Players to watch

Austin Hall, Kamiak, RB

According to Kamiak head coach Dan Mack, it can be difficult to pick Austin Hall out of the huddle.

“You wouldn’t know if Austin was the leading rusher for us last year or the paperboy,” Mack said. “He’s a humble, hard working, intelligent young man. He’s an absolute joy to coach.”

Just wait until Kamiak reaches the red zone, then it’s easy to spot Hall. He’ll be the one carrying the ball over and over again,

“He’s going to have a monster year,” Mack said. “We’re really excited for him.”

Last year, Hall battled a sprained ankle going into the season and was slowed by it. Of course, the then-junior went on to rush for 1,673 yards and 21 touchdowns.

“Austin is healthy this year,” Mack said. “He’s quick and he’s ready to go.”

That should scare every defense on Kamiak’s schedule.

Kamiak lost All-Area center Ian Hughes to graduation but returns a lot of talent along the offensive line, including Riley Briggs-Thomas, Oleg Avramenko and Jacob Meuse. If they stay healthy, the members of that line should be blowing open holes for Hall all season and giving the Knights back a shot at eclipsing the 2,000-yard mark.

In a competitive 4A South, Kamiak will lean heavily on Hall, which is fine with him.

“Honestly, I like that more,” he said. “It makes the games more competitive, more interesting, more fun. And it’s not like we’re nervous about it. We know that if we prepare like we always do, we’ll be fine. We’re not worried about that at all.”

Other players to watch

Trey Robinson, Jackson, WR/DB

The senior is fast and has big-play potential every time he touches the ball — whether on offense or defense.

Randin Crecelius, Cascade, OL/DL

Crecelius, a first-team Wesco 4A South offensive and defensive lineman a year ago, can be dominating and will be counted on to lead the Bruins both on and off the field.

Joshua Williamson, Mariner, RB/DB

Williamson, a senior, had a strong junior campaign, rushing for 1,139 yards and 20 touchdowns, and now finds himself the main ballcarrier in a run-first Mariner offense.

Isaiah Holmes, Lynnwood, OL/DL

The 6-foot-3, 250-pound, athletic defensive end is looking to cause all kinds of trouble in opponents’ backfields this season.

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