O’Dea Dominates on Senior Night, Downs West Seattle 56–14

On a chilly Thursday evening at West Seattle Stadium, the O’Dea Fighting Irish capped off their regular season in style with a 56–14 victory over the previously unbeaten West Seattle Wildcats. The win not only highlighted O’Dea’s discipline and teamwork but also marked an emotional Senior Night for players like Griffin Matzen, who stepped into a new role at center 

Starting Start and a Stronger Finish 

The first quarter saw a tight defensive battle, with both teams trading stops and big tackles. O’Dea broke the stalemate late in the second quarter, putting together a series of explosive drives to go up 28–14 at halftime. 

From there, the Irish dominated the second half their offensive line taking control while the defense shut down West Seattle’s passing game. O’Dea added four more touchdowns before the final whistle, securing one of their most commanding wins of the season. 

Griffin Matzen Steps Up 

For senior lineman Griffin Matzen, the night carried extra weight. Normally a guard, Matzen made the switch to center for the game a key position responsible for starting every play and leading the offensive line. 

“The biggest difference for me between guard and center was really just getting the snap and making sure that everyone was doing their job before the play started,” Matzen explained. 

He credited extra preparation for helping him make the transition smoothly. 

“I took snaps all week and made sure to get snaps before drives with my quarterbacks to make sure we were on the same page and that everything was clicking,” he said. 

Despite the position change, Matzen embraced the leadership that came with it. 

“Switching didn’t really change what I said to my teammates because I try to lead in every game, but it was definitely a bigger leadership role because I was responsible for the entire offensive line.” 

Trust, Teamwork, and Senior Night Emotions 

Even with the emotional weight of his final home game, Matzen said he stayed focused on the task at hand. 

“I honestly wasn’t very phased with it being Senior Night because I really just wanted to play West Seattle,” he said. “But after the game, it definitely hit me that I would never play there again.” 

When asked how he stayed mentally tough throughout the week and during the game, Matzen pointed to trust both in himself and his team. 

“I stayed mentally tough by trusting my coaches and finding support in my teammates. They always have my back and trust me, so they helped me trust myself.” 

His mindset was built through preparation and hard work. 

“It’s all about trusting yourself in moments like that and being confident that you can get it done,” Matzen added. “That comes from preparation and the work we put in during the offseason and every day at practice.” 

Looking Ahead 

With the win, O’Dea improves to 7–1 heading into the playoffs, riding momentum and confidence after a statement victory. For West Seattle, the loss marked their first of the season but also showed flashes of the talent that carried them to an undefeated start. 

For O’Dea’s seniors like Griffin Matzen, the night was more than just a win it was a symbol of hard work, leadership, and the brotherhood built over years of dedication. 

“At the end of the day, it’s about trusting your preparation and the guys next to you,” Matzen said. “That’s what O’Dea football is all about.”