5 Washington high school football predictions we got wrong in 2023
In August, SBLive WA published stories with predicted order of finishes for the top five classifications (Class 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A, 2B) in Washington high school football.
A few were spot-on.
Plenty were way off base.
Here are SBLive WA's five worse screw-ups on 2023 preseason forecasts (listed by descending classification):
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DECATUR GATORS (4A)
Photo by Vince Miller
Predicted order of finish in 4A NPSL: Last place out of seven teams.
Reason for pick: Over previous 10 seasons, had no more than one win six times.
Current win-loss record: 7-1.
Likely finish with one week to go: Locked up No. 2 spot behind Kennedy Catholic.
What happened: Like many programs after the pandemic, the Gators - who went 5-5 in 2019 - the Gators had "to rebuild things and start from scratch," coach Matt Vaeena said. And in that spring 2021 season, Decatur took its lumps with playing a lot of ninth graders. "We felt at the end of last year, we under-performed," Vaeena said. "When we hit that point where you needed to make a play to win or you slide, we did not have the experience to do it." But now? They are all grown up, and have paved the way for a junior and sophomore class. Renewed offseason commitment, especially in the weight room, helped solidify brotherhood. By March, players were talking about making their first push to the playoffs. And that confidence carried over to the field, led by senior Isaia Tagaloa and junior Nehemiah Washington, who have powered the team's rushing attack. "They've just started to believe," Vaeena said.
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MERCER ISLAND ISLANDERS (3A)
Photo by Linda Kercher
Predicted order of finish in 3A KingCo: Last place out of seven teams.
Reason for pick: Winless in 2022.
Current win-loss record: 6-2
Likely finish with one week to go: No worse than third place; would be No. 2 with win against Juanita on Friday.
What happened: When DJ Mims was hired as the Mercer Island football coach in 2022, he quickly discovered what he was up against: Success in other boys sports. Lacrosse is big. And the Islanders had just captured Class 3A titles in baseball, soccer, swimming and golf. "Football was at the bottom of the barrel," Mims said, "because all the other sports were having so much success." Well, the ex-Life Christian coach decided to help football join the party. After having a turbulent first season, Mercer Island retuned a majority of its roster this fall, regained full health to key performers, including quarterback Spencer Kornblum - and started winning. Most impressively, they have won four 3A KingCo games by 10 points or fewer, including two of them by one score. "At 0-10 (in 2022), they knew how to lose. Now they are learning how to win," Mims said. "It's a testament to the bond, brotherhood and trust they have with the guy next to them."
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RIDGELINE FALCONS (3A)
Photo by Erik Smith
Predicted order of finish in 3A Greater Spokane League: Fourth place out of six teams.
Reason for pick: Won just four games total in first two seasons.
Current win-loss record: 6-2.
Likely finish with one week to go: Locked up No. 2 spot behind Mount Spokane - and first playoff berth in school history.
What happened: It's tough being the new kid, especially in a historically-strong league such as the GSL. And for Ridgeline's first two seasons playing not-ready-for-prime-time underclassmen, the Falcons took their lumps. But to coach David Myers' credit, the road to success never got fuzzy. "We told the kids to focus on the future," Myers said. "And we were fortunate they bought in. Even in the second year, when we faced some challenges at the beginning as we tried to find our identity offensively, they stuck with it." One of the keys this season was the coaching staff's decision to start Landon Garner at quarterback as a sophomore in 2022. And in his first varsity start, he threw for 9 yards. But now, he is one of the GSL's top passers - protected by an all-junior offensive line and flanked by wide receiver Brayden Allen, also a junior. And on defense, the Falcons start seven seniors. "They are tough and experienced because they've been playing varsity football the past two years against older kids," Myers said. "Now they are playing against kids their own age."
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ORTING CARDINALS (2A)
Photo by Vince Miller
Predicted order of finish in 2A SPSL: Sixth place out of nine teams.
Reason for pick: Won three games last fall and graduated QB Mason McCall.
.Current win-loss record: 7-1
Likely finish with one week to go: Locked up No. 2 spot behind Enumclaw.
What happened: It was understood that behind favored Enumclaw heading into the fall season, anything could happen in the 2A SPSL. And while other contenders (Steilacoom, Washington, Fife, Franklin Pierce) had their ups-and-downs, the Cardinals - with 14 returning starters - have been rock-solid. "Last year, we were splintered and not team-focused," Orting coach Tom Bannan said. "This year's team is more focused on 'We' over 'Me.'" And while other programs in the league have college-bound headliners leading the way, the Cardinals are winning with a collective mentality. If they had a standout, it would likely be workhorse running back Carson McCall, who is tough to bring don in the team's Pistol Wing-T offense. Bannan noted this is the best offensive line the team has had during his five seasons, led by center Lane Thomas (and not surprisingly, four of them are part of school's championship wrestling program). "Our guys found a way to come together and are playing so much better as a group," Bannan said.
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NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN OF COLBERT CRUSADERS (2B)
Photo courtesy of Northwest Christian athletics
Predicted order of finish in 2B Northeast: Fifth place out of eight teams.
Reason for pick: Enchanted by other league contenders' proven skill-position talent.
Current win-loss record: 8-0.
Likely finish with one week to go: Clinched league championship and high state-playoff seed.
What happened: In all seriousness, the 2B Northeast was one of the more difficult leagues to handicap (outside of Lind-Ritzville/Sprague/Washtucna being the favorite) by coaches. Anything could happen, they said. Well, it did - even at the top as Northwest Christian has stormed the field with largely a group of experienced seniors and juniors. "We handled some adversity early," Crusaders coach Marshall Hart said.
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Five others worth mentioning: Eastlake (picked fourth, finishing No. 1 in 4A KingCo); Ephrata (picked fourth, tied for first in 2A CWAC); Hudson's Bay (picked sixth, tied for third in 2A GSHL); Granite Falls (picked fourth; finishing second in 1A Emerald Sound); Klahowya (picked sixth and last place; finishing third in 1A Nisqually).
(Featured photo by Linda Kercher)
