A winning streak of epic proportions came to a screeching halt in the Class 3A state football championship game.

Eastside Catholic snapped Bellevue’s 67-game winning streak and denied the Wolverines their seventh consecutive state championship with a convincing 35-13 victory on Dec. 5 at the Tacoma Dome. It was the first time the Wolverines have suffered a defeat since its September of 2010 loss to the Skyline Spartans.

Bellevue jumped out to a 7-0 lead on a Sam Richmond 5-yard touchdown run with 3:39 left in the first quarter. The touchdown was set up by a 72-yard run by Bellevue running back Ercle Terrell earlier in the drive. Bellevue speedster Isaiah Gilchrist scored on a 56-yard touchdown run, giving Bellevue a 13-7 lead with 11:01 left in the second quarter.

The Wolverines wouldn’t score again for the rest of the game. Eastside Catholic outscored Bellevue 28-0 in the final 24 minutes, 30 seconds of the game. Bellevue came into the game allowing a mere 5.4 points per game, but had trouble stopping the dynamic Eastside Catholic duo of Harley Kirsch and Brandon Wellington. Kirsch went 20-for-22 for 188 yards passing and two touchdowns while Wellington rumbled for 110 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Bellevue head coach Butch Goncharoff praised Eastside Catholic’s performance following the game.

“The best team won. They were better in every phase of the game and they beat us,” Goncharoff said. “We were in catch up mode the whole time and it felt like they just came out and kind of imposed their will on us. They were the better team.”

Wolverines’ offensive lineman Henry Roberts, who will play for the University of Washington in 2015, echoed Goncharoff’s sentiment.

“We didn’t lose, they won. They played good and just had a better day. Their offense was dominating our defensive line. Hats off to them. We just got to move on,” Roberts said.

Gilchrist, who is the Wolverines No. 1 cover corner, was gracious in defeat.

“They played a hell of a game. They came out and they were the better team. They beat us in all aspects of the game,” he said.