12/5/25
The State Tournament has now moved into the Championship Round. Our goal is to have the information updated as quickly as possible, and you can return to this post to find everything you’re looking for regarding the 1B State Football tournament.
We’ll continue to update this post until a State Champion is crowned. All rounds and results are below from the 1B state tournament
Links of Note
Link to Eli Sports Live Broadcast page
Link to WIAA for Fan information
Link to WIAA official bracket
Championship Game
Friday, December 5th
(1) DeSales Fighting Irish 26, (2) Liberty Christian (Richland) Patriots 14
(Seattle, WA) DeSales and Liberty Christian played each other in the regular season, one of three rematches during the State Championships. It was a 36-28 win for the Irish on their home turf on October 24. Liberty Christian was looking for revenge after losing last year in the State Championship Game to Wilbur-Creston-Keller, 42-34. With the wind howling and the first title game of the weekend, the two sides balled it out for the championship.
DeSales had the ball first, but the Patriots’ defense held for a turnover on downs. Liberty Christian had great field position and took advantage of it, as the Patriots drove down to the two-yard line. Trenton Ralston threw a pass to his left, and Dax Mercure made an excellent leaping grab for the first score of the game. Liberty Christian couldn’t convert on the two-point conversion as they led 6-0, halfway through the first quarter. The Irish offense was forced into another turnover on downs as Liberty Christian took over in DeSales territory for the second drive in a row. The Patriots went through the air again, as Ralston hit Eli Isley for a 21-yard touchdown. Ralston ran in the two-point conversion to make it a 14-0 lead for Liberty Christian.
DeSales was forced to punt as they were backed up to fourth and very long. Liberty Christian started in DeSales territory for the third time in a row. The Patriots marched down the field and took it into the second quarter. On first and goal, the Patriots attempted a pass, and stepping in front of the pass was Caleb Bingham of DeSales for the interception. Bingham bolted down the sideline and went 100 yards for an interception return for a touchdown to get the Irish on the scoreboard. Bingham’s 100-yard touchdown is the longest play of any kind in a 1B State Championship Game. The two-point conversion was no good, and Liberty Christian led 14-6 with 10:58 left in the second quarter. The Patriots were pinned at their own five-yard line to start their next drive. The DeSales defense made a stand, as on fourth down, the Irish forced a fumble and recovered at the four-yard line.
On third and goal, Cohen Wood plunged forward for the touchdown to make it a 14-12 game, but DeSales couldn’t convert the two-point conversion as Liberty Christian maintained a two-point lead with 7:38 left in the first half. Liberty Christian picked up a first down on their next drive, but turned it over on downs four plays later. DeSales moved the ball inside the Liberty Christian 10-yard line, but after a penalty, the Irish faced fourth and goal. Wood ran to the two-yard line but was stuffed short by multiple Patriots defenders with half a minute left. Liberty Christian ran out the clock and took a 14-12 lead into the half.
To begin the third quarter, Liberty Christian had the ball first, but the Irish forced a turnover, as Jason Guest got an interception on fourth down. DeSales turned it over on downs on the next drive. DeSales would get another interception, as Maddox Filan got the pick and ran it back with the help of a facemask against Liberty Christian to give the Irish the ball at the 19-yard line. DeSales would go with Caleb Bingham on the ground from the two-yard line. Bingham powered into the end zone to give DeSales their first lead of the game at 18-14, with 1:47 to go in the third quarter. Liberty Christian, on the ensuing drive, snapped the ball with 12 seconds left and ran it up the middle. Three DeSales defenders were surrounding the ball carrier and poked it free. Alan Campos-Ontiveros hopped on the loose ball for DeSales, and the Irish took over at their own 41-yard line with one second left in the third. DeSales would take an 18-14 lead after three quarters of play.
Liberty Christian’s defense made a stand, as the Patriots caused a turnover on downs to take over at the 40-yard line. Liberty Christian moved the ball into DeSales territory, but the Irish forced another fumble. Running up the middle, one of the Irish stuck their arm out, ripped the ball away from the ball carrier, and Santi Santiago jumped on the ball for DeSales to give them possession at the seven-minute mark at their own 14-yard line. The Irish marched down the field and faced third down at the 34-yard line with 2:11 left in regulation. Liberty Christian had only one timeout left, and first down would all but end it. On third and two, Cohen Wood faked a handoff, rolled to his left on a naked bootleg, and scampered down the sideline for a 34-yard touchdown run to put DeSales up 24-14. Bingham converted the two-point conversion to make it 26-14 with two minutes left. Liberty Christian quickly moved the ball down the field, but facing fourth and goal and less than a minute left, the Irish made one last stand to force another turnover on downs and to give them the ball. After two kneel downs, the clock ran out as the DeSales Irish won the 1B State Championship, 26-14.
Our Sumner Holiday Inn Express Game MVP went to DeSales’ Caleb Bingham. Bingham had the play of the game, season, and his life when he had the 100-yard interception return for a touchdown. Bingham had 15 carries for 56 yards, scored a touchdown on the ground as well.
