O’Dea’s Monte Kohler Sets State Record With O’Dea’s 31-16 Win Over Rainier Beach

Last night, O’Dea High School head coach Monte Kohler etched his name into Washington history, becoming the winningest coach in state history as the Fighting Irish defeated Rainier Beach 31-16 in Metro League play. The victory marked Kohler’s 395th career win.

The game opened with Rainier Beach on offense, where quarterback Esquire Williams moved the ball in short chunks before penalties stalled the drive, forcing a punt. O’Dea wasted little time responding. Running back Uriah Stringfield broke loose for 17 yards, and Allias Moimoi capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run. The extra point gave the Irish an early 7-0 lead.

Momentum continued to swing O’Dea’s way on their next possession. Sophomore running back J’Shaun Wilson carried the ball for 44 yards on consecutive plays, setting up Owen Brustkern’s touchdown run that pushed the lead to 14-0.

The Vikings nearly answered immediately as SirJewel Glover sprinted the length of the field on the ensuing kickoff, but a penalty brought it back. Still, the play energized the team. Soon after, Ze Watkins broke a 37-yard run, and Williams connected with Glover for a 27-yard touchdown on fourth down. Williams then powered in a 10-yard run for a two-point conversion, cutting the deficit to 14-8 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter became a defensive duel, with both sides trading punts. O’Dea nearly struck when Nino Moksivong returned a punt 85 yards for a score, but a holding penalty erased it. Wilson continued to find holes, and Ray Clark III added a 41-yard run that forced Rainier Beach head coach Corey Sampson to call timeout. O’Dea marched inside the 10-yard line before being held to a 22-yard field goal, extending their lead to 17-8 at halftime.

O’Dea controlled the third quarter with a steady ground attack. Wilson again powered through the defense for a touchdown, and Giulio Banchero tacked on a two-point conversion to make it 25-8. Rainier Beach showed fight late in the period with a long drive sparked by Williams and Tek Mwamba, but the Vikings stalled at the Irish 22-yard line as the quarter ended.

Rainier Beach converted on that possession early in the fourth when Watkins scored on a 7-yard run, followed by a two-point conversion from Khi Fields to close the gap to 25-16.

But O’Dea answered back once more. A strong kick return and facemask penalty gave them short field position, and Wilson capped the drive with his second touchdown of the night to put the game out of reach at 31-16. The Vikings recovered a late fumble but failed to score as the Irish defense held firm to secure the win.

Afterward, Kohler praised Wilson’s effort and the resilience of his roster despite key injuries.

“J’Shaun gave a heck of an effort; he stepped in and did a great job,” Kohler said. “We had young kids stepping in when our players went down, and that is what competing is all about. We just have to keep building and following what we do.”

With the win, O’Dea not only celebrated a milestone for its legendary coach but also showcased its depth and toughness against a spirited Rainier Beach team.