Mead Panthers: 2019 Washington high school 4A football preview

Here is an inside look at the 2019 Mead Panthers football team. Links: Mead team page | 2019 schedule | Roster 2018 IN REVIEW 7-4 in 4A Greater Spokane League

Here is an inside look at the 2019 Mead Panthers football team.

Links: Mead team page | 2019 schedule | Roster

2018 IN REVIEW

7-4 in 4A Greater Spokane League (second place); lost to Graham-Kapowsin in 4A first round

COACHING RESUME

Benji Sonnichsen, fifth season

25-17 record

RETURNING STARTERS

Offense - 6. Defense - 4.

TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS

QB Ryan Blair, 6-0, 180, sr.

OL Tyler Cook, 6-2, 230, sr.

OL Josh Huffman, 6-3, 285, jr.

RB Caleb Shawen, 6-0, 200, jr.

WR Keli’i Zalopany, 6-3, 175, sr.

TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYERS

DL Josh Huffman, 6-3, 285, jr.

LB Cayden Miller, 6-0, 200, sr.

LB Caleb Shawen, 6-0, 200, jr.

DL Ben Voigtlaender, 6-2, 245, sr.

DB Keli’i Zalopany, 6-3, 175, sr.

THREE TO SEE

Ryan Blair, quarterback

Set Mead’s single-season completion percentage record (72.0) as a junior

Cayden Miller, linebacker

Front seven is defense’s strength, and this guy as tough as nails

Ben Voigtlaender, defensive lineman

GSL defensive MVP had little preseason fanfare before sack spree

OUTLOOK

Four GSL programs have reached the 4A title game. Are the Panthers ready to make it a fifth?

They are trending in that direction, and are the most complete team in Spokane’s biggest league, led by Blair (2,098 passing yards, 29 TDs), who quietly has established himself as one of the most accurate passers in the state. This summer, he was the MVP at the Boise State camp.

And as good as Miller and Shawan are in the linebacking corps, the biggest headache for opposing coaches is finding how to slow down Voigtlaender, the best defensive player in the league. He shows no mercy in rushing the quarterback.

2019 SCHEDULE

Sept 6: Post Falls (ID), 6 p.m.

Sept. 13: at Coeur d’Alene (ID), 7 p.m.

Sept. 19: at Lewis and Clark, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 27: Mount Spokane, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 4: at Gonzaga Prep, 7 p.m.

Oct. 11: at Marina (CA), 6 p.m.

Oct. 18: Central Valley, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 24: University, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 1: Ferris, 5 p.m.