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But O’Dea avenged last season’s one-point loss to the Cougars in the playoffs, scoring 21 consecutive points – including a 45-yard interception for a touchdown with 13 seconds remaining – to come away with a 28-14 victory over Capital on Ingersoll Stadium.
The Cougars (0-1) had two chances to tie the game late with O’Dea leading, 21-14. The first came on a fourth-and-6 stop of Irish quarterback Pierre LeDorze, but Capital wasn’t able to convert. And on the Cougars’ drive in the final minute, which started on its own 31, sophomore quarterback Derrick Becker had his pass picked off by Johntye Jackson, who took it 45 yards down the left sideline for a victory-sealing touchdown.
Thursday’s matchup was the sixth time in five years the two teams faced off, including twice last season with Capital winning both games – 28-0 in Week 1 and 13-12 in the 3A state quarterfinals.
Capital and O’Dea have met every year since 2007 and have faced each other in Week 1 for the fourth consecutive year. Prior to last season, the Irish had the Cougars’ number, winning the three previous matchups, 46-7 (2007 playoffs), 14-13 (’08) and 19-15 in the ’09 Emerald City Kickoff Classic.
Kai Van Sickle, Capital’s junior running back in his second varsity start – he started last season’s 3A state semifinal against Kamiakin – had 106 yards rushing on 21 carries and scored his team’s opening touchdown in the second quarter.
The Cougars’ fourth-quarter drives were vastly different from the non-existent ones of the third quarter. Capital led 14-13 at halftime but only generated 8 yards of total offense with no first downs. Meanwhile, O’Dea had 63 yards of offense, four first downs, and consumed nearly six minutes between the end of the third quarter and the opening minute of the fourth to take the lead for good at 21-14 on LeDorze’s 2-yard keeper and a two-point conversion.
Capital’s first-half scoring came on consecutive offensive drives with six and seven offensive plays, respectively, in the second quarter. Van Sickle had 12 first-half carries for 88 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7 with 8:15 to go in the second quarter.
The Cougars’ defense made key stops multiple times, including a fumble recovery that set up the team’s second touchdown. On O’Dea’s ensuing possession following Van Sickle’s score, Capital’s Devin Nelson recovered a fumbled snap by LeDorze, which led to a Capital scoring drive from its own 37. The Cougars covered the distance in seven plays, capped by a Steven Malepeai 1-yard touchdown run that would eventually put the Cougars up 14-13 at halftime.
O’Dea, which amassed 147 yards of total offense in the first half, got a 55-yard touchdown catch by Tatum Taylor from LeDorze with 2 seconds to go that cut Capital’s halftime advantage to one. It was LeDorze’s third completed pass and second for positive yardage.
The Cougars had 112 yards of first-half offense – all of it rushing.
Capital coach J.D. Johnson declined to comment after the game.
Meg Wochnick: 360-754-5473 mwochnick@theolympian.com www.theolympian.com/southsoundsports