DeSales had been knocked out by Liberty Christian in their last two State Playoff berths, and had never won a 1B State Title until today. In total, this is the fifth DeSales State Football Championship. The Irish last won the 2B State Championship in 2007. They also won in 1998, 1997, and 1991, all in 2B.
Click here for a link to the full 1B bracket.
Click here for the full game replay (Subscription Required).
ESN Postgame Show
ESN Talks With DeSales Head Coach Josh Richard
ESN Talks With Game MVP Caleb Bingham
Game Highlights
Dax Mercure Outstanding Touchdown Grab
Trenten Ralston To Eli Isley For Patriots Touchdown
Caleb Bingham 100-yard Interception Return For Touchdown
Caleb Bingham Plunges Forward For 2-Yard Score
Cohen Wood Ices It With Touchdown Run
Photo Gallery
Semifinals
Saturday, November 29th
(2) Liberty Christian 36, (3) Wahkiakum 18
Liberty Christian had already proven themselves in the regular season and they didn’t miss a beat now that it’s playoff time. They took down the Wahkiakum Mules 36-18 on Saturday. The victory was nothing new for the Patriots as they’re now sitting on five straight.
Another reason for the win was Liberty Christian’s imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for nine sacks. Ryan Powell led the group effort, picking up five of those sacks all by himself. He has been hot, having also posted five or more total tackles the last six times he’s played.
Defeat or not, Wahkiakum got some senior leadership from Jayden Stoddard and Parker Leitz. Stoddard threw for 279 yards and one TD, while Leitz picked up 162 receiving yards and one score. Leitz showed off some serious burst, connecting on a big catch for 56 yards.
Liberty Christian’s victory bumped their record up to 12-1. As for Wahkiakum, their loss was their first of the season, and it makes their record 11-1. Looking ahead, Liberty Christian will challenge DeSales at 11:00 a.m. on Friday. The Patriots will need to watch out since the Irish have now posted at least 31 points every time they’ve taken the field this season.
The Sumner Holiday Inn Express MVP went to defensive end Ryan Powell for his game-changing play on the line for Liberty Christian with multiple sacks, tipped balls, and tackles for losses. His defense against a very dangerous Wahkiakum offense was the difference maker and helped lead the Patriots to the 1B state championship.
For the full game replay, click here (Subscription Required)
Game Highlights
Preston West Opens the Game for Wahkiakum with the One-yard TD run
Tayton Cruger with the 38-yard Touchdown Reception from Trenten Ralston
Dax Mercure with the 10-yard touchdown from Trenten Ralston
(1) DeSales 44, (4) Almira-Coulee-Hartline 22
The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors’ (10-2) season comes to an end after falling to the DeSales Irish 44-22 in the semifinals of the 1B state football tournament Saturday. The Warriors started strong in the first quarter; however, after a 30-point second quarter by DeSales, the game slipped away.
They had moments of brilliance in the second half but were unable to capitalize, and DeSales came away with the win to advance to the 1B state championship game. In the first quarter, the Warriors jumped out to a 12-0 lead thanks to two Max Grindy touchdowns, the first a Caden Correia passing touchdown.
DeSales responded before the end of the first quarter with a four-yard rushing touchdown and followed it up with a successful two-point play to cut the deficit to 12-8. The Irish carried their momentum into the second quarter with another score. This time on a 55-yard touchdown pass, after converting another two-point play, they led the Warriors 12-16. Grindy led the charge on the Warriors’ next offensive drive and punched the ball into the end zone to take a 20-16 lead.
Before halftime, DeSales erupted for three touchdowns to take a commanding 20-38 lead at the break. In the third quarter, the Warriors’ defense stunted the Irish’s momentum by holding them scoreless and forcing a safety to cut the deficit to 22-38 heading into the fourth quarter. However, ACH struggled to capitalize on turnovers and the safety to continue closing the gap. The Irish broke loose for an 88-yard rushing touchdown to seal the 22-44 win over the Warriors.
The Sumner Holiday Inn Express MVP went to QB Cohen Wood with four touchdowns on the day, two passing and two rushing, as well as a game-sealing 88-yard run.
For the full game replay, click here (Subscription Required)
Quarterfinals
Saturday, Nov 22
#6 Pomeroy 34, #3 Wahkiakum 66
#7 Darrington 14, #2 Liberty Christian 56
#5 Naselle 26, #4 A-C Hartline 61
#9 Neah Bay 24, #1 DeSales 58
Opening Round
Friday, November 14
#3 Wahkiakum 78, #14 Moses Lake Christian/Covenant Christian 38
#1 DeSales 56, #16 Ocosta 16
Saturday, November 15
#7 Darrington 44, #10 Wilbur-Creston-Keller 30
#9 Neah Bay 60, #8 Garfield-Palouse 54
#5 Naselle 64, #12 Odessa 8
#4 Almira-Coulee-Hartline 57, #13 Entiat 14
#6 Pomeroy 86, #11 Tulalip Heritage 22
#2 Liberty Christian (Richland) 62, #15 Quilcene 7
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