‘I’m him, I’m him!’ — spectacular play caps Yelm’s undefeated season, first state title

Kyler Ronquillo watched as Yelm quarterback Damian Aalona lofted a pass, which fell straight into the hands of Eastside Catholic defender Tyson Weaver. It looked like a sure interception, which would have sealed an Eastside Catholic win in the Class 3A state championship game at Sparks Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

No one could believe what happened next. Ronquillo, the receiver on the play, met Weaver as he caught the ball and ripped it out of his hands, wrestling control of the ball and sprinting 28 yards into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.

Eastside Catholic’s defenders stood in stunned disbelief, the home crowd erupted and Ronquillo pumped his fists in the back of the end zone, screaming “I’m him, I’m him!”

“I ripped it straight from his hands, because I wanted it more,” Ronquillo said. “I wanted it more. It’s that simple.”

“You know me, every time I’m gonna go make a play. I don’t care who’s on me, whether he’s got stars or not — he even had the ball in his hands — I’m gonna take it from him. I’m a dawg. For real.”

Yelm secured the first state title in program history Saturday afternoon, rallying late to upend Eastside Catholic, 20-13, in the championship game.

Trailing by a point with less than four minutes to play, the Tornados efficiently drove toward midfield, looking for a late go-ahead score. Then came the Ronquillo score. Yelm coach Jason Ronquillo, Kyler’s dad, was among those in disbelief.

“Just the desire, attitude, killer instinct,” Ronquillo said. “Big-time players make big-time plays, and that was one of the biggest plays I’ve seen, ever. Ever. ... A lot of pressure. Game on the line. If we don’t get a first down or score, we lose. Just amazing.”

After the Ronquillo score, Yelm converted the two-point try to take its final 20-13 lead, and six plays later Brayden Platt hauled in a game-sealing interception to secure the Tornados’ first title in their first championship appearance.

Earlier on, Eastside Catholic got on the board first, when kicker Adam Jacobs connected on a 35-yard field goal late in the opening quarter to give the Crusaders a 3-0 lead.

Yelm converted a fake punt on the ensuing drive, and drove inside the Eastside Catholic 10, but eventually turned the ball over on downs.

The Tornados got the ball back with 2:06 left in the half, and put together an eight play, 73-yard scoring drive, capped by an Aalona 22-yard touchdown pass to Aden Schaler, giving them a 6-3 lead at the break.

Eastside Catholic evened the game late in the third, when Jacobs connected on a 26-yard field goal to make it 6-6 with 2:50 to go in the quarter. Yelm responded two plays later on a 55-yard pass from Aalona to Tre Smith to push the lead back to 12-6.

But, the Crusaders scored on a 34-yard connection between quarterback Brady McKelheer and Carson McKelheer with 7:18 left in the game, and Jacobs’ extra point gave Eastside Catholic a late 13-12 lead.

Yelm punted on its next drive, but got the ball back with 3:14 to play following a missed field goal, leading to the eventual game-winning score.

This story will be updated.