By RayJaun Stelly
The Seattle Medium
The Eastside Catholic Crusaders entered the state 3A championship football game looking to cap off a perfect season, but standing in their way was the top-ranked team in the state – Yelm High School. The Tornados, who entered the game undefeated as well, escaped with a 28-27 victory last week against Bellevue.
The Crusaders earned their way to the championship game with a 35-28 double overtime victory over O’Dea 35-28 behind running back Richie Fotualii-Aliifua’s five touchdowns.
Offensively both teams got off to a rough start resulting in punts and incomplete passes. Despite the miscues, Eastside Catholic managed to put three points on the board behind Adam Jacobs 35-yard field goal at the end of the first quarter.
Yelm controlled time of possession throughout the second quarter. The Tornados looked to put together a scoring drive that involved a fake punt, where William Carreto took a direct snap and ran 24 yards for a first down. However, Yelm’s luck ran out later on the drive as they turned over the ball on downs on fourth and goal.
The Crusaders possession didn’t last long after forcing the turnover on downs, Yelm would respond with just 11 seconds left, as Damien Aalona threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Aden Schaler to take a 6-3 lead going into halftime.
Eastside Catholic’s Wassie Lugolobi gave his team a boost as he intercepted Aalona’s pass to Tre Smith in the endzone. Getting their second turnover of the game, Eastside Catholic quarterback Brady McKelheer threw a 44-yard pass to Jayden Reyes to setup a field goal, as Jacobs made another field goal to tie the game at 6.
Yelm would score 34 seconds later on a trick play, Brayden Platt took the handoff and pitched it back to Aalona where he launched it 55-yards to Smith for a touchdown, as the Tornados took a 12-6 lead into the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter of the game was filled with non-stop action. Yelm’s Paavan Bankston intercepted a pass from McKelheer, but Eastside Catholic’s defense would respond by forcing a punt.
Receiving the punt, McKelheer would throw a screen to Carson McKelheer and he’d take it 47 yards into the endzone to give Eastside Catholic their first lead of the game at 13-12.
Feeling as if Eastside Catholic was going to remain in control for the final seven minutes, emotions surrounding the game began riding high.
Forcing a Yelm three and out, the Crusaders would march down field where they’d miss a 35-yard field goal and the Tornados took over on their own 20.
With 52 seconds remaining and down by one, Yelm would pull off an unthinkable turn of events. Aalona threw deep targeting Kyler Ronquillo that was intercepted by Eastside Catholic’s Tyson Weaver, Ronquillo would strip Weaver of the football and run 30-yards into the endzone.
Leading 20-13 following a two-point conversion, all Yelm needed to do was keep Eastside Catholic out of the endzone and their defense would do just that.
Yelm’s Platt would intercept McKelheer’s pass as time expired to secure their school’s first state 3A football title, ending the Crusaders quest for a perfect season and their fifth state football title. With the win, the Tornados would finish the season a perfect 14-0.
