Huge win for Shorewood football breaks 17 year losing streak

TBird and Cheer celebrate the team

WesCo South 3A Football

9-7-18 at Shoreline Stadium

Shorewood 38 - Meadowdale 7

As the student section began to count down the final seconds of the game – 5.4.3.2.1 – a momentary silence fell across Shoreline Stadium as heads turned to look at the scoreboard and the reality of the night sunk in.

The final score was not a mirage and it was not the expected outcome – the 17-year losing streak was over – Shorewood Thunderbirds 38 – Meadowdale Mavericks 7.

Shorewood dominated the game and secured their first WesCo league victory since 2014 and now sat 2-0 for the first time since 1998. Suffice to say – with two solid outings to start the 2018 season, optimism is running high for the remainder of the year.

#3 Robert Banks piles up the yards

Senior Robert Banks led an explosive running attack – slicing and dicing through the Maverick defensive for three touchdowns. Banks ran with an intensity and hunger seldom seen on the turf at Shoreline Stadium. Each time he touched the ball – it had the potential for a score.

The T-bird offensive line, even though outmatched upfront size wise – battled on each play – showing a level of grit and desire to ensure the T-bird spread running and passing attack had the time and the creases to play to the running backs' slashing and quick cutting running style.

#15 Kody Carpenter wraps Meadowdale ball carrier

Further, the offensive effort was led by a mature and poised Senior David Snell at QB. In situations where Snell might have panicked last year, he stood tall in the pocket and made focused and accurate passes to a very sure handed T-bird receiving corp. With the addition of Senior Jaro Rouse - who is an absolute rocket on a pair of cleats – Shorewood finally has a consistent deep threat which will give opposing defenses pause.

On the defensive side of the ball the T-birds showed mental toughness and a bend but don’t break attitude, holding the Mavericks to zero points in the red-zone three times. Employing a new 3-3-5 defense, the T-birds swarmed to the point of attack and played sideline to sideline.

#5 Joseph Williamson returns a kick for a big gain

 
Even in situations where the Mavericks found success on the ground – attacking the center of the defense, the T-birds rallied to the cause and demonstrated a resiliency not seen by the Shorewood Green and Blue in ages. Hard hits were the name of the game and at the end of the night Meadowdale knew the effort put forth was not a fluke.

Said Head Coach Brandon Torrey: "I'm proud of the way the team played together and for one another."

Shorewood (1-0/2-0) plays Snohomish (0-0/0-2) next Friday 7pm, September 14, 2018 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Snohomish.

#2 Jaro Rouse breaks up the pass

Scores

Senior Kevin Hirohata and the team
celebrate with fans

Scoring summary

SHW -- Robert Banks 88-yard run (Alex Lim Kick), 1st.
SHW -- Robert Banks 6-yard run, 2nd.
SHW -- 27-yard field goal (Alex Lim Kick), 2nd.
MEA -- Nate Hebert 5-yard run(Carlos Abad Kick), 2nd.
SHW -- Jaro Rouse 52-yard pass from David Snell, 2nd.
SHW -- Robert Banks 11-yard run, 3rd.
SHW -- Ibrahim Benzina 44-yard run, 3rd.


--Text by Aaron Burt
--Photos by Lisa Hirohata