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 (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.