Beginning in August, the SBLive WA team released detailed previews of the top 50 high school football teams in Washington heading into the fall season.
Find out about one of these teams below:
SBLIVE TOP 50 TEAM PREVIEWS
(Click the team link for the full preview)
NO. 50: SOUTHRIDGE SUN (3A)
After going winless in the truncated spring 2021 season, Southridge turned a page last fall and now seems even more poised to build on that momentum.
NO. 49: MOSE LAKE CHIEFS (4A)
The Chiefs are looking for a long stay in the postseason after failing in the first round against Gonzaga Prep last year and are hoping a big offensive line will lead the way.
NO. 48: KAMIAK KNIGHT (4A)
Things have changed in the Kamiak program and the Knights have all the pieces in place to make things interesting in the 4A Wesco.
NO. 47: ENUMCLAW HORNETS (2A)
A trip to the state quarterfinals last year ended in a loss to eventual runners-up Tumwater, and this year’s Hornets are looking for a deeper run after the season.
NO. 46: AUBURN RIVERSIDE RAVEN (3A)
As winners of the 3A North Puget Sound League a year ago, the Ravens are aiming for even more this fall.
NO. 45: CURTIS VIKINGS (4A)
The 4A South Puget Sound League is not for the faint of heart and the young Curtis Vikings are hoping to end up in the picture.
NO. 44: PROSSER MUSTANGS (2A)
Bringing back nearly 20 starters on both sides of the ball would be good news for any team — especially a Prosser team that made the 2A Quarterfinals last year.
NO. 43: SEATTLE PREP PANTHER (3A)
Many starters are returning this year, but the 3A Metro League will, as always, be a slugfest with teams like Eastside Catholic, Garfield, O’Dea and Rainier Beach.
NO. 42: METPANTHER (3A)
The Panthers have made progress and a 3-6 record last year doesn’t accurately reflect how close some of those games were.
NO. 41: MIDDLE VALLEY BEARS (4A)
Gone is a record-breaking quarterback, but there are returning up-and-coming players looking to make their mark in the Bears’ program.
NO. 40: KELSO HILANDER (3A)
The best way to see where your team is is by playing against the top teams, and that’s what Kelso does early in the season.
NO. 39: MOUNT SPOKANE WILDCATS (3A)
Last season’s state quarterfinalists will look to the speed of three track state champions to bring them back into the postseason.
NO. 38: KAMIAKIN BRAVES (4A)
After coming so close in 2021, the Braves plan to capitalize on the momentum of last year’s state semifinal appearance and championship title.
NO. 37: FEDERAL EAGLE (4A)
It’s a no-fly zone on Federal Way with an impressive defensive backfield that makes it difficult for any team to throw the ball against the Eagles.
NO. 36: ROYAL KNIGHTS (1A)
Lots of turnover from last season’s state champions roster, but the Knights have a long history of not having trouble with that.
NO. 35: UNION TITANS (4A)
The Titans have their starting quarterback in Tyson Fuehrer and are hoping for a certain consistency with him in that position – which was lacking last season.
NO. 34: WOODINVILLE FALCONS (4A)
Woodinville coach Wayne Maxwell and the rest of the Falcons will be looking for a cleaner game this season to get the program back to where it’s used to.
NO. 33: EATONVILLE CRUISE (1A)
The Cruisers are going into this season as one of the top favorites, aiming to recover from last year’s state title game loss.
NO. 32: SPANAWAY LAKE GUARDIAN (3A)
If Oklahoma can sign Jasiah Wagoner, stay healthy, and the Sentinels fill in some gaps, you can expect to see them as a force in the playoffs.
NO. 31: TUMWATER THUNDERBIRD (2A)
Tumwater is used to losing a big senior class every year, but what the Thunderbirds aren’t used to is a small senior class coming back.
NO. 30: SEAHAWKS PENINSULA (3A)
Seahawks were hoping for a deeper postseason after an unbeaten 3A South Sound Conference record ended in a first-round playoff elimination last year.
NO. 29: NORTH KITSAP VIKINGS (2A)
Gone is All-State QB Colton Bower, but the Vikings are bringing back a total of 15 starters from last year’s team who could easily have been in the state title game.
NO. 28: CHIAWANA RIVERHAWS (4A)
The Riverhawks will have a new signal caller for the first time in four years, with DJ Duran taking over and hoping to take the team further than the district round.
NO. 27: STANWOOD SPARTAN (3A)
Some key milestones were knocked off last season, and the Spartans are looking for more this year under sophomore head coach Jeff Scoma.
