Interview: Eastside Catholic 4-Star 2020 RB Sam Adams Gives O’Dea Championship Game Preview

Posted by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @Ryan Wright

 

Sam Adams II Profile

Position: Running Back and Cornerback

Height and Weight: 6-2, 200

Classification: 2020

Ranking: 4-Star

 

High School: Eastside Catholic – Sammamish, WA – Class 3A – Metro

2018 Crusaders Preseason Ranking: No. 2 in Washington (MaxPreps)

2018 Record: 10-1 – ranked No. 1 in WA

2018 stats (12 games): 74 carries for 860 yards with 17 touchdowns and 10 receptions for 203 yards with three touchdowns

Defense: 29 tackles, 18 solo, one tackle for a loss, and five interceptions

Special teams: 10 kick returns for 214 yards, long of 47-yards, and nine punt returns for 210 yards

2017 Crusaders Record: 10-1 – ranked No. 4 in Washington (MaxPreps)

2017 Stats (6 games): 14 carries, 65 yards, and one touchdown, one reception for 37 yards

 

Offers (29): Washington, Cal, Arizona, Arizona State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Boise State, Oregon State, San Diego State, SMU, Washington State, Cal, Florida, Louisville, LSU, TCU, Tennessee, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, BYU, Oregon, Texas Tech, Wisconsin, Colorado, Texas, and Texas A&M

 

Top 40-Yard Dash: 4.4

Season long series of RNG interviews with Eastside Catholic High School 4-star 2020 RB/ATH Sam Adams. Adams updates the Crusaders’ win against Bellevue with a quick preview of the upcoming state championship game against O’Dea in a rematch from October.

*Click link for Nov. 23, 2018, RNG interview with Sam Adams II

Interview

Sam, the Crusaders have been hammering teams in the playoffs, and the Bellevue game was no exception winning 41-3. What was working well for you guys to dominate in the fashion that you did yet again?

“Our run game and our defense played well. Holding them to three points in the state semifinal was big time. Our offense was working really well.”

I know you had a pick in the game, how did you get your fifth interception of the season against Bellevue?

“We knew they did not throw it much, but when they did we had to lock in. It was just before halftime, I read it perfectly and jumped it.”

O’Dea (11-1) is the No. 3 ranked team (MaxPreps) in Washington with a stingy defense as well, but you guys laid 31 (31-13) on them in early October. Let’s start on offense, will you be getting a lot of looks against the Fighting Irish on Friday?

“Yeah. Definitely.”

How did the first meeting go for you?

“It went really well for me. I don’t think we played that well against them but we still won. I have a lot of faith in us going into the game against O’Dea tomorrow. The only way we can lose is by beating ourselves.”

*Adams rushed four times for 101 yards with one touchdown and had five tackles and two interceptions with 85 return yards.

What about on defense, how are you seeing the game going for yourself on that side of the ball matching up against their receivers and backs?

“Very similar to last game. They run the ball a lot, when they pass it we have to lock in. The secondary is looking at a lot of run fits and doing our assignments well.”

Winning a championship for any team in any sport is important, what is the significance for you and your teammates on Friday to bring home the trophy?

“I’m not going to lie, for the last two years we were expected to win state but we came up short. We knew we had something to prove this season if we wanted to go to the Dome. It will be significant and special for my class and for the senior class to win the championship.”

2018 Eastside Catholic Schedule

Sept 1. – vs. Oaks Christian (CA) 35-12 loss

Sept. 8 – vs. Central Catholic at Seattle Memorial Stadium (won 49-26)

Sept. 14 – vs. Rigby at Eastside Catholic (won 34-6)

Sept. 20 – vs. Rainer Beach at Eastside Catholic (won 48-22)

Sept. 28 – vs. Garfield at Eastside Catholic (won 50-7)

Oct. 5 – at O’Dea (won 31-13)

Oct. 12 – vs. Seattle Prep (won 50-24)

Oct. 19 – at Bishop Blanchet (won 44-17)

Nov. 2 – vs. Ferndale (won 44-7)

Nov. 9 – vs. Lake Washington (won 42-12)

Nov. 16 – vs. Timberline (won 44-14)

Nov. 24 – vs. Bellevue – semifinal round (won 41-3)

Photo credit: Bodine Photography; No. 2 Sam Adams II