Eastlake beats North Creek after fourth quarter comeback
The Eastlake Wolves faced the North Creek Jaguars for their final game of the regular season, and both teams found themselves scrambling for the win. Eastlake managed to pull out in the fourth quarter to defeat North Creek 28-24.
The Jaguars opened with an amazing 50-yard run on the first kickoff return to begin the game, leaving the Wolves dazed. When North Creek found tight end Stephen Woodward on the next play for a sneaker half back pass, he found the end zone, putting the Jaguars up 7-0 with less than a minute ticked off the clock.
While the ball traveled up and down the field with back and forth possessions, superb defense on both sides meant the quarter ended with North Creek up 7-0.
The Wolves, determined not to let the Jaguars in, held North Creek on downs near the goal line to take back the ball. On a series of short passes from quarterback Cole Hunt to wide receiver Grady Woodward, as well as a series of carries by Blake Borup, the Wolves advanced to the 4-yard line. With a quick slant pass to wide receiver Kai Brown, Eastlake was finally on the board, 7-7, with only 1:48 left on the clock.
With one more chance to score, the Jaguars made quick work of the little time left in the half. A long bomb from quarterback Luc Naldrett to tight end Stephen Woodward quickly put North Creek in scoring position. With 32 seconds remaining on the clock, the Jaguars punched into the end zone to take back the lead, 14-7, to end the half.
Both teams came back fired up and aggressive to start the third quarter. Possession changed back and forth until the Wolves, in their second possession, finally crossed into the end zone on a 6-yard short pass to Borup to, once again, tie the game, 14-14, with 5:31 remaining.
Moving down field on their next possession, the Jaguars burned up the clock, adding one field goal to the board for a 17-14 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
Opening the fourth quarter on the 18-yard line, the Jaguars refused to relent. With 11:39 on the clock, North Creek found the end zone once again to increase their margin, 24-14. Eastlake needed to act fast.
The Wolves seemed to inch their way up field, play by play, with five first downs on the next possession before Colby Marsh finally crossed into the end zone to bring Eastlake back into the game with a 24-21 score.
With 6:01 remaining, Eastlake gained the ball back when Balaz Dancshazy delivered a much needed interception for the Wolves. The consistent combination of Hunt to Borup would deliver a 15-yard touchdown run, putting the Wolves in the lead for the first time in this game.
The Jaguars tried to recover the advantage. After several downs, putting the win in jeopardy for the Wolves, Carter Thompson sealed the deal with another critical Eastlake interception, ending North Creek’s chance to recover their lead.
