A second half surge propelled the Eastside Catholic Crusaders football team to victory in the first round of the Class 3A state playoffs against the Timberline Blazers.
The Crusaders, who went into the locker room at halftime with the game tied at 21-21, outscored the Blazers 18-0 in the second half en route to a 39-21 win on Nov. 11 at South Sound Stadium in Lacey. Crusaders’ running back Tyler Folkes scored on a 13-yard touchdown run with 10:55 left in the third quarter, giving the Crusaders a 28-21 lead. The Crusaders extended their lead to 30-21 with a safety after Timberline snapped the ball over their punter’s head with 6:27 left in the third quarter.
The play of the game came on the next play.
Crusaders’ kick returner Malik Putney returned the ensuing kick 67 yards for a touchdown, giving the Crusaders a commanding 37-21 lead with 6:13 left in the third quarter. Putney credited his teammate Chris Lefau for making the score possible.
“It (the kick) came down the middle and there was a miscommunication between me and Chris (Lefau). I told Chris I would just grab it. Chris then made a key block to open up the gap and from there it was just making moves and just being an athlete and trying to score,” Putney said.
Putney said his team was confident at halftime despite the game being knotted at 21-21.
“The coaches said we were going to score and all the defense had to was keep getting stops and the game was going to turn in our favor. Coach (Rob) Christoff said the game is going to be fast and we needed to keep making plays, keep making stops and to put our offense in good field position,” Putney said. “Everybody contributed and we just got the win.”
Eastside Catholic head coach Jeremy Thielbahr was pleased with the way his squad performed in the final 24 minutes of the game. The Crusaders didn’t allow a point and scored four points of their own courtesy of two safeties.
“I just think this team came together in the third quarter. We’ve been really searching for ourselves this whole season and just trying to find out who we are and what we are about. The defense had a shutout in the second half,” Thielbahr said. “We had some adversity tonight and we had some uphill battles. It was great to come out with the victory. That was a good solid win on the road for us.”
Folkes, who is the primary running back for the Crusaders, had two rushing touchdowns in the win. Lefau had a receiving touchdown in the first quarter as well. Jonathan Kvech scored on a 33-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first half, giving the Crusaders a 21-13 lead with 3:18 left in the first half. Thielbahr was glad to see his team’s ground game gain traction in the first round of the state playoffs.
“They (Timberline) do a great job in the secondary of taking some things away we had to counter that with being to run the football. We hadn’t run the football great all year and we were able to do it against a very good opponent. It is playoff time and anytime you can get an advantage and churn some yards out on the ground is what you want,” Thielbahr said. “The offensive line blocked really well and Tyler did a great job.”
Eastside Catholic will face the Lakes Lancers in the Class 3A quarterfinals. It will be a rematch of the 2015 Class 3A semifinals where the Crusaders registered a 49-21 win to advance to the Class 3A state title game.
“We’re familiar with them and they’re familiar with us,” Thielbahr said. “Our kids know what it feels like to make a run at the state title and we’re trying to put it together. Our team is starting to form that bound and togetherness that we have really built ourselves on.”
Putney said the goal for the Crusaders this season is to capture the coveted third consecutive state championship.
“We got a lot of pressure on our back trying to three-peat. We’re just trying to continue the legacy of past teams and just be special,” he said.
