Yelm's defense stands tall as Tornados eliminate Eastside Catholic in WIAA 3A semifinals, 3 takeaways

SPANAWAY, Wash. - Last year, it took one of the most improbable plays in the history of high-school football in the state of Washington for Yelm to defeat Eastside Catholic for the 3A state championship when Kyler Ronquillo grabbed what looked like a sure interception out of the hands of and Eastside Catholic defender and ran into the end zone for the game-winning score.

The Class 3A state semifinal Saturday between the two teams lacked some of that same drama, but the Tornados again came out on top, winning 7-0 to advance to the championship game for a second consecutive season.

“I’m happy for our community and happy for our school,” Yelm coach Jason Ronquillo said. “One town, one school, one team and one dream. We run it again.”

The Tornados will face sixth-seeded Bellevue at 7 p.m. on Friday, looking for a second consecutive state championship.

Here are three takeaways from the game:

ONE BIG PLAY

In a game that lacked much offense, it was one big run from senior running back Brayden Platt that proved to be the difference.

Pratt took a direct snap and broke it around the outside of the offensive line for a 54-yard touchdown with just under four minutes to play in the third quarter.

The run proved to be the game’s only score.

“Brayden was a warrior tonight,” Jason Ronquillo said. “We had a game plan for every quarter depending on what the score was. It went exactly how we thought it was going to happen. …And how it ended is exactly how we thought it was going to end.”

Pratt rushed for 219 yards on 29 carries to go along with the game’s only touchdown. Of all of his carries, Platt said he knew the touchdown run was the biggest of them all.

“I knew that it was a big play, especially with the offense struggling a little bit,” Platt said. “Just seeing the edge and hitting it was definitely a big play.”

Eastside Catholic coach Dominic Daste said the outcome was more than just Platt’s run.

“With a game that tight, you can’t give up big plays and stuff like that,” Daste said. “But it was more than that one play.”

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SCANLAN LEADS DEFENSE

The Yelm defense applied constant pressure on Eastside Catholic senior quarterback Jake Tiryakioglu, coming up with several sacks, none bigger than the three recorded by senior Kenji Scanlan in the fourth quarter.

“Kenji, he’s so good,” Ronquillo said. “He plays like and edge inside the box, and he had an outstanding game tonight.

Scanlan’s performance took some of the pressure off the Yelm offense, which, much like the Cruasders, struggled to get much going.

“Kenji’s elite,” Pratt said. “His skill set is unbelievable. What he can do, I love it. And gets after the quarterback so quick. It’s amazing.”

The Tornados held Eastside Catholic to just 30 yards of total offense.

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TORNADOS RELISH FAVORITE ROLE

When the Tornados won the state title a year ago, they were the underdog. But entering the state playoffs this year with an undefeated record and the top seed, they were anything but.

“(The run to the championship is) completely unique,” Ronquillo said. “Before, we were the underdog trying to chase a title. Now, we’ve got a target on our back and everybody is coming after us, so we’ve got to play our best game at all times. Defending the title is just as tough, so it’s a another whole journey, a whole different animal.”

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Boxscore

Eastside Catholic 0 0 0 0-0

Yelm 0 0 7 0-7

Y – Brayden Platt 54 run (Jameson Patin), 3:59 3Q

Statistics

Passing – Eastside Catholic: Jake Tiryakioglu 4-10-0, 24 yards. Yelm: Damian Aalona 6-12-0, 80 yards.

Rushing – Eastside Catholic: Jeremiah Burroughs 12-26 yards, Tiryakioglu 1-2. Yelm: Brayden Platt 27-219 yards, TD; D. Aalona 2-5; Isaiah Patterson 1-3; Anthon Kiamco 9-minus-11.

Receiving – Eastside Catholic: Asa Thompson 1-25; Burroughs 1-2. Yelm: Patterson 3-34 yards; Onyx Carter 1-18, Marius Aalona 1-15; Platt 1-13.

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