Shorecrest’s Marcus Tidwell leaps into the end zone for the winning 2-point conversion to give the win as beat Snohomish 36-35 on Oct. 4, 2019, at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
SNOHOMISH — A quick consultation with his seniors was all Shorecrest coach Brandon Christensen needed before making his all-or-nothing, winner-take-all decision.
The Scots, trailing by seven with 2:56 to play, engineered a masterful 10-play, 65-yard scoring drive. Trailing by one in a tight contest on road with 24 seconds to play, Christensen listened to his players.
“It wasn’t a difficult choice,” said Christensen of going for the two-point conversion and the win. “My seniors came over and said, ‘Let’s go for it.’ So I believe in them. They told me they could get it, and to be honest, we had never run that play in that formation this season. … We decided we were going to run something off-tackle and let our big fellas up front see what they could do.”
Shorecrest quarterback Eladio Fountain took a shotgun snap, handed the ball off to running back Marcus Tidwell around the left side and the junior back crossed the goal line untouched for a game-winner that sealed Shorecrest’s dramatic 36-35 Wesco 3A South win over Snohomish on a rainy Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
After scoring six points in the first half, Shorecrest’s offense scored touchdowns on all four of its second-half drives, thanks in large part to Fountain’s pin-point accurate passing.
The senior QB opened the game 1-for-8 with four yards passing and an interception. Fountain finished 20-of-37 for 272 yards to go with three passing touchdowns and two rushing scores.
“It’s a family thing,” Fountain said. “I believe in my brothers, and they believe in me. I came out in the first half, real flat, real flat. We weren’t connecting. The second half was all us.”
Fountain’s favorite target, senior wideout Derreck Williams, finished with a game-high 164 yards on seven catches and caught touchdown passes of 8, 21 and 34 yards.
Williams was critical to Shorecrest’s second half offensive surge, as was the Scots’ offensive line that provided Fountain enough time to sling the ball around to his pass-catchers.
Snohomish led 14-0 after two tremendous touchdown runs from running back Joshua Vandergriend, who complied 140 yards on 13 carries.
Shorecrest (4-1, 3-1 Wesco 3A South) scored midway through the second quarter and took a 14-6 deficit into the locker room.
After the break, the two teams exchanged touchdowns one after another.
Snohomish (2-3, 2-1) running back Tyler Larson recorded 139 yards on 19 carries and scored two of the Panthers’ second-half touchdowns, but with each score, the Scots kept pace.
Shorecrest’s only lead of the game came after its two-point conversion with 24 seconds to go.
TOP PERFORMERS
Eladio Fountain, Shorecrest — Fountain delivered a memorable, senior-like performance by putting the offense on his shoulders in the second half. What seemed like a lifeless offense in the first half couldn’t be stopped during the game’s final 24 minutes. Fountain accounted for all five touchdowns, threw for 272 yards and led the Scots’ game-winning drive.
Joshua Vandergriend, Snohomish — Vandergriend proved a great complement to power back Tyler Larson. The sophomore back displayed his explosive ability during a highlight-reel-worthy 43-yard first-half touchdown. He finished with 140 rushing yards on 13 carries and scored three times.
Derreck Williams, Shorecrest — Williams consistently found openings in the Snohomish secondary and made critical catches throughout. He finished with 164 receiving yards on seven catches and caught three TD passes
UP NEXT
Shorecrest hosts Stanwood at 7 p.m. next Friday at Shoreline Stadium. Snohomish travels to play Edmonds-Woodway at 8 p.m. at Edmonds Stadium.
Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
A Hail Mary pass is broken up as Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest’s Derreck Williams is shoved out of bounds shy to the end zone as Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest’s Desmond Fox bibles the ball but hauls in the pass as Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Snohomish’s Joshua Vandergriend hauls in a pass and runs in for the touchdown as Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Snohomish’s Jacob Brandvold (37) high fives Tyler Larson after Larson’s touchdown. Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest’s Zane Morga-Baisac breaks up a pass intended for Snohomish’s Jacob Brandvold. Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest’s Eladio Fountain throws a pass as Shorecrest’s Derreck Williams (9) hauls in a pass for a touch down as Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Snohomish’s Joshua Vandergriend celebrates after making a touchdown as Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest’s Derreck Williams (9) hauls in a pass as Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest’s Marcus Tidwell leaps into the end zone for the winning two-point conversion to give the win as Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Shorecrest’s Marcus Tidwell leaps into the end zone for the winning two-point conversion to give the win as Shorecrest beat Snohomish 36-35 at Veterans Stadium at Snohomish High School on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 in Snohomish, Wash. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
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