Lake Stevens Highlights: Austin Otis, Gavin O’Neil, Tevin Gray Just one year removed from a state semifinal loss to Skyview, the Vikings should again to be one of the top teams in the Wesco conference. A big reason is the play of Junior RB Austin Otis (5-10 170). Last season he rushed for a team high 998 yards on way to being a first team All-Wesco 4A North…
Jake Tumblin Highlights A player that is continues to impress on a weekly basis is junior Jake Tumblin (5-10 170) of Coupeville, a small town on Whidbey Island. Last season Tumblin lead the Wolves in rushing with 787 yards and five touchdowns. He also led the team in receiving with 350 yards and four TDs. Rarely leaving the field, Tumblin also had 400+ yards and one…
Recently I named the Zillah Leopards my #1 team in the 1A classification for the 2013 season. A big reason for that ranking is the outstanding play of junior Kurt Calhoun (6-1 200). Last season Calhoun rushed 232 times for 1,987 yards and had 30 total TDs. He was considered a first team All-League and second team All-State RB. The Leopards would finish the season…
The 2015 offensive line class is beginning to look like it might be one of the best in state history. A player to keep an eye on, and the best Center of the bunch, is Alex Neale (6-3 280) of Eastside Catholic. This past season was a good one for the Crusaders, finishing with a state championship loss to Bellevue, and Neale was the starting…
One of the top returning small school athletes is junior running back Jaysen Yoro (5-11 175) of Orting. Yoro is a two way star for the Cardinals. He also returns punts, kickoffs, and rarely leaves the field. This past season the Cardinals made the jump from the 1A Nisqually League up to the SPSL 2A. They finished 6-5 on the season with a…
Austin Hall Highlights In 2012 one of the most productive backs in the entire state of Washington last year was Austin Hall (6-0 180, Jr) from Kamiak HS in Mukilteo. Last season for the Knights, Hall rushed 234 times for 1,673 yards and 21 TDs. He was also the teams second leading receiver with 14 receptions, for 232 yards and another two scores. All told…
Jackson Gardner Highlights When our 2015 player rankings become more clear, one of the top players at TE and DL will be Jackson Gardner (6-5 225) of Inglemoor High School in Kenmore, WA. Gardner is a kid with limitless potential. I saw the Vikings play five times last season, and while they struggled in the standings, Gardner was a kid that seemed to get…
Melvin Walser Highlights One of the top returning two way players in the entire state of Washington is WR/DB Melvin Walser (6-4 190, Jr) of Mount Vernon. While the Bulldogs may not have had the most success in the standings, finishing 3-7 overall, Walser was one of the big bright spots. He finished the season with 55 catches for 948 yards and 7…
Teague James Highlights One of the top returning running backs in the entire state of Washington is Teague James (5-10 180, Jr) out of Graham-Kapowsin. He was the feature back last year for the Eagles and finished with 1,506 yards and 26 TDs on just 151 carries. He was voted a first team All-SPSL and was also awarded a first team All-Area by the…
The QB tradition at Puyallup High School is well documented. Trying to make his mark along side the likes of the Huard brother is sophomore gunslinger Brendan Illies (6-1 185). In terms of yards, Illies put up the second most of any sophomore behind only record breaking QB Brett Rypien of Shadle Park. He would finish with 2,960 yards and 33 TDs. Illies could be…