By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
With their season hanging in the balance and just four seconds remaining, the No. 1-seeded O’Dea Fighting Irish turned to kicker Alec Petricic, who delivered a game-winning 30-yard field goal as time expired to secure a dramatic 47-45 victory over the No. 16-seeded Lincoln Abes in the Round of 16 of the WIAA Class 3A state football playoffs.
The thrilling finish capped off a back-and-forth battle that saw Lincoln twice tie the score in the fourth quarter before taking a stunning 45-44 lead with just 1:09 remaining.
The matchup featured two schools separated by just over 30 miles. On one side stood the Fighting Irish, a Seattle powerhouse and two-time defending champion looking to capture a third consecutive title. On the other stood the Lincoln Abes, representing Tacoma and looking to pull off a massive upset against the state’s reigning dynasty. With Seattle’s 206 facing Tacoma’s 253, the matchup carried an added layer of pride and rivalry as two cities and two programs collided with their seasons on the line.
The Abes wasted no time making a statement, opening the game with an impressive touchdown drive. Quarterback Sione Kaho led the offense downfield, connecting with Erick Tijiboy, Carl Jackson and Aamir Foy on several key completions. Kaho capped off the drive with a 41-yard touchdown pass to Jackson, giving Lincoln an early 7-0 lead with 8:38 remaining after the extra point.
O’Dea quickly responded with its powerful rushing attack as J’Shaun Wilson and Max Speller combined for several big gains before Speller broke through for a 16-yard touchdown run. Wilson added a successful two-point conversion to give the Irish an 8-7 lead with 6:44 left in the quarter.
Lincoln turned the ball over on downs on its next possession, while O’Dea missed an opportunity to extend its lead after a holding penalty stalled its drive and a 43-yard field goal attempt fell short. Kaho moved the Abes downfield again, connecting with JT Williams and Elijah Carney, but the Irish maintained an 8-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter brought plenty of back-and-forth action, with both teams trading turnovers and big offensive plays. Lincoln’s opening drive stalled after a failed fourth-down conversion, giving O’Dea possession, but the Irish quickly gave the ball back after Moimoi fumbled and Lincoln recovered.
The Abes capitalized on the opportunity as Kaho continued to connect with Williams to move the offense downfield. Facing fourth-and-long, Kaho found Williams for a crucial 15-yard completion before delivering a 16-yard touchdown pass to Malakai Boyovich. With the extra point good, Lincoln regained the lead at 14-8 with 5:47 remaining in the half.
O’Dea answered with another strong rushing drive led by Wilson, who broke off a 25-yard run to put the Irish near the goal line. Moimoi finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, and the successful extra point gave O’Dea a narrow 15-14 advantage with 1:34 remaining.
However, Lincoln wasn’t finished.
Kaho led the Abes downfield in the final seconds, picking up nine yards on the ground before attempting to move the offense closer to the end zone. After an incomplete pass, Lincoln appeared to have another big completion, but an illegal motion penalty wiped out the play.
The penalty left the Abes facing fourth-and-15 with just seconds remaining and their opportunity to reclaim the lead hanging in the balance.
Kaho delivered under pressure, connecting with Aarmon Foy for an incredible 51-yard touchdown pass as time wound down. The two-point conversion failed, but Lincoln reclaimed the lead, heading into halftime up 20-15 in a surprising first-half performance against the defending champions.
Lincoln opened the second half with an onside kick, successfully recovering the ball and giving its offense an immediate opportunity to extend its lead. The Abes quickly moved into scoring position after Kaho connected with Carney for a 36-yard completion, but their drive ended when O’Dea’s Peyton Egan intercepted Kaho near the goal line.
The Irish capitalized on the turnover as Wilson took over, breaking loose for a 65-yard touchdown run. Moimoi converted the two-point attempt, giving O’Dea a 23-20 lead with 8:04 remaining in the third quarter.
Lincoln responded with a strong drive of its own, using Williams’ rushing attack and several key completions from Kaho to move deep into Irish territory. Despite reaching the red zone, the Abes couldn’t find the end zone and settled for a 27-yard field goal by Brayant Salazar, tying the game at 23 with 2:51 left in the quarter.
O’Dea once again turned to Wilson, who broke loose for a 32-yard run before adding another 20 yards on a later carry. After Speller helped move the Irish closer, Wilson finished the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run. The extra point was good, putting O’Dea back in front 30-23 with just 34 seconds remaining.
Lincoln managed to pick up 10 yards through a Kaho-to-Carney completion before the quarter expired, leaving the Abes trailing by seven heading into the final quarter.
Lincoln opened the fourth quarter with another strong offensive drive as Kaho connected with Jackson for seven yards before finding Shyne Pastores for a 39-yard completion. Williams capped off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 30-30 with 11:28 remaining.
