in five consecutive state championship games (the last four at 4A, 2007 at 3A), winning three titles. The Spartans have played for the state title in seven of the past eight years. … It was Skyline that Evergreen beat in 2004 for Clark County’s last state championship in football … Browne threw for 4,108 yards and 50 TDs as a sophomore in 2010. He’s already received offers from Washington, California, Wisconsin, Utah and Clemson. … The Spartans have a bevy of tall and talented receivers. … Greene scored three TDs in the semifinal win over Woodinville (two receiving, one rushing). He also recovered a fumble and made TD-saving tackle. … DT Adan Lopez suffered a concussion last week and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher. … Peyton Pelluer is son of former WSU linebacker Scott Pelluer, who played five seasons for the New Orleans Saints. Former UW QB Steve Pelluer is his uncle. … Greene is the son of former UW and Seahawks receiver Danny Greene.

SKYVIEW (11-2)

Last week: beat Lake Stevens 38-14 in the state semifinals.

Players to watch: QB Kieran McDonagh (163-240, 2622 passing, 23 TDs; 80-359 rushing, 7 TDs); RB Parker Henry (246-2160 rushing, 31 TDs); WR Reiley Henderson (57-866 receiving, 9 TDs); WR Forrest Russell (46-781 receiving, 7 TDs); WR Mo Morrison (16-256 receiving, 4 TDs); WR David Garlington (13-252 receiving, 2 TDs); WR Spencer Miles (16-246 receiving, 2 TDs); OL/DL Dylan Bratlie; OL Zach Wallace; OL Matt Cruz; DL Johan Koreski; LB Jabari Marshall.

Notes: This is the Storm’s first appearance in the state championship game. … Skyview and Skyline both opened in the same year. … Skyview opened the season 0-2, losing to Sherwood, Ore. (27-24) and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (52-14). Sherwood is playing for the Oregon 5A state title this weekend. Coeur d’Alene won a second consecutive Idaho 5A title. … Since those two losses, Skyview has not scored fewer than 31 points in a game. Only once since then — including the playoffs — has an opponent come within 21 points of Skyview (Columbia River lost 36-29 on Oct. 21). … Skyview and Skyline share one common opponent: Issaquah. Skyview beat Issaquah 47-17 in the state preliminary round. Skyline beat Issaquah 41-14 on Sept. 23. … McDonagh has thrown for 300 yards or more in three of Skyview’s four postseason games.

Bottom line: Skyline definitely has experience on its side. Skyview has momentum, winning its four playoff games by an average margin of 26.5 points. Skyview’s talented defensive backs, led by all-leaguers Morrison and Garlington, will be challenged by Browne and Skyline’s tall receivers. Skyline’s defense will be challenged by Skyview big and talented offensive line blocking for the relentless Henry.

Columbian’s pick: Skyview 31, Skyline 27.