The Eastside Catholic Crusaders set the tone on the opening kickoff against the Lakes Lancers in the Class 3A semifinals at the Tacoma Dome.

Eastside Catholic senior Brandon Wellington returned the opening kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown, giving the Crusaders an early 7-0 lead against Lakes. The Crusaders preceded to score 34 points in the first quarter en route to a convincing 49-21 win against the Lancers on Nov. 27 in Tacoma. With the Crusaders leading 28-0, Lakes quarterback Jaiave Magalei connected with Chris Hunter on a 21-yard touchdown catch cutting Eastside Catholic’s lead to 28-7 with 42 seconds left in the first period. The momentum cultivated with Lakes’ first touchdown of the game didn’t last long.  Wellington returned the Lancers’ ensuing kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown, extending Eastside Catholic’s lead to 34-7 with 27 seconds left in the first quarter.

Crusaders’ quarterback Harley Kirsch, who went 12-for-14 for 243 yards and four touchdown passes, said Wellington’s kickoff returns were huge for his team.

“The timing of those plays really helped with the momentum of the game. Those two plays definitely helped the game run smoothly,” Kirsch said.

Wellington, who has verbally committed to the University of Washington football program, credited the entire special teams unit and coaching staff for his electrifying touchdowns in the return game.

“Coming out of the gate we knew what we had to do. We had to get out there and pounce on them quick. When we’re up that just gives us that kick in our step,” Wellington said. “We emphasize special teams at practice because special teams is a game changer. Sometimes it takes the air out of people and they don’t know how to respond. That is what we had to do and we did it.”

Kirsch connected with Hunter Bryant on two touchdown passes and also found Wellington and Devin Arbis-Jackson on touchdown tosses. Crusaders’ senior wide receiver Matt Laris caught five passes for 82 yards as well. Tyler Folkes scored the Crusaders final touchdown of the night on 11-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.

Eastside Catholic will return to the Tacoma Dome to play the Bellevue Wolverines in the Class 3A state championship game Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. It will be the fourth consecutive year the two juggernaut football programs have faced off in the title game. Eastside Catholic defeated Bellevue 35-13 in the 2014 championship game but Bellevue was victorious in the championship contest against Eastside Catholic in 2012 and 2013.

Crusaders’ head coach Jeremy Thielbahr said his team is excited about the upcoming matchup against Bellevue with a championship trophy hanging in the balance.

“We took it from them last year and I know they want to take it back. It’s a great rivalry and it will be a great rematch,” Thielbahr said. “They have been flying under the radar a little bit, they are a great ball-club obviously. They’ve only lost to the No. 1 team in the country (Bishop Gorman). They do a phenomenal job of coaching and their kids believe so deeply in their system. I just think it’s a great battle of colossal programs.”