By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
Lincoln opened the game with a promising drive but failed to come away with any points. Eastside’s Asa Thompson and Jeremiah Burroughs began asserting themselves offensively. Thompson fought through multiple defenders to gain crucial yardage, while Burroughs powered through Lincoln’s defense to bring the Crusaders closer to the red zone. However, a key tackle by Lincoln’s Venisala Maiava stopped Eastside’s drive, forcing them to settle for a 30-yard field goal by Connor Brandt with just 54 seconds remaining in the first quarter, as the Crusaders took a 3-0 lead heading into the second quarter.
Last night, the Eastside Catholic Crusaders and the Lincoln Abes battled in wet and cold conditions at Memorial Stadium to determine who would advance to the semifinal round of the state 3A football playoffs.
Lincoln’s offense struggled to gain traction as the second quarter began, with incomplete passes stalling their drives. Eastside took advantage, with Thompson making a big catch that moved the ball to Lincoln’s 16-yard line. Burroughs continued to be a workhorse, driving the ball closer to the goal line. However, a holding penalty pushed Eastside back 10 yards, momentarily halting their momentum. On the very next play, Burroughs broke through Lincoln’s defense for a 26-yard touchdown, giving the Crusaders a 10-0 advantage after Brandt’s extra point.
On the kick return, Eastside’s Nepo Fareti-Tuato’o stopped Lincoln’s Immanuel Jordan after a short 5-yard return. The Abes continued to struggle to move the ball, with incomplete passes and tight coverage by the Crusaders forcing them to punt on fourth down. Then, Lincoln’s James Ongosia managed to get two back-to-back sacks on Eastside Catholic quarterback Isaac Corey, ultimately forcing them to punt on fourth down as well. Lincoln began to start making strong drives as multiple Crusaders were needed to take down Lincoln’s Maurice Gosby Jr.
As the half wound down, Lincoln began to find a rhythm. Gosby carried the offense, breaking tackles and forcing multiple Crusaders to bring him down on each run. With just a minute left in the half, Lincoln called a timeout on fourth down, hoping to regroup for a final push. However, Eastside’s Waswa Lugolobi and Liufau Loumoli made a critical stop on Gosby, keeping him out of the end zone and preserving the Crusaders’ shutout. Lincoln then called another timeout to make a plan to get the ball back in their hands quickly. The timeout worked in their favor as Lincoln’s Ramon Jones Jr. intercepted a pass, securing a first down. Eastside was then called for a holding penalty, moving Lincoln 10 yards closer to the end zone. However, two incomplete passes halted the scoring threat as the two teams entered halftime with the Crusaders ahead 10-0.
The second half opened with Eastside looking to build on their lead. Nick Jones and Thompson quickly moved the ball downfield, but the Crusaders couldn’t finish the drive, turning the ball over on downs. Lincoln’s Gosby and Bell worked tirelessly to gain yardage, but Eastside’s defense continued to deliver crucial stops, forcing another turnover.
Penalties started to creep in as Eastside was called for a facemask, giving Lincoln 15 free yards. Even with the favorable field position, the Abes struggled to finish their drives. A big sack by Eastside’s Tytan McNeal on Lincoln quarterback Sione Kaho kept Lincoln off the scoreboard as the third quarter neared its end. The Crusaders punted again, but McNeal made a critical tackle on Gosby as time expired in the third quarter, keeping the score at 10-0.
Lincoln started the final quarter with the ball but faced challenges advancing past Eastside’s defensive line. Midway through the quarter, Burroughs delivered the game’s defining moment with a 55-yard touchdown run, extending Eastside’s lead to 17-0 and swinging momentum fully in the Crusaders’ favor. Lincoln responded with a spark of their own as Jordan returned the ensuing kickoff 25 yards. Shortly after, Lincoln broke through Eastside’s defense with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Kanoa Teplasy, followed by a successful extra point to make the score 17-7.
The Crusaders remained poised despite Lincoln’s newfound momentum. Burroughs carried the ball down to the 29-yard line on the next drive before an injury caused a brief delay. With just over five minutes left in the game, Eastside attempted a 40-yard field goal, but the kick missed wide.
After the failed kick, McKelheer delivered a big hit on Lincoln’s Messiah Ellick, but a flag was thrown on the play. Just a little over three minutes were left in the game, and Eastside’s Cade Boehl had an interception, urging Lincoln to call a timeout. The timeout didn’t hinder the Crusaders’ momentum, as they continued to move the ball effectively and quickly down the field. In the final seconds of the game, Brandt nailed a field goal to bring the score to 20-7, sealing the Crusaders’ victory and a spot in the state 3A semifinals.
Pictorial Highlights of Eastside Catholic vs. Lincoln
