11/10/2024
State Brackets Announced
The WIAA seeding committee released the 1A bracket on Sunday afternoon. The 1A is a 12 team bracket so the 1-4 seeds will get a bye in the opening round and go straight to the quarterfinals. The 5-12 seeds will play this weekend on Friday and Saturday in a loser out, winner to quarterfinal match-ups.
State 1A Football Bracket
Opening Round
(1) Royal Bye
(2) Seton Catholic Bye
(3) La Center Bye
(4) Cashmere Bye
(5) Nooksack Valley vs (12) Zillah
(6) Montesano vs (11) Omak
(7) Likfe Christian vs (10) King’s
(8) Lynden Christian vs (9) Cascade Christian
11/9 & 11/10/2024
The 1A Post Season kicked off Friday night with round of 24. All games from now on are loser out, winner advances until the ultimate loser out game the State Championship. The 1A classification with 45 teams will compete in a 12-team tournament format after the round of 24.
The round of 24 are not State Tournament games but would be better compared to a statewide district play-in game. The seeding committee for the round of 24 is not the same as the committee that will meet on Sunday for the 1-12 seedings into the State Tournament. Sunday afternoon the seeds for the State Tourney should be released and the opening round of state is next weekend.
This post will be updated through the Post Season all the way to the crowning of the 2024 1A State Champions.
State 1A Football Bracket
Below are the game results from the Round of 24 and any additional coverage we have if it was a game we covered.
(1) Royal 76, (24) Klahowya 6
(2) Seton Catholic 56, (23) Chelan 7
(3) La Center 58, (22) Elma 6
(4) Cashmere 42, (21) Granite Falls 0
(5) Nooksack Valley 26, (20) Lakeside (9-Mile) 3
(6) Life Christian Academy 36, (19) Rochester 22
(7) Montesano 49, (18) Colville 6
(8) Cascade Christian 45, (17) Castle Rock 11
(9) Lynden Christian 49, (16) King’s Way Christian 0
(10) King’s 46, (15) Kalama 20
(11) Omak 34, (14) Connell 0
(12) Zillah 48, (13) Mount Baker 28
Game Coverage
Cascade Christian 45, Castle Rock 11
MVP Interview: Tayven Collins & Josiah Lewis
ESN Postgame Show
Tayven Collins Breakaway TD
Maddox Miller TD Catch
Josiah Lewis Pick Six
Life Christian Academy advances with hard fought win over Rochester
Life Christian Academy 36, Rochester 22
(Lakewood, WA) Life Christian Academy likely has never faced a team quite like Rochester who lists no wide receivers and run the ball 99% of the time behind a double tight end and massive offensive line. The Eagles knew the Warriors plan as it’s not a secret they want long sustained drives and limit their opponents chances.
The Eagles also knew if they could grab an early lead and go up by 2 scores and maybe 3 that it would be very tough for Rochester to come from behind. So when they scored on their 1st possession after holding the Warriors to a 3 and out their plan was off and running.
But Rochester on their 2nd possession took over on the Eagles 49 after a failed onside kick attempt and marched the ball down the field and scored on their 6th play when their work horse running back Ethan Rodriguez plowed in from the 2 with :48 left to play in the 1st and it was tied 6-6 as both teams failed on their 2 point attempts.
LCA would then get a huge 73-yard kick return from Champ Seumalo to the Warrior 20. 2 plays later QB Jabez Boyd found Andre Meltzer on a 14 yard strike. They added the 2 points and it was 14-6 with 11:55 to go in the half. After stopping the Warriors again a good punt return by Meltzer set up the Eagles on the Rochester 34. Boyd then hit Seumalo on a nice 30-yard pass and catch to the 4-yard line for a 1st and goal. At Nuu would take it from there and pound his way in for the score, the 2 point conversion was made and the Eagles got their 1st 2 score lead with 3:27 to go in the half and that’s how it would stay to the break.
In the 2nd half LCA began with the ball and scored on the opening drive with Boyd running it in to go up 28-6. Rochester refused to give in and came right back with a nice drive capped off with a big 19 yard run by Ethan Rodriguez. The 2 point conversion was good and the Warriors trailed 28-14 with 5:03 in the 3rd.
The Eagles though were not going to allow a big comeback and on the next possession AT Nuu busted off a huge 64 yard run to score with 3:34 to play in the 3rd, Zach McKnight added the 2 points and pushed the lead to 36-14.
Rochester simply doesn’t have that quick strike offense unless one of their rb’s can break free otherwise they grind away which also takes a lot of time off the clock. The Warriors would answer that last score by the Eagles with a long sustained drive capped by Rodriguez’s 3rd touchdown on the day from 11 yards out. The 2 point PAT was good and it was 36-22 with 6:57 to play in the game. The Warriors then made it intersting recovering an onside kick but 4 straight playds and they turned it over on downs. The Eagles ran the clock down to 1:52 when the Warriors got their last chance and drove the field but fell short of the endzone as time expired.
Our Thorbekes MVP award went to AT Nuu who we had running for 126 yards scoring 3 touchdowns and was critical on defense slowing down the Rochester running machine from his linebacker position. Jabez Boyd, Champ Seumalo and Andre Meltzer were also considered. Had Rochester pulled out the win, it was clear Ethan Rodriguez would have been named the MVP as we had him for 201 yards rushing and all 3 touochdowns.
Rochester’s season is over and they finished 5-5 on the season and were EVCO 1A league Champs. Life Christian is now 8-1 and were Nisqually League Champions. The Eagles were given the 7 seed and will host 10 seed King’s in the opening round of the 1A State Tournament this weekend.
Link to watch full replay on the NFHS Network (subscription required)
ESN Postgame Show
Rochester’s Ethan Rodriguez keeps Warriors hopes alive
Life Christian’s AT Nuu answers the Rochester challenge
www.elisportsnetwork.com
