EVERETT — Brian Morse played Superman Friday night — saving the day and season for the Jackson Timberwolves football team.
The Jackson safety picked off Tahoma quarterback Heyden Johnson’s first-and-goal pass in the end zone late in the fourth quarter allowing the Timberwolves to regain possession and drive for the game-winning score. The decisive touchown came on an 8-yard run by Riley Carr with 54 seconds to play and gave Jackson a 16-10 4A quad-district playoff win over the Bears at Everett Memorial Stadium.
The interception was Jackson’s third goal-line stop of the fourth quarter and couldn’t have come at a better time.
After the Bears ran four minutes off the clock, setting up a first-and-goal with 3 minutes, 45 seconds remaining in the game, Tahoma tried a pass play that was tipped by receiver Stone Connell before Morse snatched the ball and landed in the end zone for the touchback.
“I was just reading the play. It was half luck and being in the right place at the right time. It’s all you could wish for,” the senior said.
And what was going through his coach’s mind?
“I saw that ball go up and thought, ‘Somebody run under it’,” Jackson head coach Joel Vincent said.
The Timberwolves came into the game averaging 35 points per contest, but Friday night’s game was all about defense.
“Defense won this game. The defense came to play. I told the guys offense sells a lot of tickets, but defense is what counts when it matters,” Vincent said.
Three times the Bears had a first-and-goal on the Jackson 1-yard line. Three times the Timberwolves stopped the Bears, allowing just three points — a third quarter Britton Jolley field goal that tied the score at 10-10.
“Those goal-line stands, I can’t say enough about those. They were the key for us,” Vincent said.
Tahoma had its second first-and-goal opportunity early in the fourth quarter, but three quick stops and a huge sack by Jackson junior Taylor Mead lead to a 19 yard Bear loss.
After the third Tahoma first-and-goal, Morse was thinking, “Again?!” before adding that the Timberwolves stuck to their game plan. “I’ve been waiting all year to make a big play. It happened and I couldn’t be happier right now,” Morse said.
The interception set up Jackson’s last attempt to break the tie and it was then that the Jackson offense finally seemed to get rolling.
A huge 41-yard, second-and-8 pass from quarterback Andy Gay (6-for-11, 105 yards, 1 interception) to junior Trevor Hegeberg gave the Timberwolves first-and-10 on Tahoma’s 37. Gay finished 6-for-11 for 105 yards and one interception.
Taylor Cox ran 13 yards for another first down, Riley Carr followed with a 17-yard run that put the Timberwolves on the 7-yard line with a first-and-goal. After Cox was held to a minus-1 yard run, Carr rushed 8 yards up the middle for the final score.
Cox clinched the victory by picking off Johnson’s pass with 36 seconds remaining.
Cox finished with 20 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown and Carr had 11 carries for 60 yards.
“It wasn’t a typical Cox night and it wasn’t a typical Riley Carr night. I think it was two really good defensive teams,” Vincent said.
Cox surpassed the 1,000 yard mark for the season, but had just three carries for 10 yards in the game.
“It was a lot of hard yards. I didn’t expect anything else. I knew it was going to be hard running,” Cox said.
Jackson (9-1 overall) advances to the 4A state tournament for the first time since 2003. They play in Eastern Washington against an opponent to be determined.
“I’m proud of you guys. We earned this. We’re going to state, baby,” Vincent said addressing his team.
Tahoma (6-4) was led by running back Josiah Anderson’s 111 yards rushing. Johnson threw for 209 yards and had completed six straight second half passes before his final two passes ended up in the hands of Morse and Cox.
At Everett Memorial Stadium
Tahoma7030—10
Jackson01006—16
Tahoma—Anderson 5 run (Jolley kick)
Jackson—Cox 5 run (Sullivan kick)
Jackson—Sullivan 38 FG
Tahoma—Jolley 21 FG
Jackson—Carr 8 run (kick blocked)
Records—Tahoma 6-4 overall. Jackson 9-1.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
