Eastside Catholic closes regular season with 49-6 win
On Friday night, the Eastside Catholic (EC) Crusaders dominated the Rainier Beach Vikings with a decisive 49-6 victory.
Receiving the opening kickoff, Carson McKelheer ran the ball for a 20-yard gain, putting the Crusaders that much closer to the Viking end zone. After a 28-yard touchdown run by Jeremiah Burroughs was called back on a penalty, Crusaders quarterback Isaac Corey took control, gaining 9 yards on a third-and-1 to move the chains. With another first down, Corey kept the ball this time for a successful run into the end zone and the first touchdown of the night.
After a gainless three-and-out for the Vikings, the Crusaders had control of the ball once again. EC’s offense looked poised for another score, but a touchdown was again nullified by a flag on the play. However, the Crusaders were undeterred. With Corey connecting on a 20-yard touchdown pass to McKelheer, EC pushed their lead to 14-0 by the end of the first quarter.
Starting the second quarter strong, Corey quickly delivered another touchdown pass. This time it was a 40-yard gain and a score of 21-0.
Not long after, Burroughs took it to the end zone with a 42-yard touchdown, extending the Crusaders’ rout, 28-0. Adding insult to injury, with less than a minute in the half, Eli Marshall scored another rushing touchdown for the Crusaders.
By halftime, EC had firmly established their advantage over Rainier Beach, 35-0, controlling the game on both sides of the ball.
Keeping the momentum going after the halftime break, with 9 minutes left in the third quarter, Burroughs sprinted for a 16-yard rushing touchdown, extending the Crusaders lead to 41-0. Kicker Connor Brandt pushed the score to 42-0.
Rainier Beach struggled to put anything on the board the entire night. Eventually, toward the end of the third quarter, the Vikings offense found a surprise hole in the Crusaders defense to put up their only points of the game. But any hope for Rainier Beach was short-lived. Their kicker missed the extra point, and the team settled for a 42-6 chasm.
In the fourth quarter, EC continued their strong performance as Will Crain punched in a 1-yard rushing touchdown with 5 minutes remaining. With the Vikings unable to answer back, the game concluded with a dominant 49-6 Crusaders victory.
The postseason tournament will begin Nov. 15, concluding Nov. 30. The 3A tournament brackets have yet to be announced.
