By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
O’Dea running back Jason Brown, Jr. was virtually unstoppable as he scored five touchdowns to help the Fighting Irish (8-0) claim the Metro League’s 2023 football title with a 49-13 victory over the Garfield Bulldogs (5-3). Energy was high all around, as both teams were coming off impressive victories.
O’Dea started off the game with a sense of urgency as they tried to impose their will on the Bulldogs with their physical running game. Minutes into the first quarter, O’Dea appeared to score their first touchdown of the game on a 60-yard run by Brown; however, the play was called back due to a holding call. But the setback did not stop O’Dea’s momentum.
Inching closer to the end zone, the phenomenal blocking from the Fighting Irish’s offensive line allowed Brown to put up the first points of the night with a 10-yard touchdown run. After a successful extra-point attempt, the Fighting Irish led 7-0 with 4:54 remaining in the first quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, O’Dea would recover an onside kick on Garfield’s 49-yard line. The Fighting Irish would take advantage of the turnover, as quarterback Antone Araujo would take the ball straight up the middle of the field for another O’Dea touchdown, increasing their lead to 14-0 after a successful point-after attempt.
Looking to change the pace of the game, the Bulldogs would finally touch the ball for the first time in the game at the two-minute mark of the first quarter. However, the Fighting Irish defense was equally up to the challenge as they quickly forced Garfield to punt the ball away.
Starting the second quarter off strong, Brown struck again with a 10-yard touchdown run, as O’Dea increased their lead to 21-0.
Garfield quarterback EJ Caminong tried to ignite the Bulldogs’ offense with some great run attempts to move the ball downfield, but the Fighting Irish truly were fighting this game and were not easing up one bit. Adding two more touchdowns before the end of the half, one each from seniors David Schwerzel and Kyan McDonald, O’Dea would take a commanding 35-0 lead at the break.
After halftime, the Bulldogs seemed to recoup and pull it together on the field. With 4:39 remaining in the third quarter, Garfield would get the big play they needed to get them back into the game. With O’Dea threatening to score, the Bulldogs’ Rahshawn Clark recovered a fumble by Brown at the Garfield 18-yard line and would return it 82 yards for a touchdown. Senior kicker Finn Terry would make a successful point as Garfield cut the lead to 35-7.
Looking to make up for his mistake, Brown, who is a very dynamic player, would swing momentum back in O’Dea’s favor as he would break up the middle of the field to score on a 38-yard run to extend the Fighting Irish lead to 42-7, as O’Dea junior kicker Owen Livingston would make the extra-point attempt.
The Fighting Irish defense has been consistent the whole night, not letting the Bulldogs get away with much. A Bulldog fumble at the 30-yard line, recovered by Fighting Irish Mihaly Collier, would give O’Dea another offensive possession.
As the Garfield mistakes kept mounting, O’Dea would grasp the opportunity and keep their foot on the gas. Carrying their momentum into the final quarter of the game, the Fighting Irish, to no surprise, started off strong. An enormous run by Brown to the 10-yard line, on the first play of the quarter, unfortunately was called back due to a personal foul penalty.
In hopes of draining the clock to end the game while still looking to potentially score, O’Dea would lean on Brown and the O’Dea offense to shut the door on the Bulldogs. As time started to tick away in the quarter, Brown would score his fifth touchdown of the night on a 50-yard reception to give O’Dea a 49-7 lead with a little under half of the final quarter left to play.
Garfield, starting to find their momentum late in the game, managed to cut down a small amount of the O’Dea lead. The Bulldogs’ Reylen Witherspoon closed the gap to 49-13 after catching a 55-yard touchdown pass from Caminong. A relatively fast score for Garfield in three plays. The Bulldogs attempted the 1-point conversion, only to have it blocked by O’Dea sophomore Rex Tanner.
O’Dea would take possession of the ball and run out the clock as they claimed the Metro League title and secured the Metro’s number one seed in the upcoming state 3A playoffs.
Eager to celebrate with his team, O’Dea Head Coach Monte Kohler said it was a great night.
“It was a fun night for a ball game with two great programs,” said Kohler, after the game. “We still have a lot of work to do. They are a veteran team, they know what to do.”
Jason Brown Jr. of the O’Dea Fighting Irish was a star player who made his presence known throughout the game. Scoring 5 touchdowns, Coach Kohler did not seem surprised.
“That’s just Jason,” Kohler added about Brown.
After their tough loss to O’Dea, Garfield Head Coach Reggie Witherspoon, Jr. said the game was a wake-up call to his team and expects them to be much better heading into the playoffs because of it.
“We didn’t play well at all,” said Witherspoon. “We have four star players out, so we were down some really key guys. That is no excuse though.”
“We needed this, this game was a taste of our own medicine,” added Witherspoon. “We have a bye week next week, so we will see how we are this coming Monday.”
A well-deserved victory for the Fighting Irish as they head into the postseason in hopes of taking the state title. Garfield and O’Dea will both have bye weeks next week as they prepare for the state playoffs to begin.
Pictorial Highlights Garfield vs O’Dea
Photos by Chris B. Bennett
