Wolfpack shut out by Cadets

The young Jackson football team had some good moments in its non-conference season opener against Eisenhower.

But they weren’t enough to pull out a victory as the Cadets prevailed 14-0 in the Aug. 31 game at Eisenhower High School in Yakima

“I was actually pretty happy with the way we played,” said Jackson head coach Joel Vincent. “I was really excited with what I saw.”

The Wolfpack defense played especially well, allowing only one significant Eisenhower drive. The other drive started at the Jackson 22 after a turnover. The Timberwolves limited Eisenhower to only 70 yards through the air.

“The defense for all practical purposes gave up one TD,” Vincent said. “The only score they had to work for. Eighty-five to 90 percent of the time we shut them down.”

This week the Timberwolves’ defense faces quite a different offense. Eisenhower ran a shot gun-spread out offense that tried to take advantage of 6-foot-4 quarterback Taylor Elmo.

Jackson (0-0 in the league, 0-1 overall) takes on ground-oriented Meadowdale at 5 p.m. tonight (Friday, Sept. 7) at Edmonds Stadium. The Mavericks (0-1, 0-1) fell 35-13 to three-time defending league champion Edmonds-Woodway.

Meadowdale runs the Wing-T offense and was led by senior running back Nick Montanari, who rushed for 119 yards on 12 carries.

“Our emphasis is going to change a little bit in terms of what we’re going to stop,” Vincent said.

In his first career start, junior quarterback Gabe Rochon completed six of 12 passes for 44 yards with one interception. The team’s two other quarterbacks, junior Jordan Kellington and sophomore Andy Gay, also saw action.

The offense advanced into the red zone several times.

“We couldn’t get crucial first downs in the red zone,” Vincent said.

Senior running back Dan Reimer rushed for 80 yards on 18 carries and sophomore Riley Carr carried the ball three times for 31 yards.

“We moved the ball up and down the field,” Vincent said. “Their defense stiffened pretty well.”

Jackson’s offensive line, which featured five players who had never started a varsity game, had a good game. Vincent saw good pass protection and run blocking from his front five.

“They did a fine job,” he said. “We just got to go the extra mile in the red zone and punt it in.”

Elmo scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter to give Eisenhower a 7-0 lead. He then connected on a 22-yard touchdown pass to Donovan Beath in the third quarter.

The Jackson offense will get a lift with the return of junior running back Taylor Cox this week. The first-team, all-league standout did not play against Eisenhower because he was serving a one-game suspension.

“It’s going to be a huge boost,” Vincent said. “We’re really excited to have Taylor. He worked hard. He’s had a great attitude while waiting to play. He’s ready to go.”