Jackson runs away from Kamiak

EVERETT — Which football team is the class of the Wesco South?

It will take a few weeks to completely settle the debate, but the unbeaten Jackson Timberwolves just made another strong case.

Seriously tested for the first time this season, Jackson responded well in the second half and defeated the Kamiak Knights 42-21 Friday in a Western Conference South Division game at Everett Memorial Stadium.

Kamiak (3-1 in division, 3-3 overall) had a stellar start and led 21-7 in the second quarter. But Jackson (3-0, 6-0) scored the final 35 points of the game, including 28-0 in the second half.

Ranked No. 4 in Class 4A by the Associated Press, Jackson is off to the best start in program history. After pummeling most of their foes this fall, the Timberwolves showed they can dig out of a hole.

“This will be a good thing for our kids, to play a tough game and come to understand that we do still have things to work on,” Jackson coach Joel Vincent said. “I think we learned about ourselves a little bit.”

On the other hand, everyone already knew quarterback Andy Gay and running back Riley Carr were dangerous. Although Kamiak stifled the senior duo for most of the first half, the Jackson stars eventually unleashed their combined talents.

Gay completed 10 of 22 passes for 291 yards and two second-half touchdowns. And Carr, who has been fighting the flu for several weeks, had another well-rounded outing: 10 carries for 126 yards and two TDs, and two receptions for 94 yards, including a 79-yard score on a short pass that turned into an epic journey through and around Kamiak defenders.

“It was a big test for us because we’ve never come out and gotten behind by that much. Our guys fought back a little in the second half,” said Carr, who scored from 79 yards (reception) and 67 yards (run) in the fourth quarter.

QB Jake Sortor passed for 137 yards and two first-half TDs for Kamiak, which endured its first division loss of the season. Jackson is now the only team undefeated in South contests. Both squads are in the hunt for postseason berths. The division’s top three advance to the quad-district playoffs.

A key turning point for Jackson was its first offensive snap of the third quarter. Gay dropped back and fired a throw to Marshall Massengale, who made a quick move on the sideline and raced for a pivotal 73-yard TD, the first of Jackson’s four second-half scores. Kamiak, unable to replicate the offensive success it enjoyed earlier, was unable to respond.

“Football’s a game of momentum and that momentum pendulum swung dramatically back to us with that play,” said Vincent, whose Timberwolves are the defending South champs.

Coming into the game, Jackson had outscored opponents 234-53. But Kamiak — fueled by Sortor’s accurate arm and shifty feet — helped the Knights put up 21 points in the first half.

Kamiak led 21-14 after two quarters. Sortor was 6-of-11 passing for 131 yards, including TD throws of 70 yards and 4 yards. He also rushed for 48 yards.

Sortor connected for both TDs within his first four attempts. He started 4-of-4 for 100 yards. Nic Cooper caught the first score, a 4-yarder in the corner of the end zone, on Kamiak’s first possession. Later in the quarter, Josh Glenn’s 70-yard catch-and-run TD put Kamiak in front 14-7.

Jackson cut the difference to 21-14 by halftime, and then put it all together in the final two quarters.

“They’re a good team,” Vincent said of Kamiak. “We thought from the (scouting) film that they would be a tough opponent.

“The game plan was solid,” he added. “We just didn’t execute very well defensively in the first half. We adjusted in the second half.”

At Everett Memorial Stadium

Kamiak14700—21

Jackson77721—42

Kam—Cooper 4 pass from Sortor (Menghini kick)

Jack—Gay 47 run (Sullivan kick)

Kam—Glenn 70 pass from Sortor (Menghini kick)

Kam—Cooper 1 run (Menghini kick)

Jack—Carr 12 run (Sullivan kick)

Jack—Massengale 73 pass from Gay (Sullivan kick)