The Eastside Catholic Crusaders won their second straight WIAA 3A state football title, and fourth title in the last six years, after out-dueling their Metro League rivals the Fighting Irish of O’Dea in a fourth quarter flurry that included two lead changes, a record breaking touchdown play and the two teams combining for 25 points in the games’ final minutes.
After trailing 7-0 throughout most of the game and managing to accumulate only 95 yards of total offense in three quarters, O’Dea showed their championship grit as they went on a 60 yard, 11 play touchdown drive that saw running backs K’son Mika (6’1”, 200, So.) and Tajj Dyles (5’10”, 249, Jr.) gash their way down the field. The drive was capped off by a 4-yard touchdown run by Mika with 5:44 left in the game. However, O’Dea kicker Dillon Crowell missed the extra point attempt as the Fighting Irish trailed 7-6.
On a 3rd and 6 play from the O’Dea 40, the Fighting Irish were able to force Eastside Catholic to punt as defensive back Davyn Patu (5’9”, 150, Sr.) broke up a pass intended for Crusader receiver Gee Scott, Jr. (6’3”, 210, Sr.) at the 15 yard line.
After the punt, O’Dea took possession of the ball at their own 9 yard line with 2:46 left in the game. A delay of game penalty on the Fighting Irish moved the ball back to the 4 yard line. On the next play from scrimmage, O’Dea quarterback Milton Hopkins, Jr. connected with receiver Cooper Mathers on a 96-yard touchdown pass to give O’Dea a 12-7 lead. The pass play was the longest touchdown pass ever in a state 3A championship game (1998, 87 yards, Taber Lee to Casey O’Conner, Capital). O’Dea attempted a two-point conversion, but the play was blown up by Eastside Catholic defensive end Jaylahn Tuimoloau (6’4”, 245, Jr.).
The Crusaders stormed back on a 4 play, 67 yard drive capped off by a spectacular 29-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kobe Muasau to Tuimoloau that was tightly defended by O’Dea’s Mathers in the back of the endzone, as the Crusaders took at 13-12 lead after a failed two-point conversion attempt with 1:11 left in the game.
Eastside Catholic sealed the victory with 6 second left in the game as they forced a fumble from Hopkins that was scooped up and returned 23 yards for a touchdown by the Crusaders Peter Taoipu to give Eastside Catholic a 20-12 victory over O’Dea.
Despite the lack of excitement during the middle portion of the game, the game started off as just as crazy as the finish. Eastside Catholic running back Sam Adams II (6’2”, 200, Sr.) fumbled the ball on the second play of the game that was recovered by O’Dea’s Jalen Dixon (6’1”, 254, Sr.) at the Eastside Catholic 41 yard line. On the very next play, Adams made up for his mistake as he intercepted a pass by Milton Hopkins, Jr. at the 31 yard line. The pass was deflected by Eastside’s Tuimoloau.
The Crusaders then moved the ball downfield as Kobe Muasau completed a 32-yard pass to Gee Scott, Jr. to give Eastside a first down at the O’Dea 32. A pass interference call moved the ball to the O’Dea 17, but the Irish defense held and forced Eastside Catholic to turn the ball over on downs.
The two team went back and forth as Eastside moved the ball downfield and turned the ball over on downs on a couple of occasions in the second quarter.
O’Dea appeared to gain momentum in the game as Mathers intercepted a pass and returned it 34 yards to the Eastside Catholic 31. On a 4th and 6, from the Eastside 33, O’Dea’s Hopkins, under pressure from Eastside’s Tuimoloau, fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Irish turning over the ball on downs.
Eastside took control of the ball and marched down field on a 10 play, 52 yard drive that was capped off by a 7-yard touchdown pass from Muasau to running back Gio Ursino in the back of the endzone, as the Crusaders took a 7-0 lead into the half.
Eastside Catholic quarterback Kobe Mausau finished the game completing 18 of 30 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns, while Ursino carried the ball 12 times for 88 yards, as they Crusaders racked up 352 yards of total offense. Gee Scott, Jr. finished the game with seven receptions for 87 yards, while Sam Adams II had four receptions for 73 yards. Defensively, Eastside Catholic was led by John Taumoepeau who had 12.5 tackles on the day, including 11 unassisted tackles.
Despite a slow start, O’Dea finished the game with 262 yards of total offense. Milton Hopkins, Jr. completed 3 of 8 passes for 121 yards and one touchdown, while K’Son Mika led all rushers with 27 carries for 94 yards and one touchdown.
Pictorial Highlights Of 2019 WIAA 3A Football Championship Game
Eastside Catholic vs O’Dea
