Woodinville Falcons: 2019 Washington high school 4A football preview

Here is an inside look at the 2019 Woodinville Falcons football team. Links: Woodinville team page | 2019 schedule | Roster 2018 IN REVIEW 11-2 in 4A KingCo

Here is an inside look at the 2019 Woodinville Falcons football team.

Links: Woodinville team page | 2019 schedule | Roster

2018 IN REVIEW

11-2 in 4A KingCo Crown (first place); lost to Lake Stevens in 4A semifinals

COACHING RESUME

Wayne Maxwell, 16th season

120-49 record

RETURNING STARTERS

Offense - 6. Defense - 5.

TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS

RB Joey Johnson, 5-8, 175, sr.

OL Nathan Metz, 6-4, 165, sr.

OL Levi Rogers, 6-5, 275, sr.

WR/KR Cage Schenk, 5-9, 165, sr.

QB Noah Stifle, 6-0, 165, sr.

TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYERS

DL Nate Dixon, 6-0, 230, sr.

DB Blake Glessner, 6-2, 160, sr.

DB Cage Schenk, 5-9, 165, sr.

DL Carter Smith, 6-1, 225, sr.

DB Josh Spencer, 6-0, 175, sr.

THREE TO SEE

Joey Johnson, running back

Every defensive-minded head coach covets tough tailbacks -- and here he runs

Levi Rogers, offensive lineman

State’s top senior lineman (numerous FBS offers) playing in Hall of Fame World Bowl

Cage Schenk, all-purpose

Accomplished rare trifecta last season -- was all-league first teamer in all three phases

OUTLOOK

You don’t win three consecutive 4A KingCo titles by accident, and the Falcons -- who are coming off a state runner-up finish in 2017, followed by a run to the state semifinals last season -- might now have their best shot to win it all.

What separates Woodinville from the other league contenders is its combination of size and athleticism along the offensive line, led by Rogers, the starting left tackle who has offers from more than half the Pac-12 schools, as well as fellow seniors Metz and Matt Harvey.

Coach Maxwell likes to run the football, and has a good back in Johnson, the league’s leading rusher in 2018. Stifle will also get his yards on designed runs -- with all of this setting up the splash-play downfield shots to Schenk.

But the trademark of all of these quality Woodinville teams has been defense, which Maxwell has been the mastermind behind with an aggressive yet fundamentally-sound scheme.

Throw in Glessner’s booming kicking leg (as well as being a solid cornerback), and a case can be made that the Falcons are not only the most complete team in 4A Kingco, but also in Washington.

2019 SCHEDULE

Sept. 6: at Balboa (CA), 4 p.m.

Sept. 13: at Monroe, 7 p.m.

Sept. 20: at Edmonds-Woodway, 5 p.m.

Sept. 28: Mount Si, 7 p.m.

Oct. 4: Redmond, 7 p.m.

Oct. 11: at Bothell, 7 p.m.

Oct. 17: Inglemoor, 7 p.m.

Oct. 24: at North Creek, 7 p.m.