Arlington tiptoes by Jackson

ARLINGTON — The Arlington Eagles’ 3-0 start this season might surprise area coaches who picked them to finish next-to-last in the Wesco North.

But Arlington quarterback Jake Parduhn isn’t shocked. He knew the Eagles were capable of this.

“It feels great to win,” Parduhn said, “because we put in, I think, more work than any team in the offseason.”

With performances like this, it’s hard to disagree.

Dylan Lindberg caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Parduhn that lifted the unbeaten Arlington High School football team to a 28-22 non-league victory over Jackson Friday in a non-division game at Larson Stadium.

Parduhn passed for three TDs and completed 17 of 25 passes for 261 yards. He also rushed for 97 yards, putting together another outstanding all-around effort.

On the winning play, Lindberg streaked up the middle, uncovered, and made his fifth reception of the game. It sent the home crowd into a frenzy, and handed Jackson (2-1) its first loss of the year.

“We started running the seam (route) down the middle and we had great success with that, so we just went with that at the end of the game and it worked out for us,” Parduhn said.

With about seven minutes to go in regulation, Jackson’s Taylor Cox made a leaping interception of a Parduhn pass. Jackson hoped to generate a clock-eating drive, but Arlington tightened up and forced a punt.

On third down Jackson came up just inches short.

“The bottom line,” Jackson head coach Joel Vincent said, “is we just couldn’t get it done.”

Arlington tied it with 1 minute, 35 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter when Parduhn scored on a 2-yard keeper run and then completed a two-point conversion pass to Sherman Pruitt.

The TD was set up by a 26-yard fourth-down completion to Jon Shell. Arlington head coach Greg Dailer called a timeout before the play and came up with some magic. Shell ran to the left corner and was wide open.

“Jon Shell made a huge catch there on the corner and Parduhn obviously threw an awesome ball,” Dailer said.

In overtime, Jackson had the ball first, starting from the 25-yard line. Arlington’s defense held their ground and Jackson’s Daniel Sullivan narrowly missed a 34-yard field goal attempt.

Arlington, which then started from the 25-yard line, won it on its third play. It gives the Eagles a boost heading into next week’s homecoming against Lake Stevens, Arlington’s first division opponent of the season.

“Coming into Wesco North next week, we were picked to be at the bottom of the division. But they better watch out because we’re coming,” Parduhn said.

Arlington accomplished something no team had done so far young season: score in the first quarter against Jackson. The Eagles, on their second possession of the game, jumped to a 7-0 lead when Conner Varnell caught a 2-yard TD pass.

It capped an efficient eight-play, 67-yard drive in which Parduhn was 4-for-4 passing for 51 yards and ran three times for 15 yards.

Jackson went three-and-out its first time with the ball. But, fueled by Riley Carr’s running and receiving, the Timberwolves cut it to 7-6 on their next possession. After plowing up the middle for a few good gains, Carr caught a short pass from Andy Gay, cut to the left sideline and dove into the corner of the end zone. The 27-yard scoring play got Jackson within one point.

Arlington overcame a few letdowns, including a second-quarter drive that ended at the Jackson 3-yard line when time expired. They also failed to convert a fake punt early in the fourth quarter that led to Jackson’s final TD.

But none of that mattered, because Parduhn and the Eagles found a way to slice through Jackson’s secondary when it mattered most.

“We played our heart out — just made a few mental mistakes, mental errors, and it cost us the game,” Jackson’s Cox said.

At Arlington H.S.

Jackson09670—22

Arlington70786—28

Arlington-Varnell 2 pass from Parduhn (Pierce kick)

Jackson-Carr 27 pass from Gay (Sullivan kick failed)

Jackson-FG Sullivan 25

Arlington-Varnell 29 pass from Parduhn (Pierce kick)

Jackson-Cox 6 run (Gay pass failed)

Jackson-Cox 35 run (Sullivan kick)

Arlington-Parduhn 2 run (Pruitt pass from Parduhn)