By Karrington Kincaid, The Seattle Medium
O’Dea High School’s repeat as WIAA 3A state football champion wasn’t won on a single play. It was the result of a roster built on toughness, discipline and determination.
In a 21-14 comeback victory over Mt. Tahoma, two players — running back J Shaun Wilson and wide receiver Owen Brustkern — stepped up in dramatically different ways, showing the range of what it means to deliver under pressure.
Wilson, a 5-foot-6, 165-pound sophomore, embodied the program’s physical identity. He carried the ball 20 times for 51 yards and scored both of O’Dea’s early touchdowns. His first, a four-yard plunge in the opening quarter, set the tone. His second, a seven-yard run in the third quarter, came after teammate Sioeli Siale recovered a muffed punt at the T-Birds’ 15-yard line. While not flashy on the stat sheet, Wilson’s work between the tackles helped O’Dea control possession, eat clock and wear down Mt. Tahoma’s defensive front.
“I felt that I did well, scored a couple touchdowns and had great rushing yards,” Wilson said. “But I want to shout out my O-line. I wouldn’t have done anything without them.”
O’Dea’s offense relied heavily on its ground game through three quarters. But with 5:33 remaining, trailing 14-13 after a 51-yard touchdown by Mt. Tahoma’s Felix Diaz, the Irish needed a big play. That’s when Brustkern delivered.
Lined up wide on a third-and-five from the Mt. Tahoma 30-yard line, Brustkern saw the safeties bite up. Quarterback Hutton Leverett saw it too, and fired a deep ball that Brustkern caught in stride for the go-ahead touchdown. The play capped a seven-play, 67-yard drive that reclaimed the lead and restored the momentum of the game for O’Dea.
“I’m feeling great right now,” Brustkern said. “It’s an amazing feeling to be able to do this back-to-back and to make so many plays. The whole team did their job. We relied on each other and got the job done.”
“I saw exactly what I needed,” Brustkern added. “I saw my route, and as soon as their two safeties came down, I knew I was free down in the box. Touchdown. Shoutout to my quarterback, No. 14, Hut.”
That would have been enough, but Brustkern added another critical play: a sack late in the fourth quarter that helped stall Mt. Tahoma’s final drive and preserve both the lead and the championship victory for O’Dea.
Wilson and Brustkern showed two ways to contribute: one with consistency and muscle, the other with sudden brilliance and poise under pressure. Their contrasting but complementary efforts helped forge a championship victory that will be remembered not just for the score, but for the layers of heart and teamwork behind it.
