Making the case for Yelm: Why the Tornados can defend 3A state title
The high school football state tournament brackets in Washington are filled with teams from the South Sound. Over the course of the season, some of these teams have separated themselves and look like legitimate state title contenders.
One of those teams is Yelm, in Class 3A. The undefeated Tornados earned the No. 1 seed in the 3A state tournament, which begins Friday. Here’s a look at Yelm’s season, key players and signature wins. Plus, thoughts from multiple coaches who coached against Yelm this year — why they think Yelm could win it all and what could cause them to fall short of hoisting the trophy at Husky Stadium. Coaches are quoted anonymously to allow them to speak candidly.
RECORD: 10-0 overall, 7-0 in 3A SSC
SIGNATURE WINS: 8-7 over Camas in Week 1; 62-34 over Union in Week 2; 57-7 over Gig Harbor in Week 9
STAT LEADERS: QB Damian Aalona: 119-of-67, 1,763 yards, 26 TD, 2 INT; RB Brayden Platt: 63 carries, 855 yards, 19 TD; WR Marius Aalona: 42 receptions, 725 yards, 13 TD; RB Anthony Kiamco: 58 carries, 796 yards, 6 TD.
MAKING THE CASE FOR THE TORNADOS
It’s pretty easy to make the case for Yelm, the defending 3A state champion. A Week 1 road win over Camas, one of the state’s best 4A teams, showed how good the Tornados’ defense is. Yelm boasts the state’s top recruit in the 2024 class in RB/LB Brayden Platt. Senior QB Damian Aalona is having the best season of his high school career. WR Marius Aalona has emerged as a No. 1 target. Up front, Yelm is as tough as anyone in the state. This team is as loaded as any in the state and has a real chance of winning consecutive state titles.
Opposing Coach A: “It’s weird, even after losing Kyler (Ronquillo), they’re a little more dynamic than they might have been last year. Really, the only way they were able to get the ball down the field last year was with Kyler. With Damian Aalona improving, throwing it to his brother, they have more ability to push the ball down the field with more than just their run game. Up front, they have dudes. They just have guys. … It’s not just (UCLA commit Isaiah) Patterson and Platt, it’s (DE Kenji) Scanlan, DL (Tyler) Blevins, all those guys. All those guys they have up front just make it hard to do anything. … Their guys up front are special. All eight of those guys that line up in the box, they all can play football.”
Opposing Coach B: “They got better up front. Their line is so much better. They’re so deep, they can rotate so many different people in there. Throw in those cats carrying the ball behind them, it makes them really hard to beat. … Their QB (Aalona) is really improved. He makes a lot of plays that he wouldn’t make last year. They get the run game going, they’re a complete team.”
WHY THE TORNADOS COULD FALL SHORT
For as dominant as the Tornados were last year, there were a couple close calls in the state tournament. Bellevue had success putting points on the board against Yelm and it took an unforgettable play from Kyler Ronquillo for Yelm to win the state title game against Eastside Catholic. Again, the 3A bracket is loaded, with O’Dea, Arlington, Eastside Catholic, Kennewick, Bellevue and others all capable of playing spoiler.
Opposing coach A: “If they get beat, it’ll be because some team is able to get three yards, four yards, four yards, three yards and have long drives that keep that offense off the field. Last year, they didn’t really stop Bellevue. The clock stopped Bellevue twice. … If a team can just chunk yards and hold onto the ball and wear them out, that’s the formula.”
Opposing coach B: “Somebody who can hold up up front and give them time to throw the ball. You have to get to the edges. Their linebackers are so good. Someone like Bellevue, with a system offense and they’re really good at what they do, could give them some trouble.”
Opening round game: No. 16 Marysville-Pilchuck (7-3) at No. 1 Yelm (10-0), 1 p.m. Saturday at Yelm High School
This story was originally published November 7, 2023 at 1:48 PM.
