Eastside Catholic defeated 6-time defending state champion Bellevue for the state championship. Eastside Catholic lost the two previous championships to Bellevue.
I watched Eastside Catholic RG Alex Neale and DE/LT Cody Baker on every play (even re-winded and in slow motion). Cody Baker played both ways, didn't take a O or D play off.
Neale is incredible, he never once disappointed me, not on one single play! He won his battle every single time. And that was against some big boys! He is a punch you in the mouth and drive you into the ground interior offensive lineman, he works extremely hard
(great motor). He opens a lot of wholes. Eastside Catholic ran behind Alex a ton, he got it done. Sky is the limit for Alex... I want him to be a Grizzly, badly.
Baker is a dominant player, his potential is off the charts. He is an "Off The Bus" 1st teamer, he looks the part. He will cause a lot of havoc at DE for the Griz. He is someone that opposing offenses will have to keep track of, and double-team. He gets after the Quarterback, and stands very strong on rush defense. You're not going to push him out of the way. He will continue the great tradition at DE for Montana. He will play a lot of FB at Montana. Also, no limit on this phenom's potential.
Both players are physically gifted. There was D1 talent all over that field. Neale and Baker to Montana, others committed to a few Pac 12 teams (Stanford, USC, Wash), a player to Air Force, but I will tell you this, Neale and Baker were the two best players on the field! The announcers kept commenting on how Eastside Catholic dominated on both sides of the trenches, that that was how they won the game. Even when the tv went back to the Root Sports studio, those broadcasters commented on the dominant Eastside Catholic team was in the trenches and that's why they won.
Post game on the field, the announcers in the booth asked Baker to comment on Alex's and his commitment to Montana, and Baker said, "Oh yeah, we're going to tear it up over there." (with a huge smile)
:egriz: