The streak is over.
The Eastside Catholic Crusaders snapped the Bellevue Wolverines 67-game winning streak, earning a 35-13 victory against the Wolverines in the Class 3A state championship game on Dec. 5 at the Tacoma Dome.
Bellevue (13-1) had an early 13-7 lead, but the Crusaders (13-1) outscored the Wolverines 28-0 in the final 24 minutes, 30 seconds of the game to seal the victory. Crusaders’ fourth-year head coach Jeremy Thielbahr said the entire offseason was dedicated to doing whatever it took to defeat Bellevue. The preparation paid dividends.
“You got to prepare for Bellevue so much harder than you prepare for anyone else. We have been practicing for Bellevue for a long time. We do all of our stuff based on Bellevue. We knocked off the Goliath,” Thielbahr said. “We’re going to relish the moment and enjoy it. This is a special feeling.”
Crusaders’ linebacker Tony Masaniai said it felt good to knock off a team that had ended their season the past three years in a row.
“They have been running things for three years. It was time for a change and time for a new dynasty in Washington,” Masaniai said. “We did it as a team. The senior class ended our careers with a bang. It was the best year ever for us.”
The Crusaders held the Wolverines to just 158 total yards. Bellevue didn’t record any yards through the air against a hard-nosed Crusaders’ defense. Eastside Catholic quarterback Harley Kirsch, who went 20-for-22 for 188 yards passing and two touchdowns, rushed for 94 yards on the ground as well. Kirsch connected with receiver Devon Arbis-Jackson on a 28-yard touchdown catch on a fourth-down play with 6:54 remaining in the third quarter, extending the Crusaders’ lead to 21-13. Arbis-Jackson hauled in the slant route at the 20-yard line before breaking a bevy of tackles on his way to the end-zone. Bellevue never got on track following Arbis-Jackson’s touchdown.
“That is Devon in a nutshell,” Kirsch said. “He finds a way to make plays in the biggest games. I’m so lucky to have him as one of my receivers. He makes my life so much easier. He can take a catch at zero yards and then take it all the way.”
Arbis-Jackson finished with nine catches for 78 yards and one touchdown.
“It’s an honor to do it,” Arbis-Jackson said of breaking Bellevue’s 67-game winning streak. “We worked so hard for this. We deserved it.”
Crusaders’ running back/UW commit Brandon Wellington had 33 carries for 110 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Wellington had two 1-yard touchdown runs in the fourth quarter to put the game away. Crusaders’ receiver Hunter Bryant hauled in a 6-yard touchdown pass from Kirsch in the second quarter as well. Kirsch was thrilled his team was able to defeat one of the best high school football programs in the United States. The Crusaders avenged a 52-20 defeat they suffered in the 2013 Class 3A state title game.
“If you lose to the same team year after year it obviously can get frustrating and get in your head. To finally win a state championship is absolutely amazing and to beat Bellevue, which is a school with such a great legacy, it’s a great honor,” Kirsch said.
Thielbahr was happy to see the Crusaders 24 seniors conclude their high school careers in the best way possible.
“They’ve turned this whole program around. It’s just an amazing group of seniors. Hats off to those guys,” he said.
The Crusaders toughness was on display against the Wolverines. Thielbahr will be telling stories about Brody McKnight’s heroic performance against Bellevue to his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
“Our guys just gritted it out across the board. Brody McKnight played the whole game against one of the best defensive lines in the country with a torn labrum (shoulder injury). He couldn’t even get in a three-point stance. That is the sort of effort and determination you saw from our kids. That is awesome and that is what our program is about. It’s about continuing the love for the game and the love of family.” Thielbahr said.
Shaun Scott: 425-453-5045; sscott@bellevuereporter.com
