11/30/2024
The WIAA State Football Semifinals were all contested on Saturday and in this post we cover the 3A games. Re-caps, our MVP’s, postgame shows and highlights are included as Eli Sports covered all 12 of the Semifinal games.
O’Dea 17 Eastside Catholic 14
Giulio Banchero left everyone in Memorial Stadium astonished with a 59 yard touchdown with 27 seconds left to propel the O’Dea Fighting Irish to their twelfth State Championship Game in Program History in an improbable 17-14 win. The win continues the conquest for Monte Kohler for the all time wins record in Washington State High School History.
The game began with both teams exchanging punts on each of their first two drives. After an O’Dea fumble on their third possession, Jeremiah Burroughs turned on the turbos for a 30 yard touchdown run nineteen seconds into the 2nd quarter.
O’Dea responded with back to back drives ending in Owen Livingston field goals, the first from 20 yard out and the third from 39 yards away. Eastside Catholic led O’Dea 7-6 at the half. O’Dea tailback Uriah Stringfield accounted for 143 yards in the first half which included a 52 yard run to set up a Livingston field goal.
The second half began with defense reigning in third quarter, holding both teams scoreless through three quarters. Carson McKelheer intercepted O’Dea QB Hutton Leverett early in the fourth quarter for a touchdown. Eastside Catholic led 14-6.
O’Dea quickly responded with Owen Livingston notching a 33 yard with 8:26 left in the game. With Eastside Catholic coerced to punt, O’Dea took over at their own 29 with 5:41 left, having yet to complete a pass the entire second half.
The Irish drove down to the Crusader 30. With two and a half to play, Hutton Leverett missed a wide open Davon Abaga. O’Dea turned it over on downs the very next play with 2:11 left. With the Irish still held without a catch.
Eastside Catholic ran three times and were stopped short of the first down. After the Crusaders punted, O’Dea got the ball at their 23 with 1:01 to play. Uriah Stringfield sprung for a 19 yard run to set up O’Dea near midfield. After an illegal man downfield penalty, O’Dea faced a 2nd and 16 with 38 seconds left. With O’Dea still yet to complete a pass, Hutton Leverett heaped up a prayer for Giulio Banchero. The three star receiver leaped to make the catch and pranced in for the go ahead touchdown with 27 seconds to go. Julian Thomas Goodson ran in the two point conversion to put O’Dea up 17-14.
The Irish forced three incompletions from Eastside Catholic Isaac Corey to send O’Dea to the State Championship for the first time since 2019.
Both team put on eloquent rushing displays, Eastside Catholic’s Jeremiah Burroughs accounted for 155 yards and a touchdown. O’Dea’s Uriah Stringfield had a monster game on the ground with 304 yards with no touchdowns.
Stringfield Won MVP Honors, but Giulio Banchero’s touchdown saved the day for O’Dea.
To catch the full replay of the instant classic click here, Full Game Broadcast (Subscription Required)
Here is the ESN Postgame Show with highlights of the game to follow.
ESN Postgame Show
Jeremiah Burroughs 30 Yard TD Run
Carson McKelheer Pick Six
Giulio Banchero Game Winning Touchdown
Bellevue 29 Roosevelt 13
The Bellevue Wolverines proved to the state why they are the number 1 ranked team in 3A. Thanks to 141 yards and two scores from Max Jones contributing to 348 yards rushing for Bellevue, the Wolverines advance to the State Championship aiming for their third title in four years, thanks to a 26-13 win. The Bellevue defense sacked Roosevelt quarterback Dalton Anderson six times for -95 yards. Bryce Smith and Matt Reed added touchdowns for Bellevue on top of the two scores from Jones.
Nolan McWilliams and Zaire Griffin caught touchdown passes for Roosevelt in the loss.
Bellevue faces O’Dea in a rematch of last year’s 3A semifinal won by Bellevue 21-17. The two schools faced off in the 2003 and 2011 State Title Games, both won by Bellevue.
Bryce Smith with two interceptions on defense and a touchdown on offense was named our game MVP.
To watch the full replay of the game Full Game Broadcast (Subscription Required)
Below is our ESN Postgame Show and our halftime interview with Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Moon.
ESN Postgame Show
Warren Moon Halftime Interview
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