10 best candidates to lead Washington high school football in rushing in 2023
Some of the state's top rushers in Washington high school football are big, bruising runners who carry defenders in between the tackles. Others are defined by their speed and ability to get outside on the edge to make big plays.
So, which running back will lead the state in rushing this fall?
After talking to coaches around the state, SBLive WA came up with 10 best-bet candidates in 11-man football (4A-2B) to land on top of the list (players listed in alphabetical order):
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BROCK BEANER, Anacortes, 6-1, 185, jr. (2A)
Photo by Todd Milles
Typically, there are speed backs and power backs. Beaner is a rare combination of both traits. He has track speed with a laser-timed 4.47 in the 40-yard dash. But at his size, he runs with power and aggression between the tackles. He loves contact but if there’s even the slightest opening, very few players in the state can run with him. In addition, he can block and is one of the hardest working players in the program.
2022 results: 167 carries, 1,308 yards, 19 TDs.
Why he’ll lead the state in rushing: "There’s no secret that our offense is loaded with weapons," former Anacortes coach Justin Portz said. "Defenses will have to choose how they want to defend us and if we get a light box then Brock and our O-line are going to have a big day. He doesn’t need many touches to put up big numbers."
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JASON BROWN, O’Dea, 5-9, 190, sr. (3A)
Photo by Vince Miller
The state's top senior backfield prospect possesses everything you'd want in a running back. He’s smart, quick, has good vision, a second gear when he finds daylight and a wiggle to his style that helps him elude tacklers. From the moment he walked on campus, coaches saw something special in him. As a ninth grader, Brown was put at running back and he hasn't looked back. He draws inevitable comparisons to one of his idols, Myles Gaskin, the former Irish standout who is in the NFL.
2022 results: 209 carries, 1,600 yards, 21 TDs.
Why he’ll lead the state in rushing: "He is a great back that plays hard every snap," O'Dea coach Monte Kohler said. "He want to be on the field every down."
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NAVARRE DIXON, Emerald Ridge, 5-10, 195, sr. (4A)
Photo by Vince Miller
The transfer from Lincoln of Tacoma had a nice year for the Abes as a junior as a running mate with Missouri-bound quarterback Gabarri Johnson. Dixon has the size and speed to eat up yards - if he gets enough carries in Emerald Ridge's pass-happy offense, led by all-state quarterback Jake Schakel. But when they do go to the ground game, Dixon will be a bruising, elusive, tough runner to bring down.
2022 results: 129 carries, 896 yards, 13 TDs.
Why he’ll lead the state in rushing: "To know him, how driven he is - that’s the X-factor," Emerald Ridge coach Adam Schakel said. "Obviously, we’re going to feed him the rock. We have a lot of good players but having a strong running game really helps."
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ZAVEON JONES, Mountlake Terrace, 6-2, 225, sr. (3A)
Photo courtesy of MLT News
In addition to his size, Jones possesses exceptional vision. That ability to see the hole sometimes before it even opens completely often leads to big gainers. Because he anticipates that, Jones also displays patience and great balance while running in between the tackles. To that bruising mentality, Jones has also added a little extra "burst" to his speed in the offseason.
2022 results: 219 carries, 1,448 yards, 20 TDs.
Why he’ll lead the state in rushing: "Because we are returning five starters on our offensive line," Mountlake Terrace coach Archie Malloy said. "Those five guys and Zaveon are also entering their third year in our offense. and are becoming more instinctive with what we are doing in our run game."
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ANTOINE LEE, Kentwood, 5-10, 195, jr. (4A)
Photo by Todd Milles
Lee is humble, hard-working and consistent. He is a power back with the moves of a scatback. His contact, balance and vision are second to none, and it usually takes multiple players to bring him down. When surrounded, Lee still finds or creates lanes to explode through. And he spent the offseason getting faster, which has allowed him to use his explosive power to turn plays into monster runs due to his increased top-end acceleration.
2022 results: 231 carries, 1,480 yards, 11 TDs.
Why he’ll lead the state in rushing: "He is the centerpiece of the offense," Kentwood coach Matt Roth said. "He will be given every opportunity to touch the ball 20 times a game."
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COLTON LENTZ, Nooksack Valley, 6-2, 210, jr. (1A)
Lentz is building himself a resume. He was an all-state selection as a sophomore after leading the charge for the Pioneers, who won a playoff game for the first time in a decade. Lentz will continue to be the focal point of the team’s running game, getting to run behind a big offensive line that averages 260-plus pounds for the preseason No. 1 team in the classification.
