Last week, all three Sammamish Plateau high schools celebrated homecoming in what has become an annual melee of nostalgic alumni, marching bands and traffic.

When Skyline and Eastside Catholic take the field this week, they will share something else: a chance to overcome a major challenger and set the tone for a conference championship.

For the Spartans, the test will come in the form of Newport senior quarterback Isaac Dotson.

Since amassing only two rushing touchdowns and no passing scores in the first two games of the year, both losses for the Knights, the dual-threat Nevada commit has 17 touchdowns (eight rushing, nine passing), including a pair of six score performances in wins over Woodinville and Ballard.

Newport may need that kind of game out of Dotson to leave with a win over a Skyline team that has tallied no less than 57 points in any of their five games since Week 1.

Browne has already thrown for more than 1,900 yards this year to go with 20 touchdowns against only three interceptions.

Eight players have caught ten or more passes from Browne, and 11 have scored touchdowns through the air.

Nic Sblendorio and Matt Sinatro have been Browne’s favorite targets and have combined for 744 yards and ten scores.

While the Spartans contend with Dotson and vie for a Crest Division title, Eastside Catholic will try and stamp its ticket to the Metro League championship game by beating O’Dea, which would match a feat accomplished only once in the past two decades.

The Irish enter the game with only one loss on the year, to 4A Issaquah, and have outscored Metro foes 127-33 in three blowout wins.

But they have yet to face an offensive attack with the experience, speed or execution of the unbeaten Crusaders, who are putting up better than 45 points per game.

Quarterback Trey Reynolds has returned from an injury that sidelined him for the first four games of the year and gives the Crusaders an experienced leader who also happens to have a knack for creating plays when the ball is in his hands.

Head coach Jeremy Thielbahr said that was more evident than ever in last week’s 67-34 win over Rainier Beach, when Reynolds put not only his athleticism, but an increased awareness of the offense.

“He’s taken some steps forward this year,” Thielbahr said. “We’re pretty excited.”

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