It didn’t look good for O’Dea. The clock was winding down in the fourth quarter and, while running back Uriah Stringfield had been reliable running the ball throughout the game, the Irish needed to make a few big plays in the passing game, which has been a struggle throughout the first three quarters.
But, with the game on the line and 27 seconds to play, Giulio Banchero, went up between two defenders pulled down pass that he took into the end zone for a 59-yard touchdown, leading the Irish to a 17-14 win over Eastside Catholic.
“It was a great play call,” Banchero said. “My QB, we had some struggles all game, but he just put all his trust in me. The coaches put all their trust in me. I just did my best. Thank God I made the play.”
O’Dea advances to play Bellevue in the Class 3A state championship game at 7 p.m. Friday at Memorial Stadium.
“It feels amazing,” Banchero said. “The past two years I’ve been on the team, we’ve lost this game, on this field, so to be able to do that and win the game, it’s an amazing feeling.”
Eastside Catholic running back Jeremiah Burroughs game the Crusaders (10-2) opened the scoring with a 30-yard touchdown run. The Crusaders took a 14-6 lead in the fourth quarter after linebacker Carson McKelheer’s pick-six.
Then the Irish rallied and are heading to the state championship game for the first time since 2019, a game O’Dea lost to the Crusaders. The Irish are looking to win their first state championship since 2017.