2022 results: 217 carries, 1,540 yards, 18 TDs.
Why he’ll lead the state in rushing: "It all happens there on the practice field," Lentz said. "Put in the work."
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TERRAN PAGE, Pullman, 5-10, 190, sr. (2A)
Photo courtesy of Pullman athletics
He may be the one guy on this list whose multi-faceted skill set actually will work against him. Page runs the football with great vision. He has a knack for finding the open lane and is smooth in his cutback ability and also has a great work ethic and puts a lot into his game during the offseason. But his touches will spread to the team's pass game on offense - and as a special-teams returner.
2022 results: 79 carries, 510 yards seven TDs.
Why he’ll lead the state in rushing: "Leading the state in rushing would be a tall task since Terran is also a weapon to catch the ball out of the back field in our offense," Pullman coach Dave Cofer said. "Combining that skill with his return possibilities in the kicking game, I could see him leading in all-purpose yards."
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GUNNAR PETERSON, Eastmont, 5-9, 180, sr. (4A)
Photo courtesy of Gunnar Peterson
His vision and accompanying ability to see things that most don't on a football field set Peterson apart. He also has a work ethic that pushes him to try and be better on every snap (and that has become contagious getting other teammates to work hard, as well). When he has the ball in his hands, the Wildcats know that good things will happen with this future program record-holder.
2022 results: 149 carries, 1,125 yards, nine TDs.
Why he’ll lead the state in rushing: "If we give him enough carries, he'll definitely be in the conversation," Eastmont coach Mike Don said. "The only thing that will hold him back from it is that everybody tries to take him away from us. Yet, he still averages eight yards a carry."
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BRAYDEN PLATT, Yelm, 6-2, 245, sr. (3A)
Photo by Vince Miller
If it seems Platt has been carrying the mail for the Tornados forever, there’s a reason: He’s a four-year starter in the backfield whose been a bruising force since he arrived on campus. With that experience, Platt’s senior year could prove his most effective. "He really knows what we are asking in this offense," Yelm coach Jason Ronquillo said. And at 245 pounds, but with the speed {11.0 seconds in the 100 meters} of a guy much smaller, opponents are surely making life decisions when they try to tackle him.
2022 results: 132 carries, 1,242 yards, 24 TDs.
Why he’ll lead the state in rushing: "If we are handing him the rock enough, he’s getting 15-25 touches a game, and our offensive line is healthy all year he’s got a shot." – Ronquillo.
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MATTHEW SPURBECK, Sumner, 5-9, 205, sr. (4A)
Photo by Vince Miller
The reigning 4A SPSL most valuable player finished just 29 yards shy of 2,000 yards, including the playoffs a year ago. He possesses above-average speed, a compact body and gets north and south in a hurry for positive yards. "People get tired of tackling him late in the game," Sumner coach Keith Ross said. That speed has improved this fall, too, as Spurbeck has gotten used to the extra weight he put on a year ago in the weight room.
2022 results: 243 carries, 1,971 yards, 21 TDs.
Why he’ll lead the state in rushing: "He will not this year," Sumner coach Keith Ross said. "We have a backup (Steele Isaacs) that we like, so they will split carries. And he’s our starting middle linebacker this season, so he won’t play as much offense."
Don’t sleep on: Brison Bailey, Mount Tahoma, sr. (3A); Ethan Blundred, Montesano, sr. (1A); Chrisvin Bonshe, Glacier Peak, sr. (4A); Jaycion Cain, Steilacoom, sr. (2A); D’Aryhian Clemons, Spanaway Lake, sr. (3A); Tristan Donnovan, Enumclaw, sr. (2A); Stephen Ibsen, Castle Rock, sr. (1A); Trey Jacob, Skyview, sr. (4A); Unterrio Latin-Henley, Washington, sr. (2A): Randall Marti, Tenino, sr. (1A); Lance McGee, Davis, soph. (4A); Sam Merriman, Bishop Blanchet, sr. (3A); Nate Moinette, Gonzaga Prep, jr. (4A); Marcus Nixon, Squalicum, jr. (2A); Dylan Norman, Eatonville, sr. (1A); Tupu Notoa, Kamiak, jr. (4A); Beau Phillips, Mount Si, sr. (4A); Beau Pruett, Monroe, jr. (3A); Steele Rico, Okanogan, jr. (2B); Alex Roberts, Kennewick, jr. (3A); Rodrigo Rodriguez, Onalaska, jr. (2B); Carson Rubin, Bellevue, sr. (3A); Thyrou Umi-Tuato’o, Auburn Riverside, sr. (3A).
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