Felix Diaz’s expression was pure joy on the sideline after a 51-yard rushing touchdown late in the game against O’Dea in the Class 3A state championship game at Husky Stadium on Friday night.The score gave Mount Tahoma a 14-13 lead with under six minutes to play, and the way the T-Birds’ defense had played up to that point, it felt like it would be enough.But Monte Kohler and the Fighting Irish had one more trick up their sleeve. Facing a 3rd and 5 after marching down the field and lulling Mount Tahoma’s defense to sleep with a series of runs, fullback Owen Brustkern leaked out of the backfield, unnoticed, and quarterback Hutton Leverett found him wide open for the game-winning 30-yard touchdown reception.After converting the 2-point conversion and denying Mount Tahoma’s ensuing offensive possession, O’Dea won, 21-14, repeating as 3A state champions.“It’s tough,” Mount Tahoma coach Keith Terry said. “I’m pretty sure that’s the only blown assignment all night. I think that’s the toughest part. We put ourselves in position to be there at the end of the game.”Terry said he would’ve signed up anytime for a chance for his defense to close out the game.“I’ll always bet on my defense in that situation,” Terry said. “They played great all night long.”Brustkern knew all he had to do was secure the catch and he had nothing but green turf in front of him.“As soon as I saw their two safeties come down, I know I’m free,” he said. “Got me the ball, touchdown. Shoutout to my quarterback.”Diaz, a safety on Mount Tahoma’s defense, was a highlight-machine for the T-Birds. His interception in the third quarter set up Mount Tahoma’s first touchdown: a Mikkah Cordero 23-yard pass to UW signee Elijah Durr.O’Dea took the lead on a seven-yard rushing touchdown from J‘Shaun Wilson before Diaz’s 51-yard run gave the T-Birds the lead late in the fourth quarter.“Came down to the last play,” Diaz said through tears. “It hurts, for sure. It hurts. I just wish we went harder, we most likely would’ve come out with the success we wanted.”After his touchdown, Diaz felt confident Mount Tahoma’s defense would finish the job, but it wasn’t meant to be.“I thought we had it, for sure,” he said. “I thought we had. But I guess it just wasn’t enough. … Really just lost for words. I seen us finishing it all and I don’t know, I’m just lost for words.”The Irish claim another title for longtime coach Monte Kohler, who became Washington’s all-time winningest coach this season, passing legendary former Tumwater coach Sid Otton.“It’s indescribable,” said defensive end David Schwerzel, another UW signee. “Me and this team, we’ve worked so hard. We were counted out Week 1, that loss to (Graham-Kapowsin). We never looked back. We just bounced back. We’re here, and we made it happen. I’m so proud of us.”The loss was the first of the season for Mount Tahoma, which won the 3A Puget Sound League. It was the program’s first state championship game since 1980.“For us, the big picture is we set a standard,” Terry said. “This is something that’s been growing. We’re to the point now where we have a program. It’s not a team. We’re gonna be back next year.”TNT sports reporter Tyler Wicke contributed to this story.