High school football: The Olympian’s 2019 All-Area team

The Olympian’s All-Area football team has become an annual tradition, highlighting the best high school football players in the region.

This year, 16 schools are represented by players and coaches selected to the All-Area first and second teams.

The 32 first-team spots, broken down by leagues, are 4A SPSL (five), 3A South Sound Conference (11), 2A SPSL Mountain (two), 2A Evergreen Conference (13) and 2B Central Mountain (one).

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

JACOB SCHUSTER

Tumwater

Defensive lineman, 6-2, 300, jr.

The 2A Evergreen Conference MVP was a key figure in the T-Birds’ defense, which held opponents to just 5.6 offensive points and 31 yards per game rushing. He totaled 61 tackles on the season, including 26 for losses — and 9.5 of those were sacks.

COACHING STAFF

BILL BEATTIE

Tumwater

Coach of the year

In his third season coaching at his alma mater, having taken on the tall task of replacing Sid Otton — who remains Washington’s all-time winningest high school coach — Beattie guided Tumwater to one of the most dominant undefeated seasons in history. The T-Birds finished a perfect 14-0 and won their sixth state title in program history, and first since 2010. Tumwater topped Steilacoom, 48-34, for the 2A championship. Its point differential of plus-159 in four state playoff games is a 2A record. Beattie’s record in three seasons with the T-Birds is 35-5, and he has guided them to the title game twice.

BRYAN IRION

Yelm

Offensive coordinator

Irion claims The Olympian’s offensive coordinator honor for the second consecutive season after producing 36 points per game, despite graduating key players like quarterback Kyle Robinson, wide receiver Kodee Gifford and lineman Jacob Dimond last spring. The Tornados’ 27 points at Tumwater in Week 2 was the most the T-Birds yielded until their 2A state title win over Steilacoom. With Robinson gone, quarterback Ben Hoffmann stepped in and earned Yelm’s second consecutive first-team All-Area honor at the position.

TIM OTTON

Tumwater

Defensive coordinator

Despite a deep squad of headline-grabbing offensive stars, Beattie insists his team’s success begins on defense and Otton calls the shots. Tumwater allowed only 80 points to opposing offenses and limited opponents to 435 yards on the ground in 14 games — an average of just 31.1 yards per game. Six of the 13 first-team 2A EvCo defensive players were from Tumwater.

BACKFIELD

BEN HOFFMANN

Yelm

Quarterback, 5-10, 180, sr.

Hoffmann became the 3A South Sound Conference offensive MVP in his first and only season as the Tornados’ starting quarterback. He passed for 1,586 yards and 19 touchdowns while also rushing for 483 yards and 10 touchdowns.

DYLAN PAINE

Tumwater

Running back, 5-10, 190, sr.

The 2A EvCo offensive player of the year, Paine was the leader of Tumwater’s backfield. He carried 209 times for 1,729 yards and 28 touchdowns, including posting a season-best 229 yards and three in the state title win over Steilacoom. He also became just the second player in Tumwater history to eclipse 4,000 rushing yards in his career. Paine showed his versatility by cycling in on defense, intercepting a pass and making one tackle for a loss.

CARSON AMENDT

Yelm

Running back, 5-9, 185, sr.

A team captain, Amendt used his quick feet and sharp vision to earn first-team 3A SSC running back honors. He carried 176 times for 1,040 yards and 14 touchdowns. He added six catches for 107 yards and a touchdown while returning eight kicks for 197 yards.

BRODY KLEIN

Rainier

Multi-purpose, 5-11, 180, sr.

Klein rushed for 795 yards and 11 touchdowns while also catching 28 passes for 542 yards and eight touchdowns, helping the Mountaineers return to the 2B state playoffs. Defensively, he led Rainier with 114 tackles — an astonishing 84 of them solo, and 20 for losses.

JULIAN KENNEDY

Black Hills

All-purpose, 6-0, 190, sr.

Kennedy played six different offensive and defensive positions — from quarterback to defensive end — throughout the season for injury-riddled Black Hills. Not staying in any spot long enough to pile up substantial numbers, he nonetheless ran for, caught and threw multiple touchdowns for the Wolves. Defensively, he had sacks, tackles for losses and interceptions.

RECEIVERS

WILL ANDERSON

Olympia

Wide receiver, 6-0, 170, sr.

Anderson, bound for Montana State as a track athlete, caught 41 passes for 753 yards and seven touchdowns. A first-team 4A SPSL pick, he holds school records for catches in a game (13), season (52) and career (102), along with the career mark for receiving yards (1,559).

MAX AUNESE

Timberline

Wide receiver, 6-0, 185, sr.

