Postcard from camp: Shorecrest H.S. football

Shorecrest Scots

SHORELINE — After winning just five games the previous three seasons, the Shorecrest Scots showed signs of life in 2015, winning three of their first four games.

The Scots appeared to be closing in on a fourth victory in the fifth game of the season, leading Mountlake Terrace 20-0 before eventually falling 30-26. Shorecrest didn’t win another game.

“One of the things that this program has to learn how to do is win those types of games,” Shorecrest coach Brandon Christensen said. “It was a big experience for those kids, not in the position of having had that much success early in the season.”

As a 2A school playing in a 3A league, the Scots still had an opportunity to make the playoffs with a crossover win against Lakewood in Week 9, but the Cougars outlasted the Scots 24-19. After competing as a 2A school the past two seasons, the Scots are once again 3A.

It may seem like a big jump back up, but not much changes for the Scots. Shorecrest will stay in the Wesco 3A South and play many of the same opponents it has played in recent seasons.

“Our goal and our battle cry this year is to redefine ourselves,” Christensen said. “It’s not to take away anything from the other teams out there — I know they’re great — but we’ve been a 2A school battling them so it’s not going to be any different for us.”

Christensen hopes his team can get off to another good start this year, but that it can maintain the pace.

“It was a shot in the arm,” Christensen said. “It was like, ‘We can do this. We can go out there and compete.’ Unfortunately, it was, ‘now what do we do?’ We hadn’t been there for a while. I think that those wins last year and then the way the season ended fueled our seniors-to-be and our juniors-to-be.”

Head coach: Brandon Christensen (6th season)

Key returners: Jack Koss, QB, sr.; Race Treat, WR/DB, sr.; Jake Smotherman, FB/LB, sr.; Nick Kinkopf, RB/DL, sr.; Jackson Jones, OL/DL, jr.; Sadath Aboudou, RB/DB, jr.

Coach’s quote: “We’ve got some senior leaders at some of the key spots — running back and quarterback. So we’ll be looking for our offense to build on a lot of the momentum that it got last year. It was a much better offense. Defensively, we’re going to be young, athletic and fast, but inexperienced. We had a lot of really good seniors that we lost off our defense last year, but Jake Smotherman is an all-league linebacker and he’ll be anchoring that defense. He’s a smart kid and he’s really going to help those inexperienced kids around him.”

—Aaron Lommers, Herald Writer

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Vancouver Giants goalie Burke Hood makes a play for the puck against the Everett Silvertips, who lost 6-2 to the Giants at Langley Events Centre on Saturday, one day after clinching a WHL playoff spot. (Rob Wilton, Giants/Special to Black Press Media).
Tips Week in Review: Everett first in WHL to clinch playoff berth

The Silvertips defeated Kamloops on Friday to secure spot, but lost to Vancouver on Saturday

The Edmonds-Woodway bench reacts to a foul call during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Monday, Feb. 10

Warriors win battle of division champs.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Feb. 2-8

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Feb. 2-8. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Perfect week no help to Gonzaga

An unbeaten week against a pair of middle- to lower-tier West Coast… Continue reading

LeBron James (23) and Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers look on as John Collins (20) of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Lakers’ LeBron James and Luka Doncic hit the ground running

LeBron James and Luka Doncic represent different generations and… Continue reading

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) smiles as head coach Nick Sirianni holds up the Lombardi trophy after they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Eagles overwhelm Chiefs to win the Super Bowl

The Philadelphia Eagles perhaps did not vanquish the Kansas… Continue reading

Coach Derek Lopez (far right) and the Lake Stevens boys' wrestling team celebrates with their championship trophy at the WIAA 4A District 1 Tournament at Jackson High School on Feb. 8, 2025.
Lake Stevens boys capture district wrestling title

The Vikings had 17 state-qualifiers; second-place Arlington led with five weight class winners

Edmonds-Woodway wrestlers react to a pin during the match against Meadowdale on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys wrestling roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Edmonds-Woodway boys wins Wesco 3A South wrestling title.

Kamiak’s Kai Burgess has her arm raised in the air after beating Arlington’s Jaymari O’Neal in the 125-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Rebuilding Kamiak girls wrestling steps forward at District Tournament

Ki Burgess and Eden Cole each won their weight class in Friday’s WIAA District 1 Girls’ 4A Tournament

Prep basketball roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Tulalip Heritage boys advance to district title game.

Meadowdale’s Kyairra Roussin takes the ball to the hoop during the game against Archbishop Murphy on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep girls basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Kyairra Roussin’s deep buzzer-beater lifts Meadowdale over Stanwood.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.