4 takeaways from Steilacoom’s 30-13 state tournament win over Othello
It feels like forever ago at this point, but technically, Steilacoom is the defending 2A state tournament runner-up. The Sentinels advanced to the 2019 championship game behind TNT All-Area player of the year Emeka Egbuka — who’s now playing for Ohio State — before losing to juggernaut Tumwater. It was the furthest Steilacoom had ever advanced through the state tournament in program history.
Fast forward to now: It’s almost an entirely different roster, with the stars from the 2019 team all graduated and moved on. There’s no Egbuka and there’s less offensive firepower, but this is still a plenty talented, veteran and hungry roster.
Steilacoom, the sixth-seed in this year’s 2A state tournament, defeated No. 11 Othello on Saturday evening at Mount Tahoma High, 30-13 to advance to the quarterfinals. Here’s what we learned from the Sentinels’ win.
STEILACOOM STARTS SLOW BUT FINDS ITS FOOTING
Othello scored the first touchdown of the game, when running back Sonny Asu ripped off an 80-yard touchdown run, going untouched on the play. At the end of the first quarter, Othello led 7-0. But Steilacoom started chipping away with two De’Andre Napier rushing touchdowns to take a 13-7 lead in into the halftime break.
The second half was all Steilacoom. Ashton Dilley opened the scoring with a touchdown reception from Caleb Crider, Ethan Mitchell kicked a 23-yard field goal, and Napier caught the game-icing touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.
Steilacoom’s defense was lights out for the most of the night, holding Othello’s multiple-option running attack in check.
STEILACOOM WILL KEEP FEEDING DE’ANDRE NAPIER
Steilacoom’s running back might not look the part — he’s listed at 5-foot-5 and 154 pounds on the roster — but there’s both thunder and lightning in that small frame. On Saturday, he rushed 28 times for 167 yards and two touchdowns, also adding two receptions for 23 yards and a touchdown in the receiving game.
“I gotta be physical,” Napier said. “I’m a little back. I gotta go every play, it’s nonstop.”
He has obvious speed, but for a smaller back, Napier also has a surprising between-the-tackles running ability, accompanied by a fearlessness when he hits the hole.
“He does a little bit of everything,” said Steilacoom coach Kyle Haller. “He caught that last touchdown for us, too. He’s just a super dynamic back for us. We ask a lot of him and he makes plays all the time.”
He also brings constant energy to the huddle and the sideline.
“That’s our hype man,” said Steilacoom quarterback Caleb Crider. “He comes in screaming, top of his lungs every single time, whether he’s down or up or having a good game or not. We like to ride off De’Andre’s wave, for sure.”
STEILACOOM IS MIXING IT UP AT QB
Cole Miller, who is one of the team’s top receivers, started the game at quarterback. Caleb Crider, who has been the starting quarterback this year, began the game on the sideline, biding his time.
Miller threw a couple interceptions early on and Haller turned to Crider, who responded well. He had a productive game, completing 11-of-21 passes and throwing two touchdown passes. He moved his team down the field in key moments during the game, leading the Sentinels to the win.
“It does motivate me,” Crider said of starting the game on the bench. “We had a great gameplan coming in all weekend. So I felt really confident in what our o-coordinator was doing, what coach Haller was doing. They made my job really easy, so I came in comfortable.”
THIS YEAR’S GROUP WANTS TO MAKE A NAME FOR ITSELF
All respect to the 2019 team, but this year’s group has grown a bit fatigued hearing about that group.
“We talk about it a lot,” Crider said. “We almost want to shut 2019 out. We want people to forget about that year. We want the class of 2022 to be the best class here. So we’re coming out here trying to whoop some butt.”
Napier said the team is motivated.
“We’re just ready to prove ourselves that the 2022 class is the best class.”
