O’Dea Rallies Late to Claim 3A State Championship in Thriller Over Mt. Tahoma

SEATTLE, WA (Husky Stadium) - The 3A final delivered a spectacular main event to close out day one of the State Championships at Husky Stadium, as the Mt. Tahoma Thunderbirds clashed with the O’Dea Fighting Irish in a showdown packed with tension and late-game drama.

The game opened at a cautious pace, with defense ruling the first half. O’Dea scored the only touchdown of the opening two quarters, taking a slim lead into halftime. But the second half flipped the script completely—both teams erupted, combining for 28 points over the final two periods.

After trading touchdowns in a fast-paced third quarter, the Fighting Irish held a narrow 13-7 advantage. Mt. Tahoma refused to back down, storming into the fourth quarter with a go-ahead score to seize a 14-13 lead. With time slipping away, O’Dea took possession one more time, needing a response worthy of a champion.

And they delivered. The Fighting Irish punched in a late touchdown and added a critical two-point conversion, jumping ahead 21-14 and reclaiming control. Mt. Tahoma fought to the final whistle, but their comeback bid came up just short as O’Dea secured the 3A WA State Football Championship.

O’Dea was powered by RB Max Speller, who churned out 88 yards on 13 carries. For Mt. Tahoma, QB Mikkah Cordero tallied 118 yards and one touchdown, leading the Thunderbird offense in the narrow loss.

A slow-burning battle turned explosive finish—and a championship classic at Husky Stadium.