Washington 1A Preseason Football Top 10 Rankings: Royal stands tall above the pack

The return of high school sports is on the horizon and football is up first in many leagues across Washington state after 11 months of pandemic-induced delays.

The return of high school sports is on the horizon and football is up first in many leagues across Washington state after 11 months of pandemic-induced delays.

Most leagues begin localized, league-only shortened football seasons in February or early March. No traditional state championship will take place, but that won't stop us from identifying the top teams entering the 2021 season.

MORE RANKINGS: CLASS 4A | CLASS 3A |CLASS 2A |CLASS 1A |CLASS 2B |CLASS 1B

Here are SBLive's Class 1A preseason Top 10 high school football rankings for 2020-21. The rankings were compiled by SBLive Washington reporters Todd Milles and Andy Buhler.

___________

CLASS 1A PRESEASON TOP 10

1. Royal

2019 record: 14-0 (state champion)

In 2019, we witnessed near dominance. Cooper and Caleb Christensen are back, and they’ll get the chance to duke it out with some of the top neighboring big schools.

2. Mt. Baker

2019 record: 11-2

The Mountaineers return most of its core from last season — all determined to make up for being upset in the quarterfinals in 2019.

3. La Center

2019 record: 10-2

With steady-handed Tom Lambert commanding both sides of the ball, the Wildcats could go as far as he takes them.

4. Lynden Christian

2019 record: 11-2

The Lyncs was the only team that gave Royal a game in 2019, and the 2019 runners up, anchored by versatile QB Logan Dykstra, have proven impossible to count out.

5. Deer Park

2019 record: 10-1

The Stags bring back 11 all-league selections from a team that was a touchdown shy of the state title game in 2019.

6. Montesano

2019 record: 11-1

Trace Ridgway is back under center to lead a program Terry Jensen has built into a well-oiled machine. 

7. Connell

2019 record: 10-4

The program pillar Tuttle brothers are gone, but boasting a smash mouth play-action attack, the 2019 playoff darling has plenty left in the tank. 

8. Eatonville

2019 record: 6-5 (2A)

Washington commit Caden Jumper can do anything asked of him on a football field, which puts the Cruisers in a great position in their first year down in 1A.

9. Colville

2019 record: 7-3

Senior QB Sam Anderson is back, and has a big cast of linemen — averaging 250 pounds — paving the way for him.

10. Zillah

2019 record: 8-2

Instincts and athleticism — junior QB Clay Delp boasts an impressive balance of both in his third year as a starter.