EVERETT — The last way Mariner and coach Mark Stewart wanted to spend Halloween night was playing in a messy mini-playoff between three Wesco 4A schools for the right to compete in a district playoff game days later.
The Marauders made sure that didn’t happen, but Jackson certainly didn’t make it easy.
“There were teachers to custodians that didn’t want to come back on Halloween,” Stewart joked, “so I think we made everyone in the community real happy.”
Mariner was one touchdown drive and a defensive stop away from possibly having to play on Monday after watching its fourth-quarter lead evaporate courtesy of an impressive Jackson rally. The Timerwolves scored on back-to-back possessions to tie the game late, but a scoring drive and a big defensive stop allowed the Marauders to pull out a dramatic 42-35 Wesco 4A win Friday night at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Mariner earned the league’s No. 3 seed and will play NPSL Cascade’s No. 2 seed either Friday or Saturday in a winner-to-state game.
“This is a playoff game, and we did what we had to to win,” Stewart said. “That’s good, and now we get ready for next week. We are in the third spot, and that’s better than we finished the last couple years, and now it’s on to the playoffs.”
Mariner (5-2 league, 6-3 overall) got huge performances from quarterback JJ Walker and receiver Anthony Allen. Walker completed 13-of-22 passes for 185 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-winner — a 27-yard strike to Anthany Smith with 1:43 to play. Allen caught seven passes for 118 yards and caught TDs of 9 and 33 yards.
Jackson entered the regular-season finale needing a win to force a mini-playoff. The T-wolves (3-4, 5-4) came up just short, but several players turned in impressive performances. Quarterback Jordan Brajcich threw for 262 yards and three touchdowns, and receiver Daniel Arias caught seven passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Jonathan Navarro ran for 152 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.
Despite trailing late, Jackson got off to a quick start.
The T-wolves moved right down the field its first possession, capping a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive with a 39-yard TD pass from Brajcich to Arias, who beat his defender on a go route down the sideline.
Mariner back Darius Brown responded on the ensuing kickoff, reeling off a 99-yard return for a score that gave the Marauders an 8-6 advantage less than three minutes into the game.
Mariner began pulling away from there. Tyrone Jones hauled in a 22-yard touchdown pass from Walker following a Jackson fumble, and the Mariner QB polished off an 11-play, 70-yard scoring drive with a 13-yard touchdown run that gave the Marauders a 22-6 edge with 0:09 to go in the first quarter.
Then it was Navarro’s turn to get the Timberwolves going. The junior took an option pitch around the right side for a 58-yard score, countering Mariner and cutting its lead to 22-13 moments after Walker’s score. Navarro’s second first-half touchdown came two drives later on a short field, thanks to an interception from linebacker Clint Wagner. Navarro found the end zone from 15 yards out, trimming Mariner’s lead to 22-20 with 6:57 to play in the half to take some momentum into the locker room.
The T-Wolves weren’t able to capitalize, though, as Mariner scored five plays into the third quarter. Walker found Allen for a 9-yard touchdown that gave the Marauders a 29-20 lead with 9:34 to play in the third.
Walker and Allen connected again in the fourth, this time on a 33-yard touchdown pass off play-action. Allen ran a drag route and Walker threw a beautiful ball that hit him right in stride, giving Mariner a 35-20 lead with 10:36 to play in the fourth.
But Jackson didn’t go away. Arias caught his second touchdown moments later, hauling in a short pass and then sprinting for a 42-yard score that cut Mariner’s lead to 35-27 with 9:39 to go. The T-wolves tied the game at 35 with 4:14 to play after an Arias 7-yard TD reception, but Smith’s late touchdown reception put Mariner back in front for good.
A huge sack from Mariner’s Will Ozuna on a Jackson fourth-and-4 around midfield sealed the win.
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