Late score helps Scots beat Jackson

By Spike Matau

Herald Writer

EVERETT – The Jackson Timberwolves came out Friday night for their homecoming game against Shorecrest, playing a game of can’t-catch-me with junior tailback C.J. Marsh, who dipped and ducked on sweeps and options all night.

He gained a total of 185 yards on 30 carries, but never found the end zone in a last-second 14-7 loss, which improved Shorecrest to 5-2 in the Western Conference South Division and overall.

Late in the game, Scots receiver Tracy Thompson converted four crucial first downs to keep drives alive. His biggest might have been a 21-yard catch down the sidelines on third-and-seven, which set up the go-ahead score – a Matt Heck quarterback sneak from the 1 with 17 seconds remaining.

“This is a big win for us,” Shorewood’s Thompson said. “This means we’re looking at the playoffs now.

But Jackson (3-4, 3-4) kept things interesting up to the final play of the game. On the next possession, Jason Morris, who played with a deep thigh bruise, connected on a 64-yard pass to Craig Chambers that moved the ball to the 34 with 7 seconds to play.

Chambers nearly caught the next pass in the end zone, but Thompson lept in frot and picked off the pass, running out the clock and any hopes of a Timberwolf victory.

This was a huge game for us and the best our defense has played all year,” Shorewood coach Mike Wollan said.

Quarterback Jason Morris provided Jackson’s only score of the game when he plunged in from 1-yard in the fourth quarter to tie the score 7-7.

Shorecrest scored in the third quarter on a 64-yard run by running back Keith Fagan, who combined with Eric Duenas for 149 rushing yards on 24 carries.