EVERETT — Over the last several years the Jackson Timberwolves have been especially well-known for their ability to unleash offensive firepower.
Now, the heretofore unheralded Jackson defense is on the rise, which cannot be good news for its Western Conference South Division foes, including the Mountlake Terrace Hawks who fell to the Timberwolves 17-0 in a South Division contest Oct. 6 at Everett Memorial Stadium.
“Defense carried the day,” Jackson head coach Joel Vincent declared as his team celebrated its second consecutive shutout and third straight victory after a 0-3 start. “We’re improving every week.”
Jackson (3-2 in the league, 3-3 overall) scored all of its points in the first half when the offense was clicking with the 8-for-11 passing of quarterback Jake Gelakoska, six receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown by wide receiver Billy Green and the 91 rushing yards contributed by running back Taylor Cox.
Kawika Emsley-Pai returned to action in a big way for Jackson, shining at his safety position with multiple stops and a tackle for a loss.
On offense, he turned a fake punt into a 24-yard run and also caught a 25-yard pass.
“He’s such a leader, not only by what he says, but how he plays,” Vincent said. “It rubs off on all the guys.”
Jackson controlled the line of scrimmage with an interchangeable cast of players.
“The nice thing is we’ve got lots of guys we can rotate in and out,” Vincent said, noting the effort of Taylor Bjork, Jacob Cabuag, Kyle Meakins and J.J. St. Marie among others on the defensive unit.
Travis Selby had a tackle for a loss and Tylor Rathbun contributed a second-half sack for Jackson.
Considering the multiple weapons Jackson puts on display, it was a credit to the defense of Mountlake Terrace (2-3, 2-4) to buckle down and hold the Timberwolves scoreless in the second half.
The Hawks were led on defense by Eric Doyle, Jace Holmlund, Ethan Robinson, Bryan Crowe, Chris Wells and Isaiah Aiemalefoa. All had tackles for a loss.
Michael Wiley and Tyler Frankie had second-half pass interceptions for Mountlake Terrace.
Jackson started its first possession of the game deep in its own territory after a 45-yard punt by the Hawks’ Doyle pinned the Timberwolves down at their own 9-yard line.
On Jackson’s first play from scrimmage, Green caught a pass from Gelakoska in the right flat and with the help of a nice block by Emsley-Pai advanced the ball to the 20-yard line.
Jackson mixed the running of Cox (four carries for 29 yards), Gelakoska (24 yards on a keeper) and a 12-yard completion to Jamie Eisinger to drive deep into Mountlake Terrace territory, but were forced to settle for Kevin Springer’s 30-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 6:09 remaining in the first quarter.
Mountlake Terrace was forced to punt again on its next possession. Doyle’s 50-yard effort was downed at the Jackson 6-yard line.
The Timberwolves quickly got out of trouble when Gelakoska zipped a pass to Green in the left flat. Green streaked to the 31-yard line.
Three plays later, Gelakoska somehow avoided two sacks and fired a pass to Green for an 11-yard gain to the Mountlake Terrace 42.
Eisinger caught a 10-yard completion to the 32, followed by Cox’s 9-yard run.
On the final play of the first quarter, Cox took a handoff from Gelakoska, started left through the line, then cut back across the grain for a 23-yard touchdown run and a 10-0 lead.
The lead grew to 17-0 when Gelakoska threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Green late in the second quarter.
Bob Mortenson writes for The Herald in Everett.
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