Irish Pride runs deep at DeSales Catholic School. It echoes through generations of players, families, coaches, and championships that span more than four decades. It lives in waterboys who grow into head coaches, in seniors who leave their final mark on a program, and in a small community that shows up year after year, believing the next title is always just one more season away.
On Friday at Husky Stadium, that belief finally became reality again. Behind a relentless defensive effort, timely execution on offense, and the unshakable bond of a tight-knit roster, DeSales defeated Liberty Christian 26–14 to capture the 1B State Championship
“We didn’t win the state championship just because we’re a good football team,” said junior quarterback Cohen Wood. “We won because of how much we wanted it for each other and for our community. It’s bigger than just the guys on the field. It’s the parents driving us to games, feeding us in the mornings, and supporting us every step. That’s DeSales.”
It’s the program’s first football state title since 2007, the first in the 8-man era, and the long-awaited first state championship for head coach Josh Richard.
“This one means a lot,” Richard said. “I lost three state championships as a DeSales player. To finally win one as the head coach — that’s pretty special.”
Long before Richard ever wore a headset, he was a waterboy on the DeSales sideline, watching Irish teams compete on the state’s biggest stages. Years later, he became a player — and one who endured the heartbreak of three consecutive championship-game losses to close his high school career.
As a young coach, he returned home to DeSales carrying those lessons and that unfinished business.
Now, decades later, Richard stands as a state champion head coach — with his uncle, a coach on one of DeSales’ past title teams, watching from the same sideline where Richards once held a towel and a water bottle.
“To grow up as a waterboy and finally get this done is pretty awesome,” Richard said. “My uncle being here with us during the playoffs made it even more meaningful.”
Victory tasted even sweeter because of the opponent. In recent years, Liberty Christian has become DeSales’ postseason roadblock, ending Irish seasons in the state quarterfinals in 2022 (84–50) and again in 2024 (56–20).
Each time, DeSales walked off the field without a placing, another chapter of promise unfinished.
Friday’s championship offered a chance not just for a title — but for redemption.
“It feels pretty good, especially beating them twice,” Richard said. “Considering the past few years playing them, this definitely puts an exclamation mark on it.”
After a tense first quarter, DeSales’ defense took control. Turnovers tilted the field. Stops fueled momentum. Liberty Christian found fewer and fewer cracks in the Irish wall.
“The defense really came up huge for us,” Richards said. “We forced a lot of turnovers, and we made enough plays on offense to finish the job.”
The moment that sealed the championship came on a perfectly timed quarterback keeper late in the game.
“We called it, told him to keep it, and he ran up the sideline for the touchdown,” Richard said. “That was my favorite part of the night.”
Moments later, his players made sure their coach felt every bit of the celebration, dumping a cooler of water over a man who had waited a lifetime for that moment.
“They got me pretty good,” Richards laughed.
Irish Pride isn’t new at DeSales.
Before shifting into the 8-man ranks, the Irish carved out one of the most decorated small-school football legacies in Washington:
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State Champions in 1991, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2007
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State Runners-Up in 1985, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2005
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Dozens of quarterfinal and semifinal appearances dating back to the early 1980s
From 1996 to 2007 alone, DeSales reached the state championship game seven times, winning four of them.
But the move to 8-man brought a reset. Deep playoff runs gave way to early exits. Close calls replaced trophies. The tradition remained — the results lagged.
Until now.
“This year felt like a restart of something that had been missing,” Richards said earlier this season. “We’ve always had Irish Pride — now we’ve got a new chapter to go with it.”
For senior Jason Guest, the championship marked the perfect ending to a lifelong Irish journey.
“I’m exhausted — the adrenaline crash is real,” Guest laughed. “But to finish your senior year undefeated with a state trophy at Husky Stadium? You can’t ask for anything better.”
Guest pointed not to stats or highlights, but to brotherhood as the heartbeat of this team.
“It was the group,” he said. “We had enough goofiness to stay loose, but when it was time to play, we played together.”
He realized just how special this team could be after DeSales’ first regular-season win over Liberty Christian.
“That’s when I thought, ‘We really might go all the way,’” he said.
Next, Guest is looking at colleges with plans to pursue nursing while continuing in football and track. But he leaves DeSales knowing his name is etched into Irish history.
Junior quarterback Cohen Wood grew up in the heartbeat of that Irish culture. Last spring, he suffered a painful loss to Liberty
Christian in the baseball state championship. Many of those same teammates lined up beside him in maroon and gold on Friday night.
“I’ve never felt a bond like this,” Wood said. “We didn’t win just because we’re a good football team. We won because we wanted it for each other so badly.”
Wood trusted completely in the people around him.
“If we didn’t score, I knew our defense would get the ball right back,” he said. “That confidence comes from knowing your brothers have your back.”
Playing at Husky Stadium never rattled him.
“We treated it like any other game,” Wood said. “You can’t make the moment bigger than the mission.”
Only afterward did the scale of it all hit.
“It’s crazy how big everything is,” he said. “That’s when you finally realize what you just did.”
From parents feeding players before dawn, to alumni watching from across the state, to generations who once wore the shamrock on their helmet — this championship belongs to everyone who has ever been part of DeSales football.
“I’m just thankful we got to bring something back for our community,” Wood said. “This was for all of them.”
For Coach Josh Richard, it was for the kid he once was — the waterboy, the player who came up just short, the young coach chasing one more shot.
For the program, it was the return of something familiar.
“There’s a lot of history here, and knowing we get to put our name in that history means everything,” said Guest.
Was so glad we made the trip to support the Irish!!
It was great they got to play in Husky Stadium.
Great job!!
Good job on the win
To Josh and the entire team from the Worth family. We were there with Josh in 2003-4-5 for those painful loses. Now you and that great group of coaches and players got one back for all of us. We’re very proud of you Josh ! Only one thing more to say: YESSSSS !! Sam