NO. 26: MOUNTAIN VIEW THUNDER (3A)
The Thunder have plenty of talent and experience, having returned from last year’s roster to make a splash in the 3A Greater St Helens League.
NO. 25: PUYALLUP VIKINGS (4A)
To continue his streak of playoff appearances, Puyallup will be relying on a talented receiving group to navigate the 4A South Puget Sound League.
NO. 24: EMERALD RIDGE JAGUAR (4A)
This could be the year Emerald Ridge finally makes its debut in the state playoffs, with talented quarterback Jake Schakel leading the offense.
NO. 23: MOUNT SI WILDCATS (4A)
Some new faces on the coaching staff will be on the sidelines for Mount Si this fall, but that doesn’t make the Wildcats any less dangerous than in previous years.
NO. 22: GARFIELD BULLDOGS (3A)
Surprising many, but not themselves, with a district playoff win over Ferndale last year, and the Bulldogs have all the confidence and talent to shake up the 3A Metro.
NO. 21: MONROE BEARCATS (3A)
The Bearcats enter the 2022 season with full confidence that quarterback Blake Springer will give them another division title.
NO. 20: KENNEDY CATHOLIC LANCERS (4A)
An early exit after last year’s season has the Lancers and their senior executives poised to show it was a fluke.
NO. 19: RAINY BEACH VIKINGS (3A)
As a state quarterfinalist in 2021, the Vikings believe they have the right pieces to make it even further this year.
NO. 18: RICHLAND BOMBER (4A)
Bombers must face off against rivals Kamiakin and Kennewick if they are to regain dominance in the league.
NO. 17: FERNDALE GOLDEN EAGLE (3A)
The 2021 Wesco North champion knows a lot of things played into his early playoff exit and Ferndale is hoping for a healthy 2022.
NO. 16: SEEN LANCERS (3A)
Lakes’ offense will likely cause problems for anyone facing the Lancers this year as they appear to be 3A contenders.
NO. 15: EASTLAKE WOLVES (4A)
Can the wolves do it again? A trip to the state semifinals last year was spearheaded by a top-ranked team, but only six starters are back.
NO. 14: KENNEWICK LIONS (3A)
As runners-up in 2021, the Lions have the potential for another deep playoff run with new quarterback Andre Breedlove at center.
NO. 13: GONZAGA PREPARATORY BULLPUPS (4A)
Though Ryan McKenna has graduated, Gonzaga Prep is bringing back nine starters for an offense that could devastate teams.
NO. 12: LINCOLN ABES (3A)
Most teams would be in decent shape if they had the best quarterback in the state, and the Abes signed just that in Missouri on Gabarri Johnson.
NO. 11: CAMAS PAPER MAKER (4A)
Camas didn’t blink when they started 0-4 last season, so expect the Papermakers to be ready for whatever the 2022 season throws at them.
NO. 10: LYNDEN LIONS (2A)
Perhaps no coach has it better than Blake VanDalen, who heads into 2022 with 14 starters from last year’s state champion team.
NO. 9: BOTHELL PUMAS (4A)
The biggest question mark the Cougars have is quarterback position, but if they can figure it out, they’ll be one to beat.
NO. 8: EASTSIDE CATHOLIC CRUSADERS (3A)
The defending 3A Metro League champions will be turning to younger boys to help the team put in another playoff run.
NO. 7: SUMMER SPARTANS (4A)
The pieces are in place for the Spartans to take first place in the 4A South Puget Sound League this fall.
NO. 6: GLACIER SUMMIT GRIZZLIES (4A)
Everything is there for the Grizzlies this season, they just have to perform as one of the most talented teams in the state.
NO. 5: GRAHAM KAPOWSIN EAGLE (4A)
The Eagles have a new coach, quarterback and just about everything else as they head into the new season and defend last year’s state championship.
NO. 4: O’DEA FIGHTS IRISH (3A)
One of the top running recruits in the Class of 2024, Jason Brown gives great confidence to the entire O’Dea team as they return for the postseason.
NO. 3: YELM TORNADOS (3A)
The time is now for Yelm, as the tornadoes are poised to finally turn all the hype into results this year.
NO. 2: LAKE STEVENS VIKINGS (4A)
The team to beat with Notre Dame this year sign Jayden Limar, who rules the backfield for the Vikings.
NO. 1: BELLEVUE WOLVERINE (3A)
A familiar face at the top of the 3A classification, the Wolverines returned with a 14-0 record en route to victory.
