EDMONDS – After throwing three interceptions in back-to-back games, Edmonds-Woodway quarterback Issac Jackson came back with his best performance of the season when it mattered most.
Jackson completed 15 of 19 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns — and more importantly no turnovers — to lead the Warriors to a 27-10 win over previously unbeaten Mountlake Terrace on Friday night.
“We threw a lot at him early (in the season) and that’s my fault,” Edmonds-Woodway head coach John Gradwohl said. “We took a little bit away from him today, not a lot, but he still made some big plays and made some plays with his feet. I think for someone that has been maligned, he had a hell of a comeback. I’m real proud of him.”
Jackson’s favorite target was senior receiver David Woodard, who caught five passes for 118 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown reception.
The Warriors (1-1 league, 2-2 overall) avoided falling to 0-2 in league, which would make battling back to make the playoffs difficult. Glacier Peak is in firm control of first place, but after the Grizzlies the rest of the division becomes quite interesting thanks to the Edmonds-Woodway win on Friday.
“I feel like we have a good team, we’re just trying to get it together,” Gradwohl said. “Terrace is a very good football team. It was a good challenge for us and I thought we stood up to them.”
Much of Mountlake Terrace’s success in the first three weeks of the season came from its ability to run the football. The Hawks ran the ball well at points, but largely were held in check by a swarming Warriors’ defense.
“(The Hawks) hit you in the mouth and if you don’t hit back, it’s going to be a long night,” Gradwohl said. “You could see the first couple of drives I thought we did pretty good, but then what did they do? They ran it right down our throats and put it in the end zone. It’s a challenge. They’re going to have a lot of success this year. I don’t know who else is going to stop them. (Mountlake Terrace coach Kelly Dougan) is doing a good job and they’ve got good kids that run hard. That’s why it’s a good win.”
Edmonds-Woodway senior running back Tyler Rheinford wore the Hawks down with carry after carry in the fourth quarter as the Warriors ticked precious seconds off the clock. Rheinford finished with 109 yards on 20 carries and scored two touchdowns.
“I didn’t want to give (the Hawks) the ball back, so we were just trying to grind out first downs,” Gradwohl said. “Tyler did a nice job.”
The game was tied 7-7 at halftime, but the Warriors wore down the Hawks in the second half, outscoring them 20-3.
Mountlake Terrace quarterback Mikey Jenson left the game with an injury in the second half. Dougan said Jenson wouldn’t have been able to continue, but didn’t know the extent of the senior’s injury.
The loss was Dougan’s first at the Mountlake Terrace head coach, but he remained positive after the game.
“We were very positive with them immediately (after the game) in the locker room,” Dougan said. “It’s going to be beneficial to us in the long run. It’s going to get these guys to refocus, come to practice, work harder and make more of a commitment.”
Aaron Lommers covers prep sports for The Herald. Follow him on Twitter at @aaronlommers and contact him at alommers@heraldnet.com.
At Edmonds Stadium
Edmonds-Woodway 0 7 14 6—27
Mountlake Terrace 0 7 3 0—10
E-W–Tyler Rheinford 2 run (Jake Stevenson kick)
MT–Tanner Munnis 6 run (Mikey Jenson kick)
E-W–David Woodard 43 pass from Issac Jackson (Jake Stevenson kick)
MT–Mikey Jenson 31 FG
E-W–Reid Whitson 28 pass from Issac Jackson (Jake Stevenson kick)
E-W–Tyler Rheinford 4 run (kick failed)
Records–Edmonds-Woodway 1-1 league, 2-2 overall. Mountlake Terrace 2-1 league, 3-1 overall.
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