Skyline's Grant Shepard (center) and his teammates celebrate the school's first varsity football victory, a 28-25 win over Hartland at Friday night's Big Day Prep Showdown at Rynearson Stadium.

Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

After enduring an entire year without a single varsity win, the Skyline High School football team was letting their first one slip away.

The Eagles' 21-0 first quarter lead over Hartland had slowly dwindled to three points on Friday night, and the Hartland field goal unit took the field with just 3 seconds remaining on the clock, facing a 34-yard field foal attempt to tie the game.

But it sailed wide left and a celebration that’s been a year in waiting ensued as the scoreboard read 28-25, Skyline’s favor, with no time left.

"It’s amazing, I can’t even describe the feeling after the game," said Theron Wilson, who had three catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns and a touchdown-saving interception on defense. Wilson was named his team's MVP as part of the Big Day Prep Showdown at Eastern Michigan.

First-year head coach Rod Jones walked off the turf at Rynearson Stadium, drenched in sweat and exhausted by the waning moments of the game, in which Skyline surrendered 22 straight points.

The field goal attempt didn’t stress Jones out. It was his team's punt from mid-field with less than a minute left. Hartland had blocked his team’s previous two.

"That punt's what had me worried," Jones said, with a big smile relief on his face. "Once that was over, I was calm."

Special teams was the only area in which Skyline (1-0) struggled, with the blocked punts and a lost onside kick.

The Eagles' high-powered offense picked up right where it left off last season as quarterback Andrew Copp hit his favorite target, Jordan Woods, for a 74-yard touchdown on the Eagles’ second series of the game.

Skyline’s defense -- a big question mark coming into the season after allowing more than 50 points per game last year -- answered the toll, stopping Hartland (0-1) on its next two possessions. Copp found Wilson for touchdowns of 35 and 51 yards on the next two possessions.

"To get this win and to be able to fight through adversity like we did is important for us to really push through for the rest of the season," Jones said.

Copp finished the night 14 of 22 passing for 254 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Woods and Jack Clark had five catches apiece for 104 and 36 yards, respectively.

Skyline's defense allowed more than 50 points per game last season, but were all over Hartland on Friday. Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

But the offense was supposed to score. It was the defense that came through for Skyline allowing the fewest amount of points it ever had, intercepting three passes and recovering two fumbles.

Skyline's only scoring drive of the second half started on a recovered fumble on the opening kickoff.

While Jones was pleased that his team was able to hold on for the win, he would like to see a more sustained energy level in the future.

"The (defense) played so much over their heads it was great," Jones said. "The energy though it was too much, so they burnt out kinda fast, we need to learn how to play with that level for the whole game."

Contact Pete Cunnngham at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.