O’Dea responded with its biggest weapon, Wilson, who powered through the Lincoln defense with several big runs, including a 17-yard touchdown that put the Irish back in front 37-30 with 9:26 remaining.
But the Abes refused to go away.
Kaho connected with Boyovich for a massive 60-yard gain before scrambling into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown. The extra point tied the game at 37 with 7:13 remaining.
However, Wilson wasn’t finished.
On O’Dea’s next possession, Wilson broke loose for another explosive run, this time a 60-yard touchdown that gave the Fighting Irish a 44-37 lead with six minutes left in the game.
With their season on the line, Lincoln put together one final impressive drive. Kaho connected with Boyovich for 11 yards, found Jackson for seven and continued moving the Abes downfield with key completions to Williams and Jackson.
Kaho eventually found Jackson again for a 21-yard touchdown, bringing Lincoln within one point. Rather than settle for the tie, the Abes went for the lead, and Kaho connected with Gesiah Joseph on the two-point conversion to give Lincoln a stunning 45-44 advantage with just 1:09 remaining.
After leading for much of the second half, the No. 1-seeded Fighting Irish suddenly found themselves trailing, with their season and hopes of a third consecutive state championship hanging in the balance.
O’Dea turned to Wilson one more time.
Starting from their own 31-yard line, the Irish immediately went to their standout running back, who broke off an 18-yard run to move the ball near midfield. After two incomplete passes by Moimoi, O’Dea faced a critical third-and-nine.
With the clock winding down, Wilson delivered again, breaking through the Lincoln defense for a 20-yard gain to keep the drive alive and move the Irish into scoring position.
A Lincoln illegal substitution penalty moved O’Dea five yards closer, and Wilson followed with another five-yard run. Moimoi then picked up eight yards on the ground, putting the Irish within field-goal range.
With just four seconds remaining, O’Dea called a timeout and sent Petricic onto the field with the game, the season and the team’s championship aspirations resting on one kick.
Petricic delivered.
The O’Dea kicker connected on a 30-yard field goal as time expired, sending the Fighting Irish into celebration and sealing a dramatic 47-45 victory over Lincoln.
The No. 1-seeded Fighting Irish had survived a massive scare from the No. 16-seeded Abes, keeping their championship hopes and pursuit of a third consecutive title alive.
Wilson was the standout performer for O’Dea, rushing for 436 yards and four touchdowns on 28 carries, including touchdown runs of 65 and 60 yards. He also added a successful two-point conversion, helping keep the Irish in the game and positioning them for the winning field goal.
Kaho delivered an outstanding performance for the Abes, completing 31 of 52 passes for 441 yards and four touchdowns while adding a rushing touchdown. His ability to make big plays through the air kept Lincoln competitive and gave the Abes a chance to pull off the upset until the final seconds.
After the game, O’Dea head coach Monte Kohler reflected on the dramatic victory and his team’s ability to survive and advance.
“Win or lose, that was a great football game, and that is how it is supposed to be. We didn’t quit, and we just kept going on to the next play. That is what we play for. What a great football game,” said Kohler. “I am so proud of the guys, I love them so much. And number 4 (J’Shaun Wilson), another great game time and time again. We live to fight another day. Hell of a job. We have 3 more of these, hopefully; we just have to go-go-go and play with no regrets.”
Game Stats
O’Dea Fighting Irish
Passing: Allias Moimoi, 1-of-4, 6 yards.
Rushing: J’Shaun Wilson, 28 carries, 436 yards, 4 TDs; Max Speller, 8 carries, 58 yards, 1 TD; Allias Moimoi, 3 carries, 23 yards, 1 TD; Peyton Egan, 1 carry, 0 yards.
Receiving: J’Shaun Wilson, 1 reception, 6 yards.
Defense: Peyton Egan, 1 interception.
Kicking: Alec Petricic, 30-yard game-winning field goal, 4 successful extra points.
Two-point conversions: J’Shaun Wilson, Allias Moimoi.
Lincoln Abes
Passing: Sione Kaho, 31-of-52, 441 yards, 4 TDs.
Rushing: Sione Kaho, 8 carries, 28 yards, 1 TD; JT Williams, 14 carries, 51 yards, 1 TD.
Receiving: Carl Jackson, 8 receptions, 119 yards, 2 TDs; Malakai Boyovich, 3 receptions, 87 yards, 1 TD; Aarmon Foy, 2 receptions, 64 yards, 1 TD; Elijah Carney, 4 receptions, 60 yards; JT Williams, 6 receptions, 47 yards; Shyne Pastores, 2 receptions, 42 yards; Aamir Foy, 3 receptions, 12 yards; Erick Tijiboy, 3 receptions, 10 yards.
Kicking: Brayant Salazar, 27-yard field goal, 4 successful extra points.
Two-point conversion: Gesiah Joseph, reception from Sione Kaho.
Pictorial Highlights of O’Dea vs Lincoln
Staff Photos/Tyler Artis
