EVERETT – For Meadowdale receiver Jake Linton, Friday night’s 24-7 Wesco South victory over Everett may have been one of the best performances in his four-year high football school career.
Despite wet and foggy conditions, the 5-foot-9 senior Linton made five receptions for 170 yards, which included a first-half, 82-yard touchdown reception.
“It was definitely one of my best games,” Linton said. “But this was all about the team. We started off quick and kept it up. Every game from here out is do or die.”
The Mavericks, who entered the game averaging just 101.8 passing yards per game, finished with 231 yards through the air and 431 total yards. Quarterback Demetri Huffman completed 10 of 17 passes and threw three touchdowns.
“Demetri played very well for us tonight,” said Meadowdale coach Mark Stewart, whose Mavericks have won five straight games and improved to 6-2. “Our offense got off to a quick start. We have the kind of players who can make a difference and we saw that tonight.”
The homecoming-celebrating Seagulls, who have lost three of their past four games, dropped to 5-3.
“This victory kept us in the playoff hunt,” Stewart said. “Now we have to prepare for Shorewood next week.”
The Mavericks scored on their first three possessions in the first half. Nick Tasche capped off Meadowdale’s opening possession with a 30-yard field goal.
Following an Everett turnover on the ensuing kickoff, Huffman drove Meadowdale 18 yards and found receiver Alex Romanyuk for the first of Romanyuk’s two first-half touchdowns.
After forcing the Seagulls three-and-out, Huffman, on Meadowdale’s next series, connected with Linton for an 82-yard pass-and-catch touchdown, giving Meadowdale a 17-0 lead with 2:55 remaining in the first quarter.
“This was a huge win for us,” said Linton, who picked off Everett quarterback Bryce Levin twice.
Defensively, the Mavericks held Levin to 2-for-13 passing for just 20 yards. Everett did, however, pile up 164 rushing yards -the bulk of which came with 6:28 remaining in the first half thanks to a 95-yard touchdown run by senior running back Justin Ehling.
“We gave up that big run,” Stewart said. “But after that, our defense played solid.”
Ehling led Everett with 110 yards rushing and Andrew Skorney gained 43 yards on six carries.
At Everett
Meadowdale17700-24
Everett0700-7
Meadowdale-FG Tasche 30
Meadowdale-Romanyuk 7 pass from Huffman Tasche kick)
Meadowdale-Linton 82 pass from Huffman (Tasche kick)
Meadowdale-Romanyuk 10 pass from Huffman (Tasche kick)
Everett-Ehling 95 run (Beckman kick)
Records-Meadowdale 6-2 in league, 6-2 overall. Everett 5-3, 5-3.
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