Jackson rises to challenge against Mountlake Terrace

EVERETT — Even without their best all-around player, the unbeaten Jackson Timberwolves had enough weapons — Trai Patrick, Taylor Mead, Daniel Sullivan, etc. — to enjoy a victorious homecoming.

Star running back/linebacker Riley Carr sat out with an ankle injury, but the Jackson High School football team withstood a major challenge and beat the Mountlake Terrace Hawks 27-17 on Friday.

With the Western Conference South Division triumph at Everett Memorial Stadium, Jackson (5-0 in division, 8-0 overall) clinched the South’s No. 1 seed for the Class 4A quad-district playoffs. The Timberwolves, who wrap up the regular season next week against Cascade (3-2, 6-2), also earned at least a share of the division title. It’s the first back-to-back league titles ever for the T-wolves, Jackson coach Joel Vincent said.

Patrick, a sophomore, scored two touchdowns and rushed for 101 yards filling in for Carr, Jackson’s top rusher and receiver heading into the game. Carr has also scored 22 TDs.

Carr’s absence on defense was more noticeable, as Mountlake Terrace (3-2 South, 5-3) moved the ball well in the first half and was within 24-17 until early in the fourth quarter. But Jackson forced three turnovers, including a fumble and an interception in the final 11 minutes.

Jackson’s Mead made a huge momentum-changing play, returning the second-half kickoff 87 yards for a TD. It gave Jackson a 24-10 lead.

“I told the guys at halftime we needed someone to step up. I didn’t know who it was going to be, but I decided to take it in my own hands and do what I could do,” said Mead, who used great blocks and broke a few tackles en route to his first varsity kick-return score.

“You watch him and he’s biding his time and coasting, but when he sees that thing open up it’s like he hits another gear and he’s gone,” said Vincent.

Sullivan, Jackson’s placekicker, made a 46-yard field goal with 9:21 to go in the game. It gave Jackson a 27-17 edge. The T-wolves defense took care of the rest.

Sullivan also made a 35-yard field goal in the second quarter. He was 3-for-3 on extra-point kicks and booted numerous touchbacks.

Mountlake Terrace quarterback Brandyn Eckhart rushed for 44 yards and passed for 104 yards and two TDs, but also was intercepted twice. His team is still in the hunt for the program’s first playoff berth. The top three South teams advance. Terrace’s final South opponent is Kamiak (4-1 in division).

Eckhart’s 9-yard TD pass to tight end Julian Snow on fourth-and-2 got Terrace within 24-17 in the third quarter. On Jackson’s next possession, Zach Karels intercepted QB Andy Gay’s pass and returned it into Jackson territory. But Jackson’s defense stepped up, stopping Terrace’s Snow on fourth-and-1 on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Jackson created turnovers to spoil two other Terrace drives in the final quarter. Jake White recovered a fumble on a punt return and later Doran Lusby intercepted Eckhart.

Regardless of its late troubles, Terrace impressed Jackson’s coach.

“The team we faced … was well-coached and it was physical,” Vincent said. “The word I used was gritty. There was no give-up in that squad. They came to play.”

Terrace started the game with an excellent 15-play, 80-yard scoring drive. It ended with a 25-yard TD pass from Eckhart to Karels.

Jackson’s Carr, who received a football scholarship offer from the Air Force Academy, hurt his ankle last week in a win over Mariner. He had a magnetic resonance imaging test this week but as of Friday afternoon coach Vincent did not know the results.

At Everett Memorial Stadium

Terrace7370—17

Jackson71073—27

Mountlake Terrace—Karels 25 pass from Eckhart (Ryals kick)

Jackson—Patrick 1 run (Sullivan kick)

Mountlake Terrace—Ryals FG 23

Jackson—Sullivan FG 35

Jackson—Patrick 25 run (Sullivan kick)

Jackson—Mead 87 kickoff return (Sullivan kick)

Mountlake Terrace—Snow 9 pass from Eckhart

Jackson—Sullivan FG 46

Records—Mountlake Terrace 3-2 in division, 5-3 overall. Jackson 5-0, 8-0.