O'Dea Fighting Irish Secure Victory Over Eastside Catholic

Compiled by Karrington Kincaid, The Seattle Medium

In one of the most anticipated Metro League matchups of the season, the O’Dea Fighting Irish once again proved why they’re never out of a game. Down 14-7 at halftime to Eastside Catholic, O’Dea stormed back with 17 unanswered points in the second half to earn a gritty 24-20 win in a back-and-forth battle between two of the top programs in the league.

Eastside Catholic came out sharp, establishing rhythm and control on their opening drive. Quarterback Luca Villasenor found Tytan McNeal for a 35-yard gain, then hit Asa Thompson on a 31-yard touchdown pass to put the Crusaders on the board first. Their second drive showed similar balance, with Nick Jones picking up multiple first downs on the ground and Cayden Pili adding tough yards between the tackles. Penalties slowed that drive down, but Villasenor continued to spread the ball around to seven different receivers in the first half, including Nepo Fareti, Robert Ingram, and Thompson.

O’Dea answered midway through the second quarter. After J’Shaun Wilson broke loose for a 35-yard run, Max Speller capped the drive with a 15-yard touchdown. The extra point tied it at 7-7. Eastside responded quickly before the half, staying aggressive through the air. Villasenor found Ingram on back-to-back completions, including a 25-yard touchdown strike that made it 14-7 at the break.

At halftime, Eastside had controlled the clock, converted through the air, and capitalized on clean execution. O’Dea, however, made key adjustments and set the tone defensively as the came out of the locker room and got a quick stop, giving their offense a spark. On the very next possession, Owen Brustkern broke free on a 77-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 14-14 and flipping the momentum.

After another key stop by the Irish defense, quarterback Hutton Leverett led a steady drive capped by a field goal, giving O’Dea its first lead of the game at 17-14. Leverett, who finished 9-of-9 passing, played mistake-free football and made key short completions to David Schwerzel, Giulio Banchero, and Siosaia Malietufa to keep the chains moving.

The fourth quarter opened with a statement play from Wilson, who had been grinding out yardage all night. He broke through a seam and raced 50 yards to the end zone, giving O’Dea a 24-14 lead after the extra point. Wilson finished with 28 carries for 161 yards and a touchdown, powering the Irish offense in critical moments.

Eastside Catholic still had life, and Villasenor didn’t flinch under pressure. He led a late-game drive with completions to Fareti, Thompson, and Ingram, before hitting Kato Lugolobi on a 27-yard touchdown to pull the Crusaders within four. However, the missed extra point left the score at 24-20, and Eastside’s final drive ended in heartbreak. Villasenor’s downfield attempt was intercepted by Peyton Egan, sealing the comeback win for O’Dea.

Despite the interception, Villasenor had a standout game, completing 19 of 20 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns, distributing the ball with poise and precision.

After the win, O’Dea head coach Monty Kohler praised his players’ response to early adversity.

“They’re a heck of a football team, and that first half we just made too many mistakes,” said Kohler after the game. “We never got down or behind. We had guys that stepped up and contributed to what we did tonight.”

Eastside Catholic head coach Dom Daste emphasized discipline and execution in key moments.

“Our kids will always play hard, I’m not worried about that, but we have to play smart as well,” said Daste. “We’re putting ourselves in tough positions—being behind the sticks and having lineman errors. When you’re playing a well-coached opponent, you can’t expect to be victorious with those kinds of things happening.”

In a game packed with explosive plays, crucial stops, and playoff-caliber intensity, both teams showed why they’re Metro League contenders.