It was a good 2025 fall season for quarterbacks around the state.

Four  of the six crowned WIAA champions were led by senior signal callers.  Five others guided their respective teams to a spot in Gridiron Classic,  losing in the finals.

Some other quarterbacks set program records or earned all-state nods. One set a new passing touchdown record.

But they have moved on.

Here are 10 first-time starting quarterbacks who are replacing those departed seniors — and have big shoes to fill:

Cashmere (1A)

Who started in 2025: Rylan Hatmaker

Projected new starter: Mac Carlson, jr.

Skinny:  A three-sport standout, Carlson got plenty of mop-up time in blowouts  behind the school’s all-time passing leader on varsity while throwing 24  touchdowns on junior varsity. Carlson has a bigger frame, and while he  might not be as twitchy as Hatmaker, he will still have a run presence  in Bulldogs’ run-pass option (RPO) look.

East Valley (2A)

Who started in 2025: Jaxon Berg

Projected new starter: Liam Peterson, soph.

Skinny:  It’s almost like starting over for the Red Devils, who graduated 19 of  22 starters from their 2A semifinals team. Coaches are excited about the  next three seasons featuring the strong arm of Peterson, who was a  starting third baseman on the varsity baseball team. He’s nimble enough  to be a rollout-pass threat.

Freeman (2B)

Who started in 2025: Logan Schultz

Projected new starter: Clay Van Gemert, soph.

Skinny:  After riding the dual-threat magic of Schultz, the team’s all-state 2B  performer, the Scotties will ask Van Gemert to play more point guard — a  quick passing-game distributor to a good supporting cast in  intermediate areas — than being the all-star. Down the road, Van Gemert  could turn into another bona fide playmaker.

Gonzaga Prep (4A)

Who started in 2025: Sam Kincaid

Projected new starter: Andrew Yarno, sr.

Skinny:  There was a time Gonzaga Prep coaches thought Yarno — and not Kincaid —  would be the long-range starter. But Kincaid won the job after the two  split time early in 2024, and Yarno then focused more on defense. This  fall, it’s Yarno’s job — and he should have a bigger run presence in  Bullpups’ triple option, but also sports a big arm.

Lynden Christian (1A)

Who started in 2025: Eli Maberry

Projected new starter: Dawson Hintz, sr.

Skinny:  One of the school’s best athletes will shift over from receiver and  start at quarterback in 2026. And the Lyncs will give him the freedom to  be a playmaker, especially on scramble and designed runs. This summer,  after seeing Hintz in passing situations, coaches are more convinced the  teenager can be a true dual threat.

Moses Lake (4A)

Who started in 2025: Brady Jay

Projected new starter: Nolan Decubber, jr. and/or Jacoby DeLeon, jr.

Skinny:  Can anyone really replace the state’s single-season passing touchdowns  record-setter (72)? Probably not. So, the Mavericks might deploy a  dual-quarterback system this fall with the pocket-passing DeLeon and  run-oriented Decubber, who was Jay’s direct backup a year ago but also  played wide receiver.

Mount Tahoma (3A)

Who started in 2025: Mikkah Cordero

Projected new starter: Shawn Sione, soph.

Skinny:  The reigning 3A runner-up got an offseason gift with Sione moving in  from Grovetown High School in Georgia, where he saw varsity action as a  ninth grader. He easily has the strongest arm on the team, and will  provide a big-play downfield element to the offense — especially looking  for wide receiver Xavier Harris.

O’Dea (3A)

Who started in 2025: Hutton Leverett

Projected new starter: Allias Moimoi, soph.

Skinny:  Based on what he did coming in to replace the injured Leverett early  last season, and his postseason playmaking ability as a change-of-pace  signal caller — especially as a runner — Moimoi has a chance to be one  of the all-time O’Dea greats under longtime coach Monte Kohler. He has  special dual-threat skills.

Sehome (2A)

Who started in 2025: Nolan Wright

Projected new starter: Jadden Geiger, jr.

Skinny:  Talk about thrown into the fire. After Wright was sidelined by injury,  Geiger made his first start in 2025 against eventual state champion  Archbishop Murphy. And he called his own red-zone play, throwing a  touchdown — and showing coaches he can read defenses. Also a baseball  pitcher, Geiger should throw darts from the pocket.

Seton Catholic (1A)

Who started in 2025: Kolten Gesser

Projected new starter: Undetermined in three-way battle

Skinny:  The Cougars enter a new era after Gesser’s prolific four-year run,  putting up gobs of yards and touchdowns in leading the program to its  only WIAA title-game appearance in 2024. Sophomore Asher LaPointe, who  is a pitcher on the baseball team, has seen mop-up playing time on  varsity, and was No. 2 in attempts.

Sumner (4A)

Who started in 2025: Nate Donavan

Projected new starter: Brennan Abbott, jr.

Skinny: After a two-year wait behind Donavan, who led the Spartans to back-to-back 4A championships, it’s now Abbott’s turn.  And coaches are not only excited about the junior’s ability to make  throws on the run, but his ability to call his own number in the run  game as well. He should become a Keith Ross-favorite.

Editor’s note: This game story was originally published by content-sharing partner VarsityWA, founded by journalists Todd Milles and Lauren Smith. Milles and Smith bring nearly 40 years of sportswriting experience — much of it at The News Tribune in Tacoma (while Todd also spent six years at SBLive Washington). Support that venture at VarsityWA.