By Karrington Kincaid, Seattle Metro News
The Fighting Irish of O’Dea lived up to their name, staging a late fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Mt. Tahoma 21-14 and claim their second straight WIAA 3A football championship.
When the game was on the line, the Fighting Irish responded with poise, power and precision. Trailing 14-13 with 5:33 to play, O’Dea marched 67 yards in seven plays, culminating in a 30-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Hutton Leverett to wide receiver Owen Brustkern with 1:27 remaining. A successful two-point conversion extended the lead to 21-14 and secured a hard-fought victory that reinforced O’Dea’s identity as a team built for big moments.
“It’s a crazy feeling,” said Leverett. “I want to give thanks to God first and foremost. These guys bought into God and into Jesus, and He led us to where we are now. Shoutout to all the fans and families who came out tonight. None of this is possible without them. They’re the ones really running this thing.”
The decisive drive began with a 15-yard return by J Shaun Wilson to the O’Dea 33-yard line. Leverett followed with a 14-yard scramble to near midfield. Despite a false start penalty and a run for loss, Max Speller broke free for a 22-yard gain to the Mt. Tahoma 35. After a couple of short gains, Leverett connected with Brustkern downfield for the go-ahead touchdown on a critical third-down play.
“I’m feeling great right now,” said Brustkern. “It’s an amazing feeling to be able to do this back-to-back and to make so many plays. The whole team did their job. We relied on each other and got the job done.”
“I saw exactly what I needed,” Brustkern said of the touchdown. “I saw my route, and as soon as their two safeties came down, I knew I was free down in the box. Touchdown. Shoutout to my quarterback, No. 14, Hut.”
Leverett then completed the two-point conversion to David Schwerzel to make it a seven-point lead, compensating for an earlier missed PAT and putting the pressure squarely back on Mt. Tahoma.
“We run that play every day at practice,” said Schwerzel. “We’ve been working on it since Week 5. We perfected it and executed it. I’m so proud of this team and the way we fought. Back-to-back, baby, we are the champs!”
O’Dea had controlled much of the game before Mt. Tahoma surged ahead. Wilson opened the scoring with a four-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and added another in the third after Sioeli Siale recovered a fumbled punt attempt at the T-Birds’ 15-yard line. Wilson, a 5-foot-6, 165-pound sophomore, finished with 20 carries for 51 yards and two touchdowns.
“I felt that I did well, scored a couple touchdowns and had great rushing yards,” said Wilson. “But I want to shout out my O-line. I wouldn’t have done anything without them.”
Mt. Tahoma took a 14-13 lead with 5:45 left in the game on a 51-yard touchdown run by Felix Diaz, followed by an extra point from Junior Contreras-Barragan. But O’Dea didn’t flinch, responding with what would be the game-winning drive.
Throughout the game, the Irish defense made critical plays. One of the biggest came late in the second quarter when Mt. Tahoma threatened deep in O’Dea territory. On the 11-yard line with momentum building, Tevita Nonu delivered a strip sack that ended the drive.
“I think it was a coverage sack,” said Nonu. “We really needed a stop in that moment in the red zone. My teammate continued to the right and got there at the right time, which helped me get that sack. I’m just happy about it.”
Brustkern also registered a key sack late in the fourth quarter, helping to stall Mt. Tahoma’s final possession and preserve the lead.
Leverett finished the game 3-of-5 for 41 yards and a touchdown, while averaging 8.5 yards per carry. His leadership and the team’s ability to execute in the final moments reflect the disciplined, physical identity instilled by longtime head coach Monte Kohler.
“We take a lot of pride in sticking to the same formula that brings us success,” said Kohler. “We don’t abandon something if it doesn’t work, we just keep swinging until we hit, and we did tonight. And what’s better than running old school? The O’Dea Fighting Irish are back-to-back champs of the WIAA State 3A Football Championship and will have an opportunity to three-peat next year.”
Player Stats
O’Dea – Offense:
• J Shaun Wilson – 20 rushes, 63 yards, 2 TDs
• Max Speller – 13 rushes, 88 yards; 1 reception, 9 yards
• Uriah Stringfield – 12 rushes, 44 yards
• Hutton Leverett – 4 rushes, 15 yards; 2 of 6 passing, 39 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
• Giulio Banchero – 1 rush, 15 yards
• Owen Brustkern – 1 rush, 1 yard; 1 reception, 30 yards, 1 TD
• Allias Moimoi – 3 rushes, -4 yards
• David Schwerzel – 1 two-point conversion catch)
O’Dea – Defense:
• Sioeli Siale – 4 tackles (solo), 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 2 forced fumbles
• J Andre Castillo – 4 tackles (solo), 1 tackle for loss
• Owen Brustkern – 3 tackles (solo), 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss
• Nino Moksivong – 3 tackles (2 solo, 1 assist)
• Jireh Oliver – 3 tackles (solo)
• Cayne Rodriquez – 3 tackles (2 solo, 1 assist)
• TEAM – 8 tackles
• Additional contributors: Elijah Joshua Gines, AJ Gines, Brady Clisham, Ray Clark III, Patrick Mirkin, and others with 1 tackle each
Mount Tahoma – Offense:
• Nezie White – 17 rushes, 50 yards
• Felix Diaz – 7 rushes, 32 yards
• Anthony Quintanilla Jr. – 1 reception, 17 yards
• Elijah Durr – 1 reception, 14 yards
• Kane Roy – 1 reception, 13 yards
• Keshawn Hines – 1 rush, 2 yards
• Kemarjae Davis – 1 rush, 1 yard
• Mikkah Cordero – 5 of 9 passing, 44 yards; 3 rushes, -24 yards
Mount Tahoma – Defense:
• Felix Diaz – 10 tackles (7 solo, 3 assists), 2 tackles for loss
• Shan Jones – 9 tackles (7 solo, 2 assists), 1 interception
• Elijah Durr – 8 tackles (6 solo, 2 assists)
• Mikkah Cordero – 6 tackles (5 solo, 1 assist)
• Zain Anguay – 5 tackles (solo)
• Ah’mire Rooter-Heart – 3 tackles (2 solo, 1 assist)
• Teaven Jones – 3 tackles (2 solo, 1 assist), 1 tackle for loss
• Keshawn Hines – 3 tackles (solo)
• Kemarjae Davis – 3 tackles (solo)
• Kane Roy – 2 tackles (solo)
• Anthony Quintanilla Jr. – 2 tackles (solo)
• Nezie White – 1 tackle (solo)
