With WIAA Playoffs on the Horizon, Who Can We Expect Dominance From?

It's the end of October which means the high school football season is almost over and the playoffs are ready to begin. There have been many great teams throughout the state, but some stood out beyond the rest. Here are three teams who could be considered the best, and a realistic look at what to expect come playoff time.

YELM TORNADOS

To start off the list is the Yelm Tornados. So far in the year they are the number one team in the state, and they have been for the entirety of the season. The Tornadoes are loaded on both sides of the ball with playmakers, Kyler Ronquillo, Brayden Platt, and Kenji Scanlan on the field backing up this claim. They have run through their opponents by winning every game by an average score of 51 points. That poses the question whether the point differential is because of the weak conference they play in, or are they just that good? Nonetheless, a very impressive season and they will be a threat for every team in the state coming in as the #1 seed.

EASTSIDE CATHOLIC CRUSADERS

The next on the list is the dreaded Eastside Catholic Crusaders. Eastside comes in every year and essentially breezes their way to a deep playoff run and this year is no different from the others. Along with Yelm, they also come in with an 8-0 record with their big win being over O'Dea. The matchup with the Fighting Irish always seems to determine who wins the Metro League as both teams are at the top of the standings every single year. The Crusaders were able to win that matchup this year against O'Dea on a comeback drive on a touchdown in the last minute. Some years, this matchup goes lopsided one way or another like in 2019 for O'Dea and 2021 for Eastside Catholic. But this year it's one of the few years where both teams are almost dead even. It should be interesting to see if these teams are able to meet up again in the playoffs.

O'DEA IRISH

The third team on the list is the O'Dea Irish. As mentioned earlier in the Eastside segment, they are always at the top of the Metro League, with the matchup between them and the Crusaders almost always determining #1 in the Metro League. The Irish are led by star running back Jason Brown who has made an amazing case for the best running back in the state with his yards, touchdowns and near 5-star recruiting status. With his speed, agility and overall way to run the football effectively, he really is the whole package. As impressive as Brown has been, the story and best part of this O'Dea team is the defense. The defense has been one of the stingiest in the state only allowing an average of 8.3 points per game and posting a total 3 shutouts in the regular season.

“We just got that attitude, that swag and that dog in us, that we’re not letting anything up or anyone score on us,” senior defensive tackle AJ Hall said.

Knowing that they play in one of the best conferences for football in the state, this feat is even more impressive. Will this performance continue in the playoffs? Only time will tell.