Mark Morris Monarchs: 2019 Washington high school 2A football preview

Here's an inside look at the 2A Mark Morris Monarchs. Links: Mark Morris team page | 2019 schedule |Roster 2018 IN REVIEW 4-5 overall, 2-4 in 2A Greater St.

Andy Buhler, SBLive Sports | Aug 19, 2019

Mark Morris Monarchs: 2019 Washington high school 2A football preview /

Here's an inside look at the 2A Mark Morris Monarchs.

Links: Mark Morris team page | 2019 schedule |Roster

2018 IN REVIEW

4-5 overall, 2-4 in 2A Greater St. Helens League (fifth place)

COACHING RESUME

Shawn Perkins, 17th season

88-111 record

RETURNING STARTERS

Offense - 3. Defense - 4.

TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS

WR Jack Shipley 6-4, 180, Sr.

WR Jamison Watson 6-3, 175, Jr.

RB Timur Varichev 5-10, 175, Sr.

OL Michael McNeil 6-4, 220, Jr.

OL Sonny Harris 6-1, 295, Sr.

TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYERS

DL Marco Valdivia, 6-1, 200, Sr.

LB Keoni Makaiwi, 5-8, 180, Sr.

DT Andrew Hoyt 6-2, 275, Sr.

DB Braden Chapman (sp) 5-6, 160, Sr.

DB Cole Bush 6-0, 180, Sr.

THREE TO SEE

Cole Bush, quarterback

Competitive, smart pocket passer. Started two games last year for the Monarchs.

Keoni Makaiwi, running back/linebacker

Returning starter. Faster, stronger than last season. Will be a vocal leader.

Jack Shipley, wide receiver

Good length, good body control and deceptively fast. Team’s top target out wide.

OUTLOOK

Mark Morris is a young team with several key starters bacl. The Monarchs enter the 2A Greater St. Helens League, of which Hockinson is the clear preseason favorite, with their eyes on the four spot.

Jack Shipley, a 6-4 wideout, returns as the team’s top target for quarterback Cole Bush, who started two games last year and is faced with the task of taking the reins of the offense. And the defense will be shored up by linebacker Keoni Makaiwi, who coach Shawn Perkins says enters the season faster and stronger than last season.

The Monarchs, who finished fifth in the league last season, return seven starters and see an opening in the middle of the league. They are wary of senior-heavy Washougal and Columbia River in the second and third slots.

The question remains, will the sizable young group step up to the challenge?

2019 SCHEDULE

Sept 6: Kelso, 7 p.m.

Sept. 13: at Castle Rock, 7 p.m.

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

Sept. 27: at Ridgefield, 7 p.m.

Oct. 4: at Columbia River, 7 p.m.

Oct. 11: Hockinson, 7 p.m.

Oct. 18: Washougal, 7 p.m.

Oct. 25: at R.A. Long, 7 p.m.

Nov. 1: Woodland, 7 p.m.

*home games in bold

Published Aug 19, 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.