Garfield Bulldogs: 2019 Washington high school 3A football preview

Here is an inside look at the 2019 Garfield Bulldogs football team. Links: Garfield team page | 2019 schedule | Roster 2018 IN REVIEW 3-7 overall, 1-4 3A Metro

Andy Buhler, SBLive Sports | Aug 30, 2019

Garfield Bulldogs: 2019 Washington high school 3A football preview /

Here is an inside look at the 2019 Garfield Bulldogs football team.

Links: Garfield team page | 2019 schedule | Roster

2018 IN REVIEW

3-7 overall, 1-4 3A Metro League Mountain (fifth place).

COACHING RESUME

Reggie Witherspoon, first season (two years as assistant coach)

RETURNING STARTERS

Offense - 9. Defense - 8.

TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS

QB Javon Tade 6-4, 195,

RB Avery Morrow 6-1, 215,

WR Tierre Monroe 6-3, 180,

WR/RB Leon Neal 5-8, 160,

OL Lofiafou Kamoto 6-0, 350,

TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYERS

DT Antwan Brown 6-3, 275,

LB Devin Gates 5-8, 180,

DT Quintavion Johnson 6-2, 280

DB Jaden Mills-Beach 5-9, 191

DB Jahmal Smith 5-9, 175,

THREE TO SEE

Avery Morrow, running back

Powerback who suffered a season-ending injury three games into last season. Second team all-league selection. Nevada commit.

Javon Tade, quarterback

Second team all-Metro League selection at quarterback last season. Pro-style quarterback with solid size.

Jaden Mills-Beach, defensive back

Garfield’s lockdown defensive back is a three-star recruit, according to recruiting site 247 Sports.

OUTLOOK

Garfield might have lost the highest-touted player to ever come through its football program when Sav’ell Smalls transferred to Kennedy Catholic for his senior season. But the Bulldogs are positioned to take a step forward in 2019.

In addition to returning 17 starters, Garfield welcomes back running back Avery Morrow, a power back committed to Nevada, who suffered a season-ending injury in week three as a junior. The Bulldogs’ success hinges upon the team — and quarterback Javon Tade — finding creative ways to get Morrow the ball.

The Bulldogs are led by first-year head coach Reggie Witherspoon, who must find a way to get them back to the state playoffs for the first time three seasons.

2019 SCHEDULE

Sept 6: at Interlake, 7 p.m.

Sept. 14: at Central Valley, 1 p.m.

Sept. 20: at Bellevue, 7 p.m.

Sept. 27: at Seattle Prep 7 p.m.

Oct. 4: Eastside Catholic, 7:45 p.m.

Oct. 11: Rainier Beach, 5 p.m.

Oct. 18: Bishop Blanchet, 5 p.m.

Oct. 25: at O’Dea, 7 p.m.

*home games in bold

Published Aug 30, 2019

ANDY BUHLER, SBLIVE SPORTS

Andy Buhler is a Regional Editor of Texas and the national breaking news desk. He brings more than five years of experience covering high school sports across the state of Washington and beyond, where he covered the likes of Paolo Banchero and Tari Eason served on state tournament seeding committees. He works on the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national boys basketball rankings. He has covered everything from the Final Four, MLS in Atlanta to local velodrome before diving into the world of preps. His bylines can be found in The News Tribune (Tacoma, Washington), The Associated Press, The Columbian (Vancouver, Washington), The Oregonian and more. He holds a degree from Gonzaga and is based out of Portland, Oregon.