Meadowdale sneaks by Shorecrest

EDMONDS

Meadowdale completed only one pass during its 7-0 win over Shorecrest Sept. 28, but that’s all the Mavericks needed.

Late in the fourth quarter of a scoreless game, tight end Jacob Clampitt caught a 44-yard pass from Matt McDonagh on a corner route. That set Meadowdale up at the Shorecrest 3-yard line after a face mask penalty.

Two plays later, Ben Shebly plowed into the end zone from the 1-yard line for the game-winning score with 4:34 to play.

Clampitt’s catch was the big play Meadowdale’s struggling offense needed to get over the hump.

“It’s a play we worked on all week,” Clampitt said. “I kind of knew my routes were going to be open.”

Clampitt dropped a pass on a similar route on the previous drive that would have given the Mavericks a first down close to the Shorecrest 25. The second time, though, he hauled it in and nearly rumbled into the end zone.

Shorecrest drove the ball down to the Meadowdale 35 on its next possession and with 2:02 left, the Scots had plenty of time to tie.

But Alex Sankey’s interception at the Meadowdale 8-yard line of a Lars Swenson pass intended for Ezekiel Jones ended the threat.

Jones, who led the Scots with three catches for 28 yards, had caught a 19-yard pass on third down earlier in the drive and the Mavericks expected them to go back to him, Sankey said.

“I jumped up and timed it to get it at the highest point,” Sankey said. “I hoped he wouldn’t outjump me.”

On third-and-six on the next possession, Meadowdale running back Tonna Njoku sprinted up the left sideline for 12 yards and a first down, and time ran out on the Scots.

Meadowdale rushed for 101 yards on 33 carries, 76 of those yards coming in the second half. Njoku, who missed last week’s game as a precaution after complaining of a headache, compiled 47 yards on 12 carries to lead Meadowdale. The Mavericks had trouble holding onto the ball in the first half, fumbling four times on one drive alone, but they managed to recover the ball each time.

Swenson led all rushers with 82 yards rushing on 19 carries, but it was a frustrating night for him and the offense.

“There were no holes,” he said. “A couple times it opened up.”

Swenson’s longest run of the game came on a 41-yard keeper up the middle in the third quarter. The Scots drove down to the Meadowdale 10, but a third-down option pitch from Swenson to Michael Harris went for no yards and the field goal unit came on.

Andrew McDonald’s 27-yard attempt from the right hash mark hit the left goalpost and Shorecrest’s best drive of the night resulted in no points.

Meadowdale’s defense played well, containing Swenson and sacking him twice. Shebly and Jory Bourgette both recorded sacks in the first half.

Shorecrest ran for 115 yards on 29 carries as a team. Swenson completed 7-of-12 passes for 47 yards. Meadowdale’s McDonagh was 1-of-5, with the 44-yard completion to Clampitt.

Meadowdale improved to 2-2 in the Western Conference South Division and 2-3 overall with the win. Shorecrest fell to 1-4 in the Wesco South and overall.

This was an important game for both Meadowdale and Shorecrest, who are among the five 3A teams vying for two district playoff berths from the Wesco North and South. Meadowdale’s win gives it some momentum going into its homecoming game against another 3A opponent Lynnwood (2-3). Shorecrest hosts Mariner (4-1), a likely 4A playoff team, tonight.