Metro maestro Eastside Catholic handles Rainier Beach, runs through toughest Seattle league

SAMMAMISH, Wash. – For Eastside Catholic working again Masen Uribe, it was simply one other evening making an attempt to place respect on his title.

For the Crusaders, it was one other chapter in embellishing the respect issue for the dominating program on the Sammamish Plateau.

Uribe gained a measure a respect, churning out a career-high 219 yards and a landing on 21 totes as second-ranked Eastside Catholic turned again a persistent No. 9 Rainier Seashore squad, 41-21, on Friday evening in a 3A Metro League showdown.

The Crusaders (8-0 total, 7-0 Metro) locked up the Metro League Mount Division regular-season title, taking residence a Metro crown for the fourth time in 5 seasons, excluding the 2020 COVID season. Winner-to-state playoff video games start Nov. 4 and after a divisional crossover recreation ought to be poised for one more state run.

“It was all of the work we put in through the summer season, the lengthy days and the sweat,” mentioned Uribe after his staff outgained Rainier Seashore, 407-136 – with 272 yards coming by way of the bottom recreation. “We actually put in a whole lot of work for the season, so to return out Metro champs is large for us. I can’t thanks these guys [his teammates] sufficient.

“I actually should thank my O-line for blocking and the receivers on the skin there doing their work. I wished to return out for my guys tonight. I’ve at all times been neglected, even since Little League [football]. I simply at all times attempt to work my hardest.”

Uribe’s backfield mate and fellow senior Richie Fotualii-Aliifua, a bruising runner at 6-foot, 225 kilos, helped slam the door for the four-time state championship program. After Rainier Seashore (6-2, 5-2) fought inside 27-21, Fotualii-Aliifua (66 yards speeding) supplied two of his three landing runs within the remaining 5:39 of the sport. Earlier than these landing runs, Seashore had two possessions to attempt to get the lead, however punted each occasions.

Fotualii-Aliifua scored on a 5-yarder with 5:39 to go after which added a 2-yard walk-in landing with 3:40 remaining to set the ultimate margin. But it surely was the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Uribe who did probably the most harm. Uribe would’ve had greater than the 225 all-purpose that he completed with if a 79-yard display screen move for a landing simply 55 seconds into the sport wasn’t wiped off by a holding penalty.

“Usually, he’s a breakaway runner,” mentioned Rainier Seashore’s proficient cornerback and Oregon-bound Caleb Presley mentioned. “However he was onerous to convey down tonight. Kudos to him.”

Two particular groups scores saved Seashore with some hope heading into the fourth quarter. The second special-teams rating got here when defensive lineman Dallas Afalava batted a Brady McKelheer move into the arms of teammate Scottre Humphrey and the Vikings’ linebacker then sprinted 50 yards for a landing to trim the EC result in 27-21 with 5:52 to go within the third quarter.

In a wild swing as the primary half ended, Rainier Seashore pulled inside 21-13. Presley scooped up a free ball after Vikings’ teammate Tywan Hillis blocked a 41-yard subject aim try from Eastside Catholic’s Adam Jacobs as time expired within the first half.

“I instructed Brady (the Eastside Catholic quarterback) at halftime that our particular groups and offense had been scoring factors for Rainier Seashore, not our protection,” Eastside Catholic coach Dominic Daste mentioned. “We would have liked to regulate the ball and maintain it. These are the issues we have to clear up and shifting ahead we can’t play like that and anticipate to succeed in our desired aim.”

The lead grew to 27-13 simply 1 minute, 32 seconds into the second half when the Crusaders’ David Lene recovered a blocked punt in the long run zone for landing.

Humphrey, one of many prime backs in Metro, completed with 87 yards on 14 carries, scoring each an offensive and a defensive landing.

After each groups mixed for seven penalties within the opening six minutes, the Crusaders benefitted from good subject place to take a 7-0 lead. Brady McKelheer discovered freshman receiver Asa Thompson for an 11-yard landing strike over the left aspect with 2:17 to go within the first quarter.

After a Rainier Seashore three-and-out and punt, on the following play from scrimmage, Uribe took a handoff and broke to the left sideline and went 84 yards for a landing and a 14-0 Crusaders lead with 26 seconds displaying within the first quarter.

Humphrey scooted 24 yards round left finish as Rainier Seashore reduce the Eastside Catholic result in 14-7 with 4:35 to go earlier than halftime. The Vikings drove 77 yards in seven performs as Humphrey supplied 65 yards on the bottom through the scoring march.

The Crusaders’ Fotualii-Aliifua crashed into the tip zone with 1:35 remaining earlier than halftime for a 2-yard landing run to hike Eastside Catholic’s result in 21-7.

Previous to Bellevue taking residence the 3A crown in 2021, the Crusaders received the final two 3A state titles that had been contested in 2018 and 2019. There have been no state championship video games in 2020 as COVID-19 pandemic pushed again the season to spring of 2021 with no postseason play.