North Pole’s Taimane Skipps reaches for the goal line during a game in 2024. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Whether it was Taimane Skipps throwing touchdowns over the top of the defense or Jade Skipps excelling in all three facets of the game, the North Pole sisters could not be stopped Tuesday night.
Their fingerprints were all over a 67-0 win by the Patriots flag football team over West Valley in Fairbanks, combining for 500 all-purpose yards and nine TDs.
Taimane played quarterback, completing 9-of-12 passes for 198 yards and five scores with one interception. She added 15 yards on the ground to push her total over 200 in total yards.
Jade finished with five touchdowns – three receiving, one rushing and a 37-yard interception return – to go with 303 all-purpose yards.
The Skipps sisters are the best 1-2 punch in Alaska and one of the greatest duos of all-time for a sport that dates back to 2006 in the state.
In 2024, they led the Patriots to the inaugural ASAA state title. But last year they went 0-2 at the state tournament, losing to Service and Colony, so this year is a redemption tour, and it started against West Valley in the season opener.
Taimane got the party started in the first quarter with a 3-yard TD run and later found Jade on a 39-yard dig route that went for six.
Taimane tossed scoring strikes to Jade and Jordi Darby each in the second quarter as the North Pole lead swelled to 34-0.
Darby finished the game with two TD receptions and two interceptions.
North Pole’s Jade Skipps scoots around the edge in the 2024 state title game. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
In the third quarter, Taimane rushed for score and found Darby from 32 yards out for their second scoring connection.
Taimane throws a nice high spiral that allows her receivers time to get through their routes.
In some cases, they snatched the ball in traffic, like Jade did on her 13-yard TD in the fourth quarter. She would not be denied.
It didn’t matter what the scoreboard said, she never let her foot off the gas pedal.
Jade racked up 102 yards receiving, 85 on punt returns, 79 running the ball and 37 on her pick six.
She was the MaxPreps Alaska Player of the Year her sophomore year, when she led the nation in rushing with 3,081 yards to go with 21 yards. Last season, Skipps was named a MaxPreps All-American honorable mention.
