The senior tailback ran for 234 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries in Friday’s 31-29 victory over Shorewood.
The Thunderbirds, a preseason pick by most Western Conference South Division coaches to earn a postseason spot, could not slow down the 6-foot-3, 248-pound back. Kirton, who has been hand-timed by coaches at less than 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash, outran the Shorewood secondary for a 79-yard TD for Jackson’s first score. He added TD runs of 15 and 41 yards and also recorded a key sack while playing defensive end.
“We knew he was going to be the guy to carry the load,” Jackson coach Joel Vincent said. “We expected him to do this.”
Kirton, who had limited carries as a fullback last season, has rolled up 551 yards rushing in Jackson’s 2-1 start (2-0 in the South Division). He opened the season with 110 yards in a loss to Anacortes despite having an 85-yard run called back by a penalty. Among the schools recruiting him are Washington, Washington State, Nebraska and Oregon.
Other top football performers: Tony Gardiner, Bothell; Casey Fortin, Snohomish; David Repnik, Sultan; Mike Lasher, Lake Stevens; Jevon Butler, Archbishop Murphy; Kyle Wilkins, Archbishop Murphy; Kevin Willard, Granite Falls; Sean Tracey, Shorewood; Gary Rogers, Kamiak; Brenton Bodewig, Arlington; John Lobbestael, Oak Harbor; Casey Mitchell, Coupeville; Joe Rojas, Coupeville; Stacey Kelley, Lakewood; Brian Ellersick, Mountlake Terrace; Pat Job, Snohomish; Jeff Donaldson, Monroe; Lee Smith, Everett; T.J. Gaffney, Everett; Niko Sievers, Everett; Michael Lodel, South Whidbey; Beau Siegel, Snohomish; Parker Coffman, Snohomish.
The senior outside hitter blasted the volleyball through Shorecrest and Jackson last week to lead the Tomahawks to a pair of victories.
Three days after leading Marysville-Pilchuck to an 11-0 record and the championship at the Sunbelt Volleyball Festival in Yakima, Parker recorded 24 kills in a 3-1 match victory over Shorecrest.
“She hits the ball hard,” M-P coach Shelley Johnson said. “She is really hard to dig.”
On Friday, Parker compiled 20 kills and six service aces in a 3-0 sweep of Jackson.
“She had a couple of hits in the Jackson match that were the best I’ve seen her hit,” Johnson said. “This isn’t a good thing, but she hit a couple of kids in the face (by spiking the ball) and had a hit from the middle that was close to the 10-foot line. It was one of those that make you go ‘Wow.’”
Korissa Clevish, who recorded 86 assists in the two matches, was responsible for setting up many of Parker’s smashes, Johnson said. Both players were All-Area selections in 2002.
Other top volleyball performers: Korissa Clevish, Marysville-Pilchuck; Aly Baird, Everett; Stephanie Lau, Kamiak; Sarah Mueller, Monroe; Natalie Soules, Shorewood; Mortan Harter, Edmonds-Woodway; Nicole Barhanovich, Everett; Nikole Thompson, Marysville-Pilchuck; Becky Scherer, Shorecrest; Lauren Herold, Shorecrest; Leslie Compeau, Cascade; Laura Peterson, Mount Vernon; Lauren Vermulm, Mount Vernon; Brianna Hussey, South Whidbey; Megan Craig, Jackson; Vicki Frank, Arlington; Lindsey Barnes, Darrington.
Girls soccer player of the week: Claudia Gil-Osorio, South Whidbey
Other top girls soccer performers: Whitney Ross, Snohomish; Alex Kirk, Edmonds-Woodway; Jenna Wild, South Whidbey; Sarah Smart, Lynnwood; Kaley Mitchell, Jackson; Kendra Anyan, Lake Stevens; Leah Wymer, Bothell; Melanie Bohnet, Kamiak; Ashley McNulty, Sultan; Gretyl Pruss, Oak Harbor; Laura Bowman, Bothell; Kerstin Torrescano, Mountlake Terrace; Molly Sumpter, Sultan; Brenna Rice, Archbishop Murphy.
Boys soccer player of the week: Andy Hewitt, Archbishop Murphy
Other top boys soccer performers: Chris Danford, Archbishop Murphy; Alex Ferris, Archbishop Murphy.
Boys cross country athlete of the week: Neil Hollo, Granite Falls
Other top boys cross country performers: Chris Wichers, Oak Harbor
Girls swimming athlete of the week: Marybeth Spillman, Edmonds-Woodway
Other top girls swimming performers: Rikka Brunner, Kamiak; Jacki Benson, Shorewood; Leanne Dull, Shorewood; Emily Hoffman, Shorewood; Brittney Thompson, Cascade; Hanan Hozail, Lake Stevens; Lisa Keane, Meadowdale; Bridget Sutherland, Everett; Amber Pleasant, Jackson; Kelly Conrad, Lake Stevens; Mindy Cramer, Sultan.
Boys tennis player of the week: Iechii Negishi, Kamiak
Other top boys tennis performers: Zach Tafoya, Stanwood; Kirk Nielsen, Everett.
Aaron Coe, Herald Writer
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