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

From The News Tribune [Tacoma]:

Click here for the video of the interception.

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.

Read more

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+ Scorebook Live: WIAA 3A football state championship: Yelm beats Eastside Catholic, 20-13 – Kyler Ronquillo’s strip and 28-yard return for a touchdown with less than a minute to go wins it for the Tornados in their first WIAA title game appearance

+ Scorebook Live: Brayden Platt and Kyler Ronquillo: A brotherhood that was ‘bound to click’ at Yelm High School – The Tornados’ top two standouts lead the school into its first WIAA championship game Saturday against four-time champion Eastside Catholic