The Eastside Catholic Crusaders had a dominant performance in the round of 16 of the state 3A football playoffs, defeating the Monroe Bearcats 37-6. The Crusaders controlled the game from start to finish, combining a strong defensive effort with consistent offensive production to advance to the quarterfinals.
The game began with Eastside Catholic’s offense setting the tone. After an early drive stalled, kicker Connor Brandt drilled a field goal to give the Crusaders a 3-0 lead. Monroe’s offense struggled against Eastside Catholic’s defense, with their first drive ending in a punt. The Crusaders quickly capitalized, as quarterback Eli Marshall found Asa Thompson for a 10-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead to 10-0 after Brandt’s successful PAT.
As the first quarter continued, Monroe’s offense couldn’t find any rhythm against the swarming Crusaders defense, which forced another punt. Eastside Catholic responded with a methodical drive capped by a 10-yard touchdown run from Jeremiah Burroughs. Brandt added another extra point, and the Crusaders closed out the opening quarter leading 17-0.
The second quarter was a defensive showcase for Eastside Catholic. Monroe attempted to mount a response but was repeatedly stopped, punting on nearly every possession. The Crusaders’ defense, led by Thompson’s interception and consistent pressure on Monroe’s quarterback, kept the Bearcats off balance. Eastside Catholic’s offense had opportunities to extend the lead but couldn’t convert, sending the game into halftime with the score still at 17-0.
Coming out of the break, the Crusaders wasted no time building on their lead. Burroughs scored his second touchdown of the night on an 8-yard run early in the third quarter, and Brandt’s PAT made it 24-0. Eastside Catholic continued to dominate defensively, forcing turnovers on downs and intercepting Monroe twice, including a second pick by Thompson. Nick Jones added a 4-yard touchdown run later in the quarter, pushing the lead to 31-0 as the game moved into the final period.
In the fourth quarter, Jones struck again with a 1-yard touchdown run, bringing the score to 37-0 after a missed PAT. Monroe finally managed to get on the board in the game’s final minutes with a touchdown pass, but their two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the score at 37-6. The Bearcats attempted an onside kick, but Eastside Catholic recovered, sealing the victory and punching their ticket to the quarterfinals.
With the win, Eastside Catholic advances to face Lincoln (Tacoma) in the next round of the 3A playoffs.