SANDY SUMMERS RUSSELL/Stat Hound contributor

1A football: Previews, predictions for every league across the state

VarsityWA previews every 1A conference with Royal looking to win its seventh straight title

By TODD MILLES/VarsityWA

Aug 27, 2026

The 2026 high school football season kicks off next week across the state of Washington. In the days leading up to Week 1 games, VarsityWA is previewing every league in the state in all six classifications.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of every league competing in the classification:

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SCAC

2026 OUTLOOK

It’s frustrating. If a school such as Cashmere or Zillah were in other leagues, they would be favorites. But in this league, it’s about how to stop six-time defending state champion Royal, which returns 13 starters, including its entire offensive backfield (Grant Wardenaar, Dax Jenks), and boasts depth along both lines.

LAST FIVE LEAGUE WINNERS

Royal, Royal, Royal, Royal, Royal

RETURNING STATE QUALIFIERS

Royal (state champion), Cashmere (state runner-up)

DID YOU KNOW?

Former Connell coach Scott Forsyth, who left the program at the end of last season, is now on the Royal staff, and has upgraded the team’s strength and conditioning program.

RETURNING ALL-STATE SELECTIONS

VarsityWA— None

WSFCA — OL Ulysses Betancourt, Cashmere, sr.; DL Grey Jacobson, Cashmere, sr.; AP Dax Jenks, Royal, sr.; K Edgar Reyna, Cashmere, jr.; DL Orlando Santillan, Royal, sr.; LB Jacoby Tait, Cashmere, jr.; DB Grant Wardenaar, Royal, sr.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH ON OFFENSE

RB Dax Jenks, Royal, sr.

RB Maverick Myers, Zillah, jr.

RB Jayce McMahon, Cashmere, soph.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH ON DEFENSE

LB RJ Curfman, Zillah, sr.

DL Grey Jacobson, Cashmere, sr.

DB Grant Wardenaar, Royal, sr.

PREDICTED STAT LEADERS

Passing — QB Grant Wardenaar, Royal, sr. (2,100 yards, 40 TDs)

Rushing — RB Jayce McMahon, Cashmere, soph. (1,400 yards, 27 TDs)

Receiving — RB Dax Jenks, Royal, sr. (1,000 yards, 11 TDs)

PREDICTED LEAGUE STANDINGS

Royal

Cashmere

Zillah

Connell

College Place

Naches Valley

Wapato

Wahluke

Kiona-Benton

PREDICTED STATE QUALIFIERS

Cashmere, Royal, Zillah

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NORTHEAST

2026 OUTLOOK

Remember a half-decade ago when Riverside was all about running the football? Well, the favored Rams are doing things differently these days. Not only do they have a dangerous perimeter pair in Cade Koesel and Javontae Chambers to feed, quarterback Luke Reedy is an efficient distributor, and is protected by a big offensive line.

LAST FIVE LEAGUE WINNERS

Colville, Colville, Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls, Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls, Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls

RETURNING STATE QUALIFIERS

None

DID YOU KNOW?

Since Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls reached the WIAA championship game in 2023, no Northeast school has made the state playoffs over the past two seasons.

RETURNING ALL-STATE SELECTIONS

VarsityWA— None

WSFCA — None

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH ON OFFENSE

QB Tanner Cummings, Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls, sr.

OL Toby Fowler, Colville, sr.

WR Cade Koesel, Riverside, jr.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH ON DEFENSE

LB Kannon “KJ” Almond, Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls, sr.

LB Gunnar Baker, Colville, jr.

LB Zach Schneider, Riverside, sr.

PREDICTED STAT LEADERS

Passing — QB Tanner Cummings, Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls, sr. (1,400 yards, 18 TDs)

Rushing — RB Baxter Phipps, Colville, sr. (1,000 yards, 21 TDs)

Receiving — WR Cade Koesel, Riverside, jr. (700 yards, 10 TDs)

PREDICTED LEAGUE STANDINGS

Riverside

Colville

Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls

Medical Lake

PREDICTED STATE QUALIFIERS

Riverside

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NWC

2026 OUTLOOK

Good programs find each other in the end — and certainly Lynden Christian and Mount Baker have had some classic encounters over the years. Both return plenty of experience — and both are breaking in new quarterbacks in Dawson Hintz for the Lyncs, and either Tyson Barksdale or Trey Galbraith for the Mountaineers.

LAST FIVE LEAGUE WINNERS

Mount Baker, Nooksack Valley, Lynden Christian, Lynden Christian/Mount Baker/Nooksack Valley, Lynden Christian

RETURNING STATE QUALIFIERS

Mount Baker (semifinals), Lynden Christian (semifinals), Nooksack Valley (first round)

DID YOU KNOW?

