A commanding performance by the Skyline Eagles propelled them to a decisive 55-21 victory over the Juan Diego Soaring Eagle on March 15, 2024. This Region 10 clash, held at Skyline’s home field, marked a significant improvement for the Eagles, who now hold a record of 2-2 overall and 1-0 in their region. The 55 points scored is the highest for Skyline this season, a stark contrast to last year’s struggles where they averaged just eight points per game during a 1-10 campaign.
Skyline’s head coach, Marcus Mailei, credited the team’s transformation to a newfound confidence. “The biggest change for us has been mindset,” he remarked. “The boys are starting to believe in themselves, and that’s been the biggest hurdle we’ve been trying to overcome, due a lot in part to losing 10 games last year.”
The game began slowly, with only seven of the combined 76 points on the board in the first 12 minutes. Skyline’s quarterback, Xavier Cocci, sparked the offensive surge by scoring two rushing touchdowns and surpassing 300 yards passing while also throwing for four additional scores. “I think our offense can put teams’ heads on a swivel,” Cocci said, highlighting the versatility of the offense. “If they drop everybody, I am going to run. I am also willing to wager that we have one of the best backfields in the state.”
The backfield duo of running back Jonah Mailei and fullback Maximus Cocci proved to be a formidable challenge for Juan Diego’s defense. Cocci noted the synergy between the players, saying, “My brother is a crazy fullback who makes crazy blocks, and Jonah is just hard to tackle.” This family connection extends to their father, Skip Cocci, who has integrated his college coaching experience into the team’s Power Air Raid offense, which is gaining traction as the players’ confidence continues to build.
Skyline’s offensive line played a crucial role in the victory, providing Cocci with ample time to make plays and creating lanes for the running backs. Coach Mailei praised the contributions of the Cocci brothers, stating, “The Coccis are a great asset for us, and they are helping us build and develop grit as a team.”
The Eagles’ defense has shown improvement as the season progresses, although they committed more penalties than their offensive counterparts during this matchup. Coach Mailei acknowledged the challenges, saying, “Our defense has been learning. It’s good on them for sticking to their process and executing tonight because Juan Diego is a good team. We just need to keep learning.”
Juan Diego initially competed well, tying the game at 7-7 early in the second quarter. However, they struggled to establish their offense afterwards. One Vea led the Soaring Eagle’s attack with two rushing touchdowns, including a notable 63-yard run in the third quarter.
Looking ahead, Skyline will travel to face Uintah, who is coming off their first win of the season. Meanwhile, Juan Diego aims to regroup against regional rival Jordan in their next outing. The Eagles’ impressive showing against Juan Diego signals a positive shift for Skyline as they seek to build on their momentum throughout the season.
