Everett, Wash. Published: Saturday, October 4, 2008
Jackson's PAT gamble gains 50-49 win over Lake Stevens
By Alex Bosworth Herald Writer
LAKE STEVENS -- Apparently, Jackson running back Taylor Cox really missed playing football.
A game time decision with a sprained ankle, the senior standout ran for 174 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. And Jackson needed every penny of it to best host Lake Stevens.
Jackson pounded out 295 yards on the ground, quarterback Andy Gay converted a fourth-and-goal from the 12 yard line, and Riley Carr scored the game-winning two-point conversion in overtime as Jackson somehow outlasted the Lake Stevens Vikings to take 50-49 non-conference victory Friday night at Lake Stevens High School, in the ultimate clash of styles between Lake Stevens' pass happy spread offense and Jackson's run-hungry team.
In a game with 99 total points and almost 1,000 yards of total offense, it came down to a gutsy call by Vincent to go for two and end the game.
Trailing 49-42 in the first overtime and down to its last down, Jackson's Gay swung out and hit junior wide reciever Jordan Kellerton in the end zone to bring his team within one point.
Vincent then decided to go for two. Gay handed off to Carr, and Carr sprinted to out to the left and into the end zone.
"We knew that Carr kid was a good backup," Lake Stevens coach Tom Tri said. "He's capable, fast, strong and explosive. And he can give teams problems lining up at quarterback and taking the direct snap."
"They're an athletic team, they've got a lot of team speed," Tri added of Jackson.
The victory overshadowed another terrific performance by Lake Stevens' star quarterback, Nick Baker.
Baker, a senior, passed for 396 yards, with no interceptions and five touchdowns.
Baker's touchdown pass to Tyler Reside with six minutes remaining put Lake Stevens up 42-35, and set a Lake Stevens school season record with 17 season touchdown passes. Baker's 39-yard pass to Colton Tupen with about two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter gave him the all-time Lake Stevens record in passing yards.
"They demonstrated over the first four games that they can throw the ball, and throw the ball well," Jackson head coach Joel Vincent said. "That (Nick) Baker kid is a great QB. ... We wanted to added a pass rush, make him make decisions before he wants to, force him into bad throws."
None of that happened, but Jackson survived.
After Baker's fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Reside, Jackson answered with a with a three minute, six play drive to tie the game at 42.
On the first play of the drive, Gay hit John Wilde with a 32-yard pass to move up to the Lake Stevens' 47-yard line.
But three plays later, Jackson faced fourth-and-3.
Gay, who finished 7-for-15 for 182 yards, hit Carr for a 7-yard pass to convert the fourth down.
The very next play, Gay hit Wilde for a 32-yard touchdown pass, their second 32-yard connection of the drive.
"(We knew) They like to run the ball, but they've got a pretty good quarterback in (Andy) Gay," Tri said.
Both teams had a chance to win in the closing minute of regulation.
Baker drove Lake Stevens to Jackson's 23 with 41 seconds remaining. But Jackson forced a fumble and recovered the ball.
Two plays put Jackson in scoring position: Cox broke off a 23-yard run to the 50-yard line, and then hauled in an 28-yard pass to move Jackson within field goal range.
Jackson's 40-yard field goal attempt was no good as regulation time expired.
"Cox is one of the best running backs in the state," Tri said. "… He's scary good."
