WIAA 3A football championship preview: Bellevue, Yelm meet as previous two state champions
Editor's note: This Class 3A preview package was written up by SBLive WA staff for the WIAA state program. Game predictions made by reporters Todd Milles, Hailey Palmer and Tri-Cities-based Evans Rankings' founder Matt Evans.
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It’s fitting that the last two teams to take home the Class 3A state titles are squaring off for another title Friday night.
Yelm secured the school’s first state crown in 2022. Bellevue was the 3A champion in 2021.
“This is going to be a tough matchup,” said Yelm coach Jason Ronquillo, whose squad has owned the role of favorite all season to run its win streak to 27 games. “Before we were trying to climb a mountain and we were hungry to climb to the top. Now, we’re just hungry to stay at the top.”
The defending state champion Tornados had to go through Bellevue in 2022 for the school’s first crown, beating the Wolverines, 28-27. on Damian Aalona 1-yard touchdown quarterback sneak with 35.5 seconds to go in the WIAA semifinals. It took a 96-yard drive in the final five minutes to pull it off.
Yelm then downed Eastside Catholic, 20-13, with late heroics in the 2022 championship, surviving on a wild 54-yard touchdown catch with 52 seconds to go as Kyler Ronquillo turned a Crusaders’ interception into a score the other direction.
Bellevue took the 2021 title with a 17-13 decision over Kennewick for the school’s 11th state title. Two losses to top-caliber opponents to open the 2023 season took the pressure off the Wolverines, but now they’re cooking (11 wins in a row).
“What they do (with the Wing-T offense) is very deceptive and super unique,” Ronquillo said. “They use a lot of motions and shifts that make (the Wing-T) more deceptive.”
It’s never just one guy for Bellevue.
“We want everyone to score,” Wolverines’ coach Michael Kneip said. “There’s an emphasis on, ‘Every kid is important. Every kid is special.’ Everyone’s time will come.”
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CLASS 3A CHAMPIONSHIP PRIMER
NO. 6 BELLEVUE WOLVERINES (11-2) vs. NO. 1 YELM TORNADOS (13-0)
7 p.m. Friday at Husky Stadium, Seattle
Coaches: Michael Kneip is in his sixth season at Bellevue (57-10 record). Jason Ronquillo is in his 11th season at Yelm (82-33 record).
WIAA championship history: Bellevue won the 4A title in 1983 and 3A titles in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2021. Yelm won the 3A title in 2022.
Road to 2023 Gridiron Classic: Sixth-seeded Bellevue defeated No. 11 Monroe in the first round (49-7), No. 3 Arlington in the quarterfinals (35-17) and No. 2 O’Dea in the semifinals (21-17). Top-seeded Yelm defeated No. 16 Marysville-Pilchuck in the first round (38-13), No. 9 Mount Tahoma in the quarterfinals (29-12) and No. 4 Eastside Catholic in the semifinals (7-0).
Statistical leaders: For Bellevue – QB Lucas Razore (42-70, 907 yards, 15 TDs), RB Max Jones (132 carries, 1,056 yards, 16 TDs), RB Carson Rubin (102 carries, 792 yards, eight TDs), RB Blake Teets (84 carries, 725 yards, nine TDs), TE Hogan Hansen (10 catches, 215 yards, four TDs) and LB Leo Ryals (63.5 tackles, sack). For Yelm – QB Damian Aalona (147-218, 2,116 yards, 30 TDs), RB Brayden Platt (119 carries, 1,324 yards, 23 TDs; 98 tackles, 22 TFL, INT on defense); RB Anthony Kiamco (82 carries, 917 yards, six TDs; four-special team TDs), WR Marius Aalona (51 catches, 826 yards, 15 TDs) and LB Isaiah Patterson (98 tackles, 17 TFL).
Palmer's pick: Bellevue, 17-14.
Milles' pick: Yelm, 20-19.
Evans' pick: Bellevue, 28-24.
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