When the Mountaineers and Lyncs reached the final four last season, it was the first time the league sent two teams into the semifinals since 2022 (Mount Baker, Nooksack Valley).

RETURNING ALL-STATE SELECTIONS

VarsityWA— None

WSFCA — RB Chris Kooiman, Lynden Christian, sr.; DL Kell Reardon, Mount Baker, sr.; OL Kyler Sterk, Lynden Christian, sr.; LB Kaden Veldman, Lynden Christian, sr.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH ON OFFENSE

QB Trey Alexander, Meridian, sr.

RB Chris Kooiman, Lynden Christian, sr.

RB Noah Nicol-Mills, Mount Baker, sr.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH ON DEFENSE

DL Kell Reardon, Mount Baker, sr.

LB Axel Shelton, Blaine, sr.

LB Kaden Veldman, Lynden Christian, sr.

PREDICTED STAT LEADERS

Passing — QB Trey Alexander, Meridian, sr. (2,300 yards, 29 TDs)

Rushing — RB Chris Kooiman, Lynden Christian, sr. (1,500 yards, 26 TDs)

Receiving — WR Peyton Bouma, Blaine, sr. (800 yards, 14 TDs)

PREDICTED LEAGUE STANDINGS

Lynden Christian

Mount Baker

Nooksack Valley

Meridian

Blaine

PREDICTED STATE QUALIFIERS

Lynden Christian, Mount Baker

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EMERALD SOUND

2026 OUTLOOK

King’s, which saw its streak of league championship end at six years in a row, went through heavy coaching-staff changes in the offseason and graduated both quarterbacks (Colton Adams, Trey Dennison). And yet, longtime coach Jim Shapiro sees a determination with his returning group that will fuel a bounceback year.

LAST FIVE LEAGUE WINNERS

Granite Falls, King’s, King’s, King’s, King’s

RETURNING STATE QUALIFIERS

None

DID YOU KNOW?

When was the last time perennial playoff contender King’s didn’t win the league or reach the tournament in the same year?

It was 2018.

RETURNING ALL-STATE SELECTIONS

VarsityWA— None

WSFCA — None

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH ON OFFENSE

RB Beau Everson, Granite Falls, sr.

QB Tre Samuelu, Cedar Park Christian, jr.

RB Cooper Ward, King’s, sr.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH ON DEFENSE

DB Trace Defoor, Cedar Park Christian, soph.

LB Landon Gwinner, Granite Falls, sr.

DL Connor Steen, King’s, sr.

PREDICTED STAT LEADERS

Passing — QB Tre Samuelu, Cedar Park Christian, jr. (2,100 yards, 28 TDs)

Rushing — RB Beau Everson, Granite Falls, sr. (1,400 yards, 20 TDs)

Receiving — WR Daniel Binkley, King’s, sr. (800 yards, 10 TDs)

PREDICTED LEAGUE STANDINGS

King’s

Granite Falls

Cedar Park Christian

South Whidbey

PREDICTED STATE QUALIFIERS

King’s

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NISQUALLY

2026 OUTLOOK

Even though Annie Wright and East Jefferson could be threats, Cascade Christian — even after a series of player transfers — is still the squad to chase down for the league crown. The Cougars return eight starters on defense, and should lean on the all- Nisqually running back duo of Donovan Walson and Casper Appleman on offense.

LAST FIVE LEAGUE WINNERS

Life Christian, Life Christian, Cascade Christian, Cascade Christian, East Jefferson

RETURNING STATE QUALIFIERS

Life Christian (quarterfinals, not playing in 2026)

DID YOU KNOW?

After Life Christian won back-to-back league titles, coach Hershel Dennis left to take the job at Bellarmine Prep. Because the program is low on numbers, it was announced the Eagles will play a sub-varsity schedule in 2026.

RETURNING ALL-STATE SELECTIONS

VarsityWA— None

WSFCA — None

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH ON OFFENSE

RB Casper Appleman, Cascade Christian, sr.

ATH Charlie Finch, Annie Wright, sr.

RB Donovan Walson, Cascade Christian, jr.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH ON DEFENSE

DL RJ Cottingham, Klahowya, sr.

LB Asher Floyd, Cascade Christian, jr.

LB AJ McNully, Annie Wright, jr.

