No. 6 Hoquiam Grizzlies: 2019 Washington high school 1A football preview

Author:
SBLive
Publish date:
Aug 16, 2019 4:33 PM EDT

By WILL HOLLAND

Hoquiam is ranked No. 6 in Scorebook Live Washington’s preseason 1A football Top 10. Here’s an inside look at the 2019 Grizzlies.

Links: Hoquiam team page | 2019 schedule

2018 IN REVIEW

10-1 overall record, 4-0 in 1A Evergreen League; lost to Lynden Christian in state quarterfinals, 45-6.

COACHING RESUME

Head coach: Jeremy McMillan, third season.

Overall record: 15-5

Coordinators: Jeremy McMillan (OC); Cameron Parker (DC)

Base schemes: West coast offense, 3-5 defense.

RETURNING

Offense - 5. Defense - 6.

TOP RETURNERS

FB/LB Matt Brown, 6-3, 260, Sr.

WR/DB Dane McMillan, 5-10, 155, Jr.

RB/OLB Ben Estes, 5-10, 150, Sr.

WR/DB Rayvon Dayton, 6-6, 200, Jr.

OL/DL Nick Grossi, 5-11, 210, Sr.

THREE TO SEE

FB/LB Matt Brown, 6-3, 260, Sr.

Brown is the reigning all-league defensive MVP. As a junior, the 260-pound linebacker made over 100 tackles and lead one of the best defenses in the state. Brown should anchor a defense that lost a few key players.

RB/OLB Ben Estes, 5-10, 150, Sr.

Returns this season as yet another valuable piece to the defense. He started at outside linebacker last year, receiving honorable mention all-league honors for his efforts. He’ll also return as a much-needed veteran to the offense, which loses its league MVP in QB Payton Quntanilla.

WR/DB Dane McMillan, 5-10, 155, Jr.

Received first team all-league offense honors last year, and will be a bright spot for a Hoquiam offense that loses a lot of talent.

OUTLOOK

Hoquiam has made the playoffs eight times in the last 9 years, but hasn’t gone beyond the state quarterfinals since their state championship run in 1975. In 2018, the Grizzlies lost to Lynden Christian in the state quarterfinals. But the Grizzlies boasted a 4-0 in-league record, which was enough to win them another 1A Evergreen League title. They also sent six players to the all-league first team list, with four honorable mentions and an all-state selection in graduate DB Jackson Folkers. This year, the Grizzlies return their league defensive MVP linebacker in senior Matt Brown, who is primed for another big year in the Grizzlies’ scheme. They also return a multitude of guys on both sides of the ball who saw significant minutes in 2018, which should allow for coach McMillan to add some new complexities to the playbook. They have some pretty good competition in their league again this year, but they should be able to repeat their league title performance if they can stay healthy.