A Metro Beat Down

By Jaxon Foy, Tommy LeClercq and Collin Peters

SEATTLE-- Third-and-11. With the game winding down, J’Shaun Wilson found a crease in Eastside Catholic’s defense and exploded through the line. Sixty-five yards later, the O’Dea junior was celebrating in the end zone once again. The run marked his sixth touchdown of the night, and the Crusaders still had no answer for him.

But Wilson wasn't finished.

Before the final whistle, he found the end zone one more time, setting an O’Dea single-game record with seven rushing touchdowns, breaking the mark previously shared by O’Dea and Husky legend Myles Gaskin. In the biggest game of the year between two undefeated teams, Wilson finished the night with 372 rushing yards on just 26 carries, delivering one of the most dominant individual performances in the storied history of O’Dea football.

Coming into the rivalry game between the two top-ranked 3A teams in the state, Wilson had one goal in mind: execute the game plan, block out distractions and get the win. Records were not his main focus, but his performance quickly turned into something bigger than expected.

After Eastside Catholic returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, O’Dea needed a response. Wilson helped provide that spark with his first touchdown run, giving his team a reason to build momentum.

“I just felt good that I was able to bring my team back up after they returned the opening kickoff,” Wilson said.

Wilson continued finding the end zone throughout the first half. After reaching five touchdowns, he started to understand the significance of what he was accomplishing. His performance was no longer just about helping O’Dea win. He was making history.

“I was just realizing that I’m going to be in O’Dea’s record books for a long time,” Wilson said.

Despite the attention surrounding his record-breaking night, Wilson and his teammates stayed focused on the bigger picture. Rather than chasing individual numbers, the team continued to concentrate on finishing the game strong and coming away with a victory.

“We weren’t really focused on going for the record,” Wilson said. “Me and my teammates knew the main goal was getting the win no matter what happens.”

Wilson’s performance showed how quickly a game can turn into a historic moment. What began as another Friday night matchup became a night that O’Dea fans would remember. His record-breaking performance put his name in the school’s history books and showed what can happen when preparation, determination and team success come together.