PREDICTED STAT LEADERS

Passing — QB Eli Weir, Annie Wright, sr. (1,200 yards, 15 TDs)

Rushing — RB Donovan Walson, Cascade Christian, jr. (1,100 yards, 14 TDs)

Receiving — WR Joaquin Wiley, Annie Wright, soph. (600 yards, seven TDs)

PREDICTED LEAGUE STANDINGS

Cascade Christian

Annie Wright

East Jefferson

Klahowya

Bellevue-Seattle Christian

PREDICTED STATE QUALIFIERS

Cascade Christian

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EVERGREEN

2026 OUTLOOK

Defending league champion Montesano lost 20 starters to graduation and is retooling as a program. Enter Power-T machine Rochester, which boasts the best two-way player in the Evergreen in running back/linebacker Maddox Rodgers, who will lead a power-packed backfield group and could approach 2,000 rushing yards this fall.

LAST FIVE LEAGUE WINNERS

Montesano, Montesano/Rochester, Montesano, Montesano/Tenino, Tenino

RETURNING STATE QUALIFIERS

Montesano (quarterfinals), Rochester (first round), Tenino (first round)

DID YOU KNOW?

The league welcomes three new coaches this fall — Brian Hollatz at Montesano, Conor McNeill at Elma and Jeff Niemi at Hoquiam.

RETURNING ALL-STATE SELECTIONS

VarsityWA— None

WSFCA — LB Maddox Rodgers, Rochester, sr.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH ON OFFENSE

WR Colt Landstrom, Elma, sr.

RB Maddox Rodgers, Rochester, sr.

OL Carson Wisdom, Montesano, jr.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH ON DEFENSE

DL Josh Long, Rochester, sr.

DL Jeremiah McKague, Tenino, sr.

DB Owen Simpkins, Rochester, sr.

PREDICTED STAT LEADERS

Passing — QB KJ McCoy, Hoquiam, soph. (1,400 yards, 16 TDs)

Rushing — RB Maddox Rodgers, Rochester, sr. (1,900 yards, 36 TDs)

Receiving — WR Colt Landstrom, Elma, sr. (700 yards, 11 TDs)

PREDICTED LEAGUE STANDINGS

Rochester

Montesano

Tenino

Hoquiam

Elma

PREDICTED STATE QUALIFIERS

Rochester

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TRICO

2026 OUTLOOK

Two-time defending league champion Seton Catholic and La Center should go toe to toe once again for the Trico crown. And this might be the season the Wildcats boast the better firepower, led by quarterback Brody Mills — who gives the shotgun Wing-T a true passing element — and do-everything athlete Nate Rembisz.

LAST FIVE LEAGUE WINNERS

Seton Catholic, Seton Catholic, La Center, La Center, La Center

RETURNING STATE QUALIFIERS

Seton Catholic (quarterfinals), La Center (first round)

DID YOU KNOW?

The league lost one of its members when rebuilding Columbia of White Salmon decided to withdraw and play an independent schedule in 2026.

RETURNING ALL-STATE SELECTIONS

VarsityWA— None

WSFCA — None

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH ON OFFENSE

QB Owen Paulsen, King’s Way Christian, sr.

ATH Nate Rembisz, La Center, sr.

ATH Henry Sigfridson, Kalama, sr.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH ON DEFENSE

LB Lincoln Elwell, Seton Catholic, sr.

DL Zayne Latham, La Center, sr.

DL Cole Sullivan, Seton Catholic, sr.

PREDICTED STAT LEADERS

Passing — QB Owen Paulsen, King’s Way Christian, sr. (1,900 yards, 26 TDs)

Rushing — ATH Henry Sigfridson, Kalama, sr. (900 yards, 14 TDs)

Receiving — WR Nate Rembisz, La Center, sr. (700 yards, 12 TDs)

PREDICTED LEAGUE STANDINGS

La Center

Seton Catholic

Kalama

King’s Way Christian

Castle Rock

Stevenson

Fort Vancouver

PREDICTED STATE QUALIFIERS

La Center, Seton Catholic

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CARIBOU TRAIL

2026 OUTLOOK

Even though Omak graduated 18 seniors from its state quarterfinals squad from a year ago and saw longtime coach Nick Sackman step down — the Pioneers still have enough to rule the league for another season. New coach/alumnus Jacob Hurlbert plans to open up the offense for quarterback Fred Hurlbert, his younger brother.

LAST FIVE LEAGUE WINNERS

Omak, Omak, Cashmere, Omak, Omak

RETURNING STATE QUALIFIERS

Omak (quarterfinals)

DID YOU KNOW?

Nick Sackman resigned after 20 seasons as the Omak coach, but will stay on staff as the Pioneers’ defensive coordinator this fall.