Football
Game of The Week: Irish, Crusaders set to battle yet again in highly anticipated matchup
Two Metro League heavyweights prepare to clash this Friday, with early-season bragging rights and the top spot in the conference on the line.
This Friday, two of the top ranked teams in the state will slug it out as the #4 O’Dea Fighting Irish travel to Acosta Field to take on the #3 Eastside Catholic Crusaders at 7PM.
Both teams have started off hot this year, with both starting 3-0 in their respective seasons and hanging big wins over Metro League opponents last week — the Crusaders ousted Garfield 64-0, while O’Dea beat Seattle Prep 49-6.
The powerhouse programs are both looking to keep their positive momentum going, especially after disappointing ends to last season when neither made it past the semi-final round of the WIAA WA State playoffs. Now each team is trying to find their own identities with having major roster changes after the ’23-’24 season.
Notable players to watch from O’Dea are edge rushers also known as the “Twin Towers.” 4 star David Schwerzel with offers from schools like UW, UCLA, Penn State, and Michigan, and 3 star Fametiau Siale with offers from schools like university Miami, Oregon, UW, and Florida State. If EC is to have any success, they’ll need to move the ball quickly to avoid defensive pressure in the backfield.
But it hasn’t just been the edge rushers, as the Fighting Irish defense has been on a war path only allowing 12 points combined in their last two games, with the defense putting up their own touchdowns in each of those matchups.
But the Crusaders’ defense is bringing plenty of firepower of its own. Players to keep an eye on from Eastside Catholic are outside linebackers 4 star Liufau Loumoli with offers from schools like Michigan, UW, Ohio State, and USC, and 3 star Wassie Lugolobi with offers from schools like Notre Dame, Tennessee, Colorado, and UW.
The Crusaders new transfer QB Isaac Corey will have his hands full Friday, with O’Dea’s star studded defense on his hands. Thankfully, his main target, 3 star wide receiver Asa Thompson, will be back this week after a nagging ankle injury against Blanchet early in the first quarter. This will be Thompson’s first game back after two weeks of being out.
This game has often been the highlight of the season and could unofficially determine who will be the Kings of the Metro League.
Catch the action live on the Metro Prep Athletics YouTube channel, going live at 6:45PM on Friday.