O’Dea Stops Prosser For Second Straight Title

O’Dea trailed for the first time this season. It didn’t matter.

The Fighting Irish completed back-to-back unbeaten seasons by defeating Prosser 35-14 Saturday at the WIAA/U.S. Bank Gridiron Classic for their second consecutive state high school Class AA crown.

O’Dea (13-0) didn’t get its 12th shutout because the Mustangs (12-1) scored on the game’s fourth play, a 30-yard pass from Joey Williams to Matt Hoefer. After that, it was all Irish, who ran the school’s winning streak to 26 games.

The Irish defense stymied Prosser on the ground, holding the Mustangs to 32 yards on 26 carries.

And O’Dea beat Prosser for the second time in three AA finales in five years. Prosser defeated the Irish in 1992 after O’Dea won in 1991.

O’Dea looked good enough to play for the Class AAA championship next week.

“We play good enough defense to play with anybody,” Irish coach Monte Kohler agreed.

Prosser was only the second O’Dea opponent to score against the Seattle powerhouse this year. O’Dea reserves gave up 22 to Bainbridge in the Irish’s playoff opener.Scott Taffera teamed with Devon Johnson on a 77-yard touchdown pass to tie the score 7-7 on O’Dea’s first offensive series. Then, with 1:30 left in the opening quarter, Tony Miller scored on an 88-yard run.”That first touchdown against us really got us going,” Taffera said.Metro lineman of the year Ayo Harrison said O’Dea’s defensive pride was stung.”We came out flat,” he said. “That’s the first time we’ve done that this year.”The Irish put the game away in the third quarter. Five plays into the second half, Taffera scored on a 1-yard sneak to cap a five-play, 54-yard drive as O’Dea took a 21-7 lead.

O’Dea 35, Prosser 14

Prosser 7 0 0 7 - 14

O’Dea 14 0 14 7 - 35

Pros-Matt Hoefer 30 pass from Joey Williams (Andrews kick)

O’Dea-D. Johnson 77 pass from Scott Taffera (Skurski kick)

O’Dea-Tony Miller 88 run (Skurski kick)

O’Dea-Taffera 1 run (Skurski kick)

O’Dea-Tim Moriarty 40 pass from Taffera (Skurski kick)

O’Dea-Miller 2 run (Skurski kick)

Pros-Jeremy Santo 28 pass from Williams (Andrews kick)

Ridgefield 44, Cascade 30

Nate Edgar ran for four touchdowns and 223 yards as the Spudders (13-0) won the Class A crown, beating the Kodiaks (!2-1).

Edgar, who carried 33 times, scored on runs of 23, 1, 1 and 1 yards. Edgar’s four touchdowns, 223 yards, 24 points scored and 33 carries were records in a Class A championship game.

Cas. (Lea.) 0 8 6 16 - 30

Ridgefield 16 7 6 15 - 44

Rid-Nate Edgar 23 run (Theron Chicks run)

Rid-Edgar 1 run (Jon Christopher run)

Rid-Jeff Leslie 19 pass from Ryan Greear (Greear kick)

Cas-Carl Haberberger 1 run (Ryan Hansen kick)

Cas-Brian Koch 56 run (run failed)

Rid-Edgar 1 run (run failed)

Cas-Ryan Hansen 4 run (Hansen run)

Rid-Edgar 1 run (Greear kick)

Cas-Haberberger 33 pass from Hansen (Hansen run)

Rid-J. Christopher 44 run (J. Christopher run)

Cas Rid First downs 13 22 Rushes-yards 33-204 56-411 Passing 161 19 Return Yards 111 71 Comp-Att-Int 6-12-2 1-2-0 Punts 2-35 2-38 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0 Penalties-Yards 1-8 3-15 Time of Possession 18:30 29:30

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - Cascade, Koch 19-121, Haberberger 18-63, Casey Sanger 1-14, Ty McGregor 1-4, Hansen 7-2. Ridgefield, Edgar 33-223, J. Christopher 17-163, Theron Chicks 6-25.

PASSING - Cascade, Hansen 6-11-1-161, Mitch West 0-1-1-0. Ridgefield, Greear 1-2-0-19.

RECEIVING - Cascade, Barry Warren 2-61, McGregor 2-38, Haberberger 1-35, Ballew 1-27. Ridgefield 1-19.