E-W remains unbeaten with 33-27 win over Jackson

EDMONDS – Apparently Edmonds-Woodway likes drama.

The past two weeks, the Warriors have escaped with victories after failed missed field goals by their opponents. While Friday night’s Western Conference South Division game against Jackson didn’t necessarily come down to that, it did have all the elements of a five-act play.

In a contest featuring teams with one loss combined, E-W (5-0 in league, 5-0 overall) prevailed in a 33-27 thriller over the Timberwolves (3-2, 3-2).

“We expect to win every week,” E-W star running back Josh Heard said.

Heard, the league’s third-leading rusher, rushed for 295 yards (34 carries) and three touchdowns.

“I just keep moving my feet and throwing my arms everywhere,” said Heard, who after the game was hobbling around on a sprained left ankle.

Jackson coach Joel Vincent remembers another No. 37 when he watches Heard, a 6-foot, 225-pound junior.

“I had one of those backs two years ago. His name is Johnnie Kirton (now at UW),” Vincent said. “Guys get tired of seeing him coming. Backs like that wear you down.”

Jackson wasted no time scoring. Following an 88-yard kickoff return from Kawika Emsley-Pai (the league’s leading receiver), Anthony Davis carried it in from 1 yard out on the second play from scrimmage.

E-W put together an 11-play drive on its first possession, culminating with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Randy Anderson to Nick Fuga on fourth down.

The Timberwolves countered with an 80-yard drive ending with a Davis 7-yard touchdown in which the 5-9, 215-pounder (who finished with 82 yards on 13 carries) bounced off several defenders before scoring on fourth-and-2.

Early in the second quarter, Heard had a 64-yard touchdown that was vintage Kirton.

After racing up the middle and to the left sideline, Heard was pushed by a Jackson lineman and looked like he was going to go out of bounds. But instead, he tiptoed the sideline, stayed on his feet and galloped another 45 yards to the end zone.

The league’s top passer, Jackson junior Jake Gelakoska, hooked up with Emsley-Pai late in the first half on a 55-yard touchdown to make it 20-14. Gelakoska (15-for-31 for 211 yards and two interceptions) threw a high, arching fade down the left sideline to a streaking Emsley-Pai, who shook his defender at the 30-yard line.

Heard’s second touchdown was a 22-yarder in which he shrugged off one tackler and bounced off another. (The Warriors converted two fourth downs on this drive). Heard added a 2-yarder late in the third that gave E-W its first lead of the game at 27-20.

An Anderson fumble set up Davis’ second 7-yard touchdown, tying the score early in the fourth.

Two plays later, Anderson connected with Patrick Sullivan for what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown with more than nine minutes remaining.

Anderson hit Sullivan in stride on a crossing pattern from the left flat to the middle of the field at the 15. Sullivan split two defenders there and sprinted in for a 29-yard score.

Then E-W’s defense buckled down, forcing Jackson to give the ball up on downs and then coming up with an interception (Matt Wilcox) on the next series. Jackson got the ball back with 1:12 to go but only managed one first down after starting at its own 13-yard-line.

“I’d give the game ball to the defense,” E-W coach John Gradwohl said.

Warrior Eric Greenwood, the league’s second-leading receiver, managed a single catch (7 yards) with Gelakoska draped all over him.

“He’s a great athlete and probably an even greater competitor,” Vincent said.

E-W kicker Grady Harmon, one of the state’s top kickers, was taken across the street to Stevens Hospital after an injury suffered in the first half while making a tackle. He was only available on two PAT’s. After that, the Warriors failed on a pair of 2-point conversions (15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties prior to both) and Jeremy Pautler made one PAT.

Billy Green led Jackson with 104 yards on seven receptions, while Emsley-Pai had six receptions for 96 yards.

At Edmonds Stadium

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Jackson-Davis 1 run (Jondal kick)

E-W-Fuga 16 pass from Anderson (Harmon kick)

Jackson-Davis 7 run (Jondal kick)

E-W-Heard 64 run (Harmon kick)

Jackson-Emsley-Pai 55 pass from Gelakoska (kick failed)

E-W-Heard 22 run (kick blocked)

E-W-Heard 2 run (Pautler kick)

Jackson-Davis 7 run (Jondal kick)