The go-to receiver for Timberline quarterbacks who improved as the season progressed, Aunese finished with 623 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

DONTAE OWENS

River Ridge

Wide receiver, 5-9, 155, jr.

A first-team 2A Mountain SPSL receiver, Owens used his speed to haul in 31 passes for 587 yards and six touchdowns. Hawks’ coach Steve Schultz says Owens “is an explosive player who has a good chance of scoring every time he touches the ball.”

GRADY LINDEKUGEL

Capital

Wide receiver, 5-11, 185, sr.

A first-team 3A SSC selection, Lindekugel was a deep threat who caught 39 passes for 912 yards and seven touchdowns. He also played defense, snagging six interceptions, and was the Cougars’ punter, averaging 40 yards per attempt. “Grady never came off the field and gave 100 percent effort every minute,” coach Terry Rose says.

JOSH MAIAVA

Capital

Tight end, 6-2, 225, sr.

A first team 3A SSC pick, Maiava caught 35 passes for 719 yards and seven touchdowns. “Tight ends are something of a thing of the past, so when you come across one who can take over a game like Josh can, you take notice,” Rose says.

OFFENSIVE LINE

BRADLEY MCGANNON

Yelm

Offensive lineman, 6-3, 255, sr.

The 3A SSC lineman of the year forced opponents to prepare for the Tornados’ “jumbo” package, lining up in the backfield and rushing for seven touchdowns and several key first downs. A right tackle weighing multiple college offers, McGannon also played defensive end, totaling 49 tackles with seven tackles for losses and two sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumbles recovered.

VILI HAFOKA

Tumwater

Offensive lineman, 6-4, 290, sr.

Beattie calls the first-team 2A EvCo tackle the “best blocker” on a T-Birds line that cleared the way for more than 5,000 yards of offense in 2019.

KAHALUA TUITELE

Olympia

Offensive lineman, 5-11, 340, sr.

Bears coach Steve Davis, whose specialty is coaching the linemen, calls Tuitele the “most dominant run blocker” in the 28 years he’s been coaching at Olympia. Tuitele also played on the Bears’ goal line defensive unit, and was a first-team 4A SPSL pick.

TYRESE THROWER

River Ridge

Offensive lineman, 6-3, 265, sr.

A first-team 2A SPSL Mountain selection, the versatile Thrower moved from tackle to guard and back again within games. Schultz calls him “big and powerful enough to down block, agile enough to block linebackers and fast enough to pull on counters.”

ARMANI TONUAO

North Thurston

Offensive lineman, 6-0, 250, jr.

Though double- and tripled-teamed throughout the season, Tonuao was a two-way first-team 3A SSC lineman. His fast hands and lateral quickness made him “the reason we had more than 2,000 yards rushing this season on a 3-7 team,” Rams coach Terry Shaw says.

DEFENSIVE LINE

LEANDRE GAINES

W.F. West

Defensive lineman, 6-2, 225, sr.

Gaines was all over the field on both sides of the ball for the Bearcats, catching passes, running with the ball and punting. On the defensive line, he was dominant, totaling 43 tackles, including 13 for losses and six sacks. He intercepted a pass and recovered two fumbles. “Teams had to plan their run games around him,” coach Dan Hill says.

CARTER CARLSON

Capital

Defensive lineman, 6-2, 220, sr.

The first-team 3A SSC choice has an offer in hand from Simon Fraser after amassing 112 tackles, including 65 solo tackles, 11 tackles for losses and nine sacks. He also blocked a field goal attempt and a punt. “His work ethic and drive to be successful are second to none,” Rose says. “He is a true leader and mentor to our younger players.”

TRENT PETERS

W.F. West

Defensive lineman, 6-1, 250, sr.

Peters piled up 78 total tackles, including 45 solo tackles, and team-highs in tackles for losses (14) and sacks (three). He caused two fumbles and recovered one, scoring a defensive touchdown. “He was the emotional leader of our team and also has an incredible motor,” Hill says.

TIM SELLARS

Olympia

Defensive lineman, 6-4, 245, sr.

A two-way starter and first-team 4A SPSL long snapper, Sellars was elected a captain despite being a student at Pope John Paul II, which does not field a football team. He’s a star basketball player and track athlete for the Eagles in addition to playing football for the Bears. Davis calls him “the leader of our defense.” He is being recruited by Ivy League schools for both football and track.

LINEBACKERS

ZACH LOVELESS

Black Hills

Linebacker, 5-11, 205, sr.

A two-time first-team 2A EvCo linebacker, Loveless totaled 43 tackles, including 11 for losses and eight sacks. He added two fumble recoveries, one interception and a defensive touchdown. On offense he rushed for 714 yards and eight touchdowns on 96 carries and never fumbled.

GAVEN MURPHY

Tumwater

Linebacker, 5-11, 205, sr.

The first-team 2A EvCo linebacker was a key part of a defense that held opponents to the lowest combined points total in 2A. Murphy had a team-high 78 tackles, including nine for losses and 2.5 sacks. He intercepted a pass and recovered two fumbles.

ELI OSSO

Yelm

Linebacker, 5-7, 165, sr.

The first-team 3A SSC choice was in on 86 total tackles, including six for a losses. He ran an interception back for a touchdown against Timberline and took a recovered fumble into the end zone against Shelton.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

AUSTIN SCHALER

Yelm

Defensive back, 5-11, 205, sr.

Schaler was a first-team 3A SSC defensive back and second-team wide receiver despite having skipped his sophomore and junior years of football. Returned a school-record 10 interceptions back 304 yards, including one for a touchdown, and made 46 total tackles. As a receiver he caught 30 passes for 413 yards and four touchdowns.

TURNER ALLEN

Tumwater

Defensive back, 5-9, 170, jr.

A two-way player, Allen was a first-team 2A EvCo selection at defensive back, recording 48 total tackles, intercepting four passes and knocking away nine more. A breakaway threat on offense, he rushed 34 times for 381 yards and caught five passes for 142 yards. Offense, defense and returns combined, he scored nine touchdowns.

CADE HALLER

W.F. West

Defensive back, 5-10, 160, jr.

Haller was in on a team-high 80 tackles while intercepting two passes and knocking down five more. He caused one fumble and recovered another. “He’s a great player with a nose for the football,” Hill says.

JAYDEN DOUGHERTY

Olympia

Defensive back, 6-0, 170, sr.

Dougherty led the 4A SPSL in tackles with 113 and set a program record with 23 tackles against eventual 4A state champion Camas in the Bears’ district playoff loss.

SPECIAL TEAMS

BRYCE LAUFENBERG

W.F. West

Kicker, 5-10, 170, jr.

Laufenberg was a first-team 2A EvCo pick after connecting on 2-of-3 field goal attempts and 50-of-53 extra point attempts.

BEN KRASNOKUTSKY

Olympia

Punter, 5-10, 180, sr.

A first-team 4A SPSL punter, Krasnokutsky’s averaged 39.9 yards per attempt — nearly 3 yards better on average than the league’s next-best punter. He also served as the Bears’ kicker, connecting on 4-of-6 field goals and 25-of-26 extra points. Not just a kicking specialist, Krasnokutsky started at cornerback for Olympia and finished with league-high eight interceptions.

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterbacks — Josiah Johnson, W.F. West, sr.; Tristan Redman, Capital, sr., Cody Whalen, Tumwater, jr.

Running backs — Hunter Baker, Tumwater, sr.; Darion Brown, River Ridge, jr.; Jaiyden Camoza, W.F. West, sr.; Noah Cunningham, Timberline, jr.; Jaden Gorman, Timberline, sr.; Clayton Grady, Capital, sr.; Daishaun Nichols, Northwest Christian, soph.; Isaiah O’Farrill, Elma, sr.; Brady Shriver, Elma, sr.

Wide receivers — Anthony Chipres, Yelm, jr.; Sylas Franklin, Yelm, sr.; Daniel May, Rochester, sr.; Max Taylor, W.F. West, jr.

Tight ends — Austin Terry, Tumwater, soph.; Ke’ianu Trinidad, River Ridge, sr.

Offensive line — Luke Bennett, W.F. West, sr.; Blake Doss, Timberline, sr.; Tate Elliott, Black Hills, sr.; Max Henry, Tumwater, jr.; Brigg Hood, North Thurston, sr.; Dylan Jemtegaard, Yelm, jr.; Justus Kuykendall, Centralia, sr.; Will Lafaele, Timberline, sr.; Hunter Mohl, Yelm, sr.; Drew Reynolds, W.F. West, jr.

DEFENSE

Defensive line — Derek Bairsto, Centralia, sr.; Takari Hickle, Tenino, soph.; Ryan Otton, Tumwater, soph.; Kaden Rodriguez, River Ridge, sr.; DJ Togiola, Timberline, jr., Cooper Wall, Tumwater, jr.

Linebackers — Jacob Conley, Timberline, jr.; Jacob Halseth, Centralia, jr.; Sean Rohwedder, Yelm, jr.; Stanton Hayes, Timberline, sr.; Ryan Orr, Tumwater, soph.; Paxton Russell, Tenino, sr.; Zach Speaks, Shelton, jr.; Jacob Sullivan, Northwest Christian, sr.; Tyler Woods, Tumwater, sr