Unbeaten Showdown: St. Martin Yellow Jackets vs. West Harrison Hurricanes Kicks Off Region Play
The stakes couldn’t be higher this Friday night as two unbeaten teams collide in a high-powered Region 4-7A opener: the 4-0 St. Martin Yellow Jackets host the 4-0 West Harrison Hurricanes in a matchup that promises fireworks on both sides of the ball.
After finishing 3-7 in 2024 and enduring four straight losing seasons in region play — including a 1-23 region record since 2020 — the Yellow Jackets have stormed into 2025 with renewed energy and a new head coach at the helm. Their last region win came back on October 1, 2021, and now they’re eyeing a breakthrough to prove this isn’t the same St. Martin.
A Battle of Strengths
St. Martin comes in with one of the most balanced and efficient offenses in the region, led by sophomore quarterback Seth Crockett. Crockett has been nothing short of sensational, completing 49 of 67 passes for 600 yards and five touchdowns — with zero interceptions. His dual-threat ability adds another layer of danger: he’s rushed for 11 touchdowns and averages 5.9 yards per carry, turning broken plays into big gains.
But Crockett isn’t alone. The Yellow Jackets boast a deep arsenal of playmakers. Senior Cameron Romero leads the receiving corps with 205 yards and 3 scores, while juniors Kevin Marshall and Danarius Shelby add a combined 305 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. On the ground, St. Martin has racked up 801 rushing yards and 14 TDs, proving they can strike in multiple ways.
Ground-and-Pound Power
West Harrison enters with a bruising, explosive run game that’s overwhelmed opponents so far. Senior running back Jordan Stapleton is the heartbeat of the Hurricanes’ offense, already logging 759 rushing yards on just 65 carries — that’s an eye-popping 11.7 yards per carry — along with 11 touchdowns. He’s also made noise in the passing game, catching all of the team’s receiving touchdowns.
Supporting backs Austin McInnis (470 yards, 4 TDs), Sean Fairley, and Julian Chong give the Hurricanes a deep, relentless backfield. While their passing game is limited in volume, quarterback Demario Davies has made his few throws count, connecting for 3 touchdowns on just 6 completions.
This game shapes up as a classic clash of styles: St. Martin’s versatile, balanced offense against West Harrison’s relentless, run-first attack. The Yellow Jackets will look to control tempo, spread the field, and keep Stapleton and the Hurricane offense off the field. Meanwhile, West Harrison aims to dominate the trenches, wear down the defense, and unleash big gains on the ground.
Both teams know that a win here sets the tone for the rest of the season, not just in the standings, but psychologically. It’s a test of discipline, execution, and grit.
What’s at Stake?
Aside from keeping a perfect record alive, this game has major implications for region playoff seeding. A win could position either squad for a home playoff game — or even a region title run.
Expect physicality. Expect momentum swings. Expect a packed house and playoff-level intensity under the Friday night lights.
Last Meeting: Yellow Jackets Dominated in 2020
The last time these teams met was back in 2020, when St. Martin delivered a resounding 63–14 victory over the Hurricanes. While plenty has changed on both sidelines since then, the memory of that blowout adds an edge to this year’s matchup — especially for a West Harrison team hungry for revenge and respect.
Kickoff is set for 7pm at The Colony in St. Martin.The stage is ready. Only one unbeaten team will leave with the edge in Region 4-7A.
