SHORELINE — Life after Johnie Kirton started off just fine for the Jackson football team.
The loss of the state’s top tailback to graduation didn’t stop the defending Western Conference South Division champions from pounding Shorewood 30-10 in the season opener for both teams Sept. 3 at Shoreline Stadium.
Steady defensive play minimized the impact of two Jackson fumbles each half. The Timberwolves gave up just 63 rushing yards and held the Thunderbirds scoreless after halftime.
“They’ve got big, experienced kids and we’re not the biggest team in the world,” Shorewood coach Jeff Weible said. “Last year we were a big team and this year we’re smaller and quicker.”
The outcome could have been much closer considering the premium field position the Thunderbirds were handed. Shorewood managed just two scores off the Wolfpack’s four fumbles and was turned away twice inside the Jackson 20-yard line.
“We competed real hard,” Weible said. “We made a lot of mistakes, but nothing that can’t be fixed. A lot of them went in there with big cow eyes, but got better as the game went on. We created some turnovers and moved the ball.”
Jackson opened the game with a seven-play scoring drive capped by a 39-yard rollout pass from quarterback Chris Bowen to tight end Rory Wilson, who sped past the Shorewood secondary untouched into the end zone.
An option pitch squirted free on Jackson’s next possession and the Thunderbirds recovered the loose ball. Senior kicker Taylor Griffith scooted a 34-yard field goal over the crossbar to make it 7-3.
After the kickoff, Bowen immediately lofted a sideline pass to Tri. The 6-foot-2 senior outleaped one defender for the catch and carried another on his back for the final 5 yards of a 70-yard touchdown reception.
Tri later pinned the Thunderbirds inside their own 1-yard line with an angled punt. Jackson didn’t let Shorewood advance past the 10 and extended its lead when a snap sailed over the punter’s head on fourth down, resulting in a safety.
Kawika Emsley-Pai returned the ensuing kickoff 62 yards to set up Kevin Salkey’s first of two scores. His 2-yard TD run off right tackle gave the Timberwolves a 23-3 advantage midway through the second quarter.
With 1:18 to go before the break, Shorewood tailback Will Barker scored on a 1-yard plunge two plays after a snagging 29-yard reception from quarterback Sean Tracey.
Jackson used 5:35 of the third quarter to drive 73 yards in 13 plays for the game’s final points. Three Bowen completions for 68 yards cleared the way for Salkey’s 2-yard TD run at the 5:08 mark.
Bowen finished the night 7 of 9 for 194 yards and two touchdowns. Eight carriers combined for Jackson’s 214 rushing yards, led by Joe Jun’s 72 yards on eight attempts and Salkey’s 40 yards on 13 tries.
“It felt good except for the fumbles,” Tri said of Jackson’s offensive execution. “We’re throwing the ball more than last year and it’s evened out our offense. We’ve just got to catch the ball and hold onto it.”
Tracey was 15 of 28 for 189 yards and two interceptions for Shorewood. Alex Burns caught six passes for 60 yards, Adam Hammer had three receptions for 56 yards and five carries for 24 yards and defensive lineman Richard Ledyard had a pair of fumble recoveries.
The game marked the first significant varsity playing time for most of the Thunderbirds, who graduated nearly all of their starters on both sides of the ball.
“The biggest positive is there’s lots of room for improvement and the kids know that,” Weible said. “They know Jackson is a good team and we got beat by a better team.”
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