There were a few blemishes, but Bellevue was still a perfect 10.
The No. 1-ranked Wolverines rolled over third-ranked O’Dea, 35-16, in the Class 3A football state championship game Friday night at the Tacoma Dome, claiming their 10th state title in school history.
“This is a dynasty we’re building,” said running back John Nguyen, who rushed for two touchdowns. “Hopefully next year we’ll come back and continue this.”
Eighteen years passed between Bellevue’s first and second titles – a 4A crown in 1983 and a 3A title in 2001. The next eight came in rapid-fire succession.
The Wolverines have claimed an unprecedented nine of the past 11 championships in 3A, emerging as the dominant program in Washington over the early part of that run and a national power in recent seasons.
Bellevue’s path to the state title this season was littered with obstacles.
The Wolverines (14-0) opened the season in California against nationally ranked Oaks Christian followed by a meeting with Skyline, which will play for the Class 4A title tonight, before the Wolverines began play in the rugged KingCo 3A/2A. In the postseason, Bellevue reeled off wins against second-ranked Lakes, fourth-ranked Kamiakin and the No. 3 Irish.
Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff said he believed this season’s schedule was even more hazardous than the one the Wolverines successfully navigated in 2004 when they ended California power De La Salle’s 151-game win streak, throttled a Jonathan Stewart-led Timberline team and held off Jake Locker’s upset bid in the final against Ferndale.
“Going 14-0 against the schedule we played is damn impressive,” Goncharoff said.
Bellevue put its precisely executed wing-T offense – with a sprinkling of the spread attack – and a swarming defense on display against the Irish (13-1).
From its first possession – a vintage eight-play, 71-yard drive capped by Nguyen’s 1-yard touchdown run – Bellevue was all business.
In the first half, Bellevue only had two offensive possessions, and both resulted in touchdowns. O’Dea grinded out a pair of long drives that ate up a combined 14 minutes but yielded only a field goal.
Bellevue’s Ari Morales finished off a 10-play, 71-yard drive with a 6-yard scoring run, putting the Wolverines ahead 14-0.
Bellevue didn’t look back, but did withstand a late scare from O’Dea.
Tatum Taylor returned Wolverines quarterback Tyler Hasty’s fumble 49 yards for a touchdown that pulled the Irish closer, 28-16, with four minutes left in the game.
Andy Boulware sealed Bellevue’s fourth straight championship when he ripped off a 39-yard touchdown run a minute later.
O’Dea outgained Bellevue in total offensive yards, 320-199, but the Irish usually stalled when they neared the end zone. Before halftime, O’Dea mounted drives of 51 and 76 yards but had only a 27-yard field goal from Bart Hardwick to show for it.
And when O’Dea gained momentum late in the second quarter after the field goal, Bellevue sophomore Bishard Baker snatched it back by returning the kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown.
The Irish put together another lengthy drive early in the third quarter after forcing the Wolverines to punt. Again, O’Dea came away empty-handed, coming up short of a first down by a few inches on a fourth-down run by Jayshawn Jordan, who finished with 122 yards on 18 carries.
Late in the third quarter, Scott Whiting returned a punt 80 yards to the Irish 5 yard line, and Nguyen barreled into the end zone on the next play, increasing Bellevue’s lead to 28-3.
Doug Pacey: 253-597-8271
doug.pacey@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/preps
Twitter: @DougPaceyTNT
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