Fast start propels Terrace over Meadowdale

EDMONDS — For a second straight week, the Mountlake Terrace football team marched down the field and scored on its opening possession. For a second straight week, the Hawks opted to kick on an onside kick after their first score, recovered it, and marched down the field for a second touchdown.

And for a second straight week, the fast start propelled the Hawks to victory.

Mountlake Terrace defeated Meadowdale 30-14 on Friday to improve to 2-0 in the young career of first-year head coach Kelly Dougan.

“Obviously it’s important,” Dougan said of his team’s quick start. “It’s gotten us nice little leads and it’s helped us kind of band-aid some mistakes we might make in the second and third quarter. We want to start fast. That’s one of the things we talk about, starting fast and finishing strong.”

The 2-0 start to the season has Hawks players excited, but they remain focused on what’s ahead.

“We’ve got to keep going,” junior wide receiver Daniel Johnson said. “We’re going to enjoy this win, but next week we’ve got to get back to work.”

Senior quarterback Mikey Jenson did most of the work on the Hawks’ first possession, running the ball four times for 52 yards. Jenson capped off the seven-play 62-yard drive with a 27-yard touchdown run.

After recovering the onside kick, Jenson led the Hawks down the field again and scored on a 4-yard run to give the Hawks a 13-0 lead. Mountlake Terrace elected to go for two and failed.

Just as they did a week ago against Mariner, Mountlake Terrace led 13-0 before its opponent had even touched the ball.

Mountlake Terrace forced a Meadowdale fumbled on the Mavericks’ next possession. The opportunistic Hawks recovered and marched 67 yards for their third touchdown in as many possessions. All three touchdowns came on the ground — the first two belonged to Jenson and the third went to senior Tanner Munnis on a 1-yard run.

The two teams played a scoreless second quarter and the Hawks carried a commanding 20-0 lead into the locker room at halftime — but the game was far from over.

Meadowdale came out inspired in the second half and turned what looked like it could be blowout into an interesting game, but the Hawks were too tough down the stretch.

Midway through the third quarter, Meadowdale junior quarterback Drew Tingstad connected with junior Haelin Roberts for a 9-yard touchdown pass making the score 20-7 after the extra point. The Hawks fumbled on the kick return that followed and gave the ball back to Meadowdale with great field possession. The Mavericks wasted little time taking advantage when Zachary Plummer scored on a 3-yard pass from Tingstad. The Hawks led 20-14 after the extra point which is how the third quarter would end.

The Mavericks’ run was similar to the run Mariner made in the second half a week ago against the Hawks.

“It’s trying to keep the emotions high,” Dougan said. “That’s really hard to do. That’s something we can work on and we’re going to preach and talk about. We’ve got to play the middle of the game as well as we play the first and fourth quarters.

Meadowdale had the ball deep in Mountlake Terrace territory with a chance to take the lead in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter, but Tingstad sailed a pass over Plummer in the back of the end zone on a 4th-and-goal from the 11-yard line.

Mountlake Terrace responded with a drive that lasted more than 10 minutes that resulted in a 26-yard field goal by Jenson to put the game out of the Mavericks’ reach.

Mountlake Terrace’s Riley Morrin added a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown before the game’s conclusion.

Mountlake Terrace was led by senior running back Jordan Bishop, who finished with 195 yards rushing on 25 carries.

The Hawks face Shorewood next week as their league schedule continues.

“We keep talking about it, one game at a time,” Dougan said. “Next week we’ve got Shorewood, so that’s our focus and we just keep adding wins.”

At Edmonds Stadium

Meadowdale 0 0 14 0 — 14

Mountlake Terrace 20 0 0 10 — 30

MT—Mikey Jenson 27 run (Mikey Jenson kick)

MT—Mikey Jenson 4 run (run failed)

MT—Tanner Munnis 1 run (Mikey Jenson kick)

M—Haelin Roberts 9 pass from Drew Tingstad (Julio Abad kick)

M—Zachary Plummer 3 pass from Drew Tingstad (Julio Abad kick)