Pioneer dominates crosstown rival Skyline in 50-0 blowout
The Pioneer defense has yet to allow a touchdown in three games of Southeastern Conference play.
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com
In the first two installments of the crosstown rivalry between the Pioneer and Skyline high school football teams, both teams combined to score more than 100 points in each game.
Had it not been for a running clock on Friday night, that pattern may have continued without a necessary contribution from Skyline.
Pioneer defeated Skyline 50-0 at Hollway Field in a game that saw a running clock for the entire second half.
After last week's 7-6 win over Saline, Pioneer linebacker Bradley Koenig made an obvious point in poetic fashion, stating, "if they can't score, then we can't lose." Through three games of Southeastern Conference play, the Pioneer defense has yet to allow a touchdown.
"They" aren't scoring and the Pioneers aren't losing.
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"It feels great especially going against Skyline who’s our crosstown rival, that makes it even better," said Koenig, who had 2.5 sacks Friday. Pioneer sacked Skyline quarterback Askaree Crawford a total of 11 times and tackled him for a loss on called running plays several more times.
Not only did the Pioneer defense not surrender a point on Friday, it technically didn't surrender a single yard, as Skyline finished the night with 54 yards lost on offense.
It wasn't just the starters taking pride in keeping the scoreboard clean. In the fourth quarter with Skyline deep in Pioneer territory for the only time all night, Crawford threw a jump ball to 6-foot-8 receiver Tristan Wilson and backup cornerback Liam Quigley broke up the pass. Quigley is generously listed at 5-8.
The drive ended in a blocked field goal attempt.
"(Wilson) had a foot-and-a-half on him, but Quigley’s a tough, tough kid," said Pioneer coach Paul Test.
Test was pleased to see his reserves preserve the shutout.
"That was exciting. We tell (second string players) just because you get in late, doesn’t matter what the score is, go out and perform. You’ve worked hard all week, get a chance to show what you can do," Test said.
Pioneer needed just six offensive plays and less than three minutes of possession in the first quarter to put Skyline to bed.
Three of those plays went for touchdowns and the Pioneers (3-2, 3-0 SEC Red) added a defensive score after a forced fumble in the end zone to go up 28-0 before the second quarter even began.
The Skyline defense knocked the ball loose for a second from Pioneer running back Marquis Thomas but they couldn't keep Thomas from the end zone during a second quarter 33-yard touchdown run.
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com
Pioneer running back Marquis Thomas led the way offensively with 154 yards and four touchdowns on 11 carries. Thomas only carried the ball twice in the first quarter and scored both times. The latter of the two scores came on a spectacular 33-yard run in which Thomas broke several tackles, spun out of some more and even had the ball knocked out of his hands. Thomas snagged the ball out of the air in stride and finished in the end zone.
Zak Davis rushed for 137 yard and a score on 13 carries for the Pioneers.
Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com, he can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.
Comments
Classof2014
Sat, Sep 22, 2012 : 5:22 p.m.
as someone who went to the game (i go to skyline) the football team is terrible. this is the 5th year as a team and the "this is a new school" excuse is getting old. Yes, it IS a new school, but we should be playing better than we have been.
Anonymous
Sat, Sep 22, 2012 : 2:43 p.m.
Another classless score from Pioneer.
MMM
Sun, Sep 23, 2012 : 1:28 a.m.
Really?!? Skyline couldn't move the ball at all. Do you think the opposing team should help them move the ball? LOTS of reserves got to play and they still kept Skyline from scoring. Coaches need to let kids take as many snaps as possible early in the season. This allows you to win late in the season. Maybe you don't really understand high school football.
Ann Arbor Red
Sat, Sep 22, 2012 : 11:22 p.m.
How is this classless? If you were actually there, Pioneer had no negative influence on dealing with the integrity and class for the game of football. I was there and they ran the ball every time even on 3rd and long. They played their defense and - to me - by not giving up and going easy after it was 37-0 shows more class than a bunch of kids "letting" them score and make plays. You don't want to be on the loosing end and then have the other team just stop playing just because your team is loosing.. that is more of a slap in the face in my opinion. If you feel like this was classes, then every time Michigan would play Eastern in football must have been the most classes Michigan victories I've ever seen because i recall scores and yardage similar on the loosing end to both Eastern and Skyline. Not to mention the irony that both teams are eagles. To be blunt, if skyline wasn't built to begin with maybe Huron and Pioneer would be competing against each other (or even against other state powers) like the ways they used to... Sure spreading the wealth of athletics around the city is good but with 3 schools it's hard to have all 3 be super competitive - and that goes more within the dynamic of the program (coaches, boosters, tradition etc..) because I truly believe that the football talent is in every school, it just depends how you use it. That being said, we may see another one of these unruly victories by the pioneers again in a few weeks against the Rats. Should be good games though coming up against Bedford and Monroe. Wasn't gonna lie, after last years skyline/pioneer game, i was expecting a similar outcome but things just change I guess.
boo
Sat, Sep 22, 2012 : 12:35 p.m.
Going into this game I though skyline could move the ball and score, but they were thoroughly out coached and outmatched. -54 yards of total offense is the worst offensive (best defensive) performance I have ever seen. Poineer is good, very good. Skyline is bad, very bad. The only reason I stuck around in the rain was to see if Pioneer would score 70, They showed some class/mercy by not doing so.
Thoughtful
Sat, Sep 22, 2012 : noon
Skyline needs to start playing with heart as a team. Check your egos at the gate, coaches and players. How about playing your other quarterback, try something different, since what you're doing obviously isn't working?
chapmaja
Sat, Sep 22, 2012 : 2:50 a.m.
I just have to ask. Is the stat line for the first half correct? negative 63 yards offense in the first half?
Pete Cunningham
Sat, Sep 22, 2012 : 3:40 a.m.
Correction, Skyline had -63 yards rushing in the first half, -53 yards total offense. As the article state, Skyline finished the game with -54 yards of offense.