7:44 p.m.
Countdown to kickoff
We’re getting ready for this big Wesco South game between the Mountlake Terrace Hawks (3-1 in division, 5-2 overall) and the unbeaten Jackson Timberwolves (4-0, 7-0).
The big news for Jackson is that star RB/LB Riley Carr will not play, according to Jackson coach Joel Vincent. Carr, who recently received a football scholarship offer from Air Force, hurt his ankle last week in a win over Mariner. Carr saw a doctor this week and had an MRI but as of this afternoon coach Vincent did not know the results. Jackson hopes it’s just a sprain, but Carr will sit tonight.
Taking Carr’s place in the backfield will be sophomore Trai Patrick, who had a breakout game a week ago versus Mariner.
Carr’s replacement on defense will be senior Jake White, a standout player who usually plays on the defensive line. White will also fill in at center on offense, replacing injured two-year starter Walker Evans. Evans hurt his knee during practice on Wednesday and might be out a few weeks, Vincent said.
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7:53 p.m.
So why is this a big game? For one, Jackson (No. 4 in the Tacoma News Tribune Class 4A rankings) can clinch a quad-district playoff berth with a win tonight.
Terrace, enjoying its best season since 2005, is also in the hunt for a playoff berth, which would be the first in program history. The Hawks are guided by sixth-year coach Tony Umayam.
Both of these teams have just two division games to go. Cascade (3-1 in the South) and Kamiak (also 3-1) are in the mix for the South’s three playoff berths.
*****
8:42 p.m.
Score update: Mountlake Terrace 10, Jackson 10, three minutes to go in second quarter
*****
8:51 p.m.
Score update: Jackson 17, Mountlake Terrace 10, 2:22 to go in first half
Terrace has played a great first half, even though it’s behind by seven points. The Hawks scored on their first two drives. QB Brandyn Eckhart has been effective on the ground and through the air.
He guided Terrace on a 15-play, 80-yard scoring drive on its first possession.
*****
8:59 p.m.
Halftime score: Jackson 17, M. Terrace 10
Terrace is hanging right with No. 4 Jackson so far. It’s been an entertaining, fast-paced game.
The difference right now is Jackson’s second-quarter TD. RB Trai Patrick, filling in for injured star Riley Carr, took a direct snap and off of left tackle for a 25-yard scoring run.
Patrick scored both Jackson TDs in the first half. He had 49 yards rushing on six carries.
*****
9:45 p.m.
Score update: Jackson 24, M. Terrace 17, 1:37 to go in third quarter
What a start to the third quarter! Taylor Mead took the opening kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown. He winded his way up the left side and then broke a few tackles while cutting right on his way to the end zone. That made it 24-10.
But Terrace keeps hanging in it. The Hawks cut it to 24-17 with a 9-yardTD pass from Eckhart to tight end Julian Snow on fourth-and-2.
*****
10:13 p.m.
Score update: Jackson 27, M. Terrace 17, 1:31 to go in fourth quarter
Kicker Daniel Sullivan blasted a 46-yard field goal to give Jackson a 10-point lead. Now the T-wolves are running out the clock. They survived a MAJOR test tonight. It was a fun back-and-forth game for awhile.
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Final score: Jackson 27, M. Terrace 17
RB Trai Patrick rushed for 101 yards and two TDs, Taylor Mead had a momentum-changing 87-yard kickoff return for a score and Jackson’s defense finished strong after a rough start.
It all added up to yet another win for Jackson, which clinched the South’s No. 1 seed for the quad-district playoffs and earned at least a share of its second straight division championship.
QB Brandyn Eckhart passed for 104 yards with two TDs and two interceptions for Terrace, which is still in the hunt for its first playoff berth. The Hawks play Kamiak next week. Terrace, Kamiak and Cascade are fighting for the South’s final two playoff spots.
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