Shorecrest football prepares for playoffs

(#53) Gabriel Reyes recovers a loose ball for Shorecrest

Friday, 10-19-18 3A Football

@ Lynnwood HS

Shorecrest 49  - Lynnwood 15

Friday Night's matchup between Shorecrest and Lynnwood just happened to be one of those games to which being casually late would prove unwise.

If you missed the first 15 seconds of the game, you missed a misdirection flea-flicker from Royals QB Nate Killen to WR David Weitkamp that caught Shorecrest Sophomore Defensive Back Desmond Fox off guard (his only mistake all night) and turned into a 52 yard score... allowing the Royals to put 7 on the board before the concession stand had sold their first hot dog.

It didn't take long for the Scots Offense to even things up with a quick 6 yard pass from Eladio Fountain to Junior LB Derek Williams, lining up at Tight End for the first time this season.

Fortunately for the visitors, from then on it was all Shorecrest.

(#20) Sophomore Jaxon Taylor gets in on the action

On the following Lynnwood possession, Backup QB (in at Middle Linebacker) Dante Recabarren stripped the ball, recovered the fumble and Shorecrest was once again "knock, knock, knocking on" Lynnwood's door.

Opting to rely primarily on the run, which proved highly successful last week against Meadowdale, Scots Running Back Markus Selzler, who had an impressive night accumulating 121 yards on 14 carries, pounded his way into the end zone on a 16 yard sweep. Kicker Gavin Dalziel, who seems to get stronger with each passing week, then nailed the PAT to put Shorecrest in front for good 14 - 7.

The Defense applied heavy pressure all night and Selzler added another touchdown in the first quarter after intercepting his own deflection and rumbling 22 yards to the Lynnwood 2. On the next play the Offensive Line led by Seniors David Rivera and Cole Duthie had no problem opening a hole for Selzler to stroll into the end zone.

In the second quarter, Senior WR Sammy Seliga hauled in a perfectly thrown pass from QB Eladio Fountain (4 of 5, 77 yds and 2 TD's) and scampered, or more descriptively, bolted 54 yards for a Shorecrest TD. Cyris Filoteo (72 yards on 16 carries), would then follow suit with a 1 yard run to cap the scoring before the halfway point at Shorecrest 35, Lynnwood 7.

To their credit the Lynnwood crowd didn't seem to let a four touchdown deficit dampen their Homecoming / Senior Night festivities during halftime as they celebrated both of those occasions and the tragic loss of teammates Ryan Truong and Sayon Savorn, both of whom passed away tragically over the summer.

(#56) Mohammed Al-Jabiri providing outstanding protection

As the Scots prepare to welcome Oak Harbor next Friday night October 26th in the week 9 Crossover Game at Shoreline Stadium, encroachment and false start penalties are something on which they'll need to focus more intently. Lynnwood will undoubtedly concentrate on some of the same things next year as well.

However, the Royals' inability to adequately protect QB Nate Killen from the defensive penetration of #56 Mohammed Al-Jabiri, #60 Leonard Askew, Selzler and #51 James Huffman, proved to be their downfall Friday night as many of their drives stalled due to penalties for "blocks in the back" and "holding".

(#34) Sophomore Marcus Tidwell looking for a block downfield

Allowing only seven points in the first three quarters, Shorecrest's defense seemed to be firing on all cylinders. Highlighting this impressive display was a blocked punt by Huffman (the team's first of the year) and a favorable bounce from the ball which allowed #51 to make it just 2 yards short of the end zone. A penalty on Lynnwood for "illegal substitution" (12 men in the huddle) would move the ball half the distance to the goal and the ensuing sweep right would give Cyris Filoteo, that's (Fil-a-tay-oh) for future stadium announcers, his second score of the night.

With a 41 point lead in the 4th quarter, Coach Christensen and the Scots' coaching staff had the luxury of making substitutions, allowing some of next year's potential starters a taste of varsity action.

Tacking on one final score and converting the extra point for an additional 2, Lynnwood ended their season winless while Shorecrest advances to the playoffs at 5 - 3, 4 -2 in league play.

--Story and photos by Rob Oxford