It was billed as a potential state-championship game preview, as Shadow Ridge and Silverado were believed to be the teams to beat in the reimagined class 4A entering Friday night.
After Silverado’s 50-29 win, that might no longer be the case. It’s arguably the Skyhawks’ championship to lose.
Brandon Tunnell passed for 240 yards and three touchdowns for the Skyhawks, who led Shadow Ridge 36-7 at halftime in making a statement.
“If I am any 4A team, I think I have a shot,” Silverado coach Andy Ostolaza said, downplaying the claim that his team is now the one to beat. “Going into league play, anybody is going to think they are the favorite to win. But we have a real good team. I hope we’ll be in it at the end.”
Related Content
The game might have been won this summer.
Silverado, known mostly as a running team, found success in the passing game — especially when throwing long — in opening up the lopsided margin. It was a passing attack they honed during many 7-on-7 passing league events over the summer, and possibly even before that, Tunnell said.
The junior signal caller has been teammates with many of his receivers going on 10 years, ever since they played youth football together in grade school. The chemistry was obvious.
Jaden Thrower finished with nearly 200 receiving yards and three touchdowns, including a 50-yarder.
“Half of the kids I am playing with, we have been playing together since we were 6,” said Tunnell, who also rushed for two touchdowns. “The brotherhood has continued on. The receivers balled out — all credit to them.”
For as good as the offense looked, the defense also had flashes of great play. Shyne Johnson’s 35-yard interception return before halftime helped extend the Silverado lead, and Chris Federico’s tackle for a loss early in the game set the tone that the Skyhawks would be the more physical team.
Coen Coloma helped Shadow Ridge keep things interesting with two fourth-quarter touchdown runs, but Gary O’Donnell scored on a 9-yard burst through the line of scrimmage for Silverado’s final points.
And, just like that, Silverado became a championship favorite.
“It says we aren’t to be messed with,” Johnson said. “We are a great team.”