Eastside Catholic Crushes Seattle Prep 41-9

Reported By Karrington Kincaid, The Seattle Medium

In a clash of Metro League contenders, the Eastside Catholic Crusaders had an impressive performance Friday night, as they rolled past Seattle Prep 41–9 in a game defined by offensive precision and defensive disruption.

The Crusaders entered the contest on a three-game win streak and sitting at 4–1 in league play. Seattle Prep, at 3–2, was eager to extend a win streak of their own. But from the opening whistle, Eastside Catholic took control.

After forcing an early turnover, the Crusaders wasted no time capitalizing. Quarterback Luca Villasenor connected with running back Nick Jones on a 16-yard gain, and Jones punched it in from four yards out two plays later to give Eastside a 7–0 lead.

Seattle Prep looked to respond but was met with a relentless defensive front. Braden Pili and Cayden Pili led a swarming Crusader defense that repeatedly stifled the Panther ground game. A muffed punt gave Eastside Catholic another chance to score, and they did just that. Jones found the end zone again early in the second quarter after a series of methodical runs by him and Cayden Pili.

With the defense holding strong, Eastside Catholic continued to stretch the field. Villasenor found Asa Thompson for a 29-yard gain, then hit Cayden Pili on a quick strike that he turned into an 11-yard touchdown. After another defensive stand, Villasenor closed the half by dropping a perfect pass into Thompson’s hands for a 54-yard touchdown, capping a dominant first half and extending the lead to 27–6.

Seattle Prep managed one first-half score when quarterback Leo Harnetiaux hit Win Chandler on an 11-yard touchdown pass. But their other drives were consistently derailed by pressure and penetration from Eastside’s front seven.

In the third quarter, Prep added a field goal after a strong return by Beckett Archer set them up in plus territory. But Eastside Catholic answered quickly, as Jones capped off another efficient drive with his third rushing touchdown of the game.

Even when Prep started to gain traction, Eastside’s defense stood tall. Villasenor added to his stellar night by intercepting two passes, while Braden Pili recorded a game-high four tackles.

The Crusaders weren’t finished. Late in the fourth quarter, they closed the scoring when Cayden Pili powered in for his second touchdown of the night after a long drive that drained the clock and sealed the outcome.

Eastside Catholic’s offensive execution was crisp and balanced all night. Villasenor went a perfect 15-for-15 passing for 203 yards, distributing the ball to multiple targets and keeping the Panthers off balance. Jones and Pili combined for over 190 yards rushing, accounting for all five offensive touchdowns.

Player Standouts:

Eastside Catholic’s Nick Jones totaled 104 rushing yards and three touchdowns, plus 25 receiving yards. Cayden Pili added 92 rushing yards, 29 receiving yards, and two total touchdowns. Asa Thompson hauled in two catches for 83 yards, highlighted by a 54-yard touchdown reception. Quarterback Luca Villasenor was nearly flawless under center, going 15-for-15 for 203 yards with multiple scoring throws. On defense, Braden Pili led the Crusaders with four tackles, while Villasenor also contributed two interceptions.

Despite the loss, Seattle Prep showed grit. Win Chandler had a solid night with 69 rushing yards and a receiving touchdown, while Beckett Archer provided a spark with a 73-yard kickoff return in the second half. Defensively, Dylan Gilbert and Xavier Losh each grabbed an interception.

Head coach Dom Daste praised his team’s execution but noted areas for improvement.

“I thought our kids played hard,” said Daste. “We’ve got to clean up the penalties, but overall, their effort and execution has been great.”

On the other sideline, Seattle Prep head coach Aaron Maul remained optimistic about his team’s development through a difficult schedule.

“I know a lot of people wouldn’t understand this, but this is secretly a blessing,” Maul said. “We’ve lost three games to three big schools, but this is only strengthening us for the long road ahead.”

With the win, Eastside moves to 5–1 in league play, while Seattle Prep falls to 3–3, still working through a challenging stretch of games.

Player Statistics

Eastside Catholic (Offense):