Olympia through to playoffs, Bethel alive, Spanaway Lake out. Here’s who Bears, Bison play
Olympia was able to kick back and relax after winning the opening game against Bethel in the 4A SPSL South three-way Kansas tiebreaker at Bellarmine Prep on Tuesday night.
The Bears came out swinging, using two Elijah Kim touchdown runs on two drives to beat Bethel in the opening game, 13-0.
Then Bethel played Spanaway Lake in a loser-out game and won 7-0, thanks to a pair of interceptions on defense and a rushing touchdown from Lance Santos. Bison linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, the state’s No. 1 recruit, swatted away a pair of Spanaway Lake passes on Spanaway Lake’s second drive.
Since Olympia had already defeated Bethel, Olympia took first place and secured an automatic playoff bid. Bethel will play in a winner-to-playoffs, loser-out game this week. Spanaway Lake is eliminated from postseason contention with the loss.
The Kansas tiebreaker was played because all three teams were tied in the 4A SPSL South division standings with identical 2-3 records.
“I feel like we were starving as a team,” Olympia’s Elijah Kim said. “As a team, we wanted it more than they did. We were working all week.”
Kim was thrilled to have his number called with a playoff berth on the line.
“It felt good,” he said. “Nothing made me happier. It’s my senior year. I do it here or else when am I gonna do it?”
Rainey-Sale and Bethel were fired up to play Spanaway Lake after dropping the first game to Olympia.
“That was horrible,” he said. “I was pissed.”
He made clutch plays against Spanaway Lake and as a result, ended good friend and future UW teammate D’Aryhian Clemons’ season in the process.
Olympia will face 4A SPSL North No. 2 Emerald Ridge, with both teams advancing to the postseason. Bethel will face 4A SPSL North No. 4 Curtis in a winner-to-playoffs, loser-out game this week.
“We’ve gotta keep it going,” Rainey-Sale said of the must-win game this week. “We can’t slow down.”
This story was originally published October 29, 2024 at 9:40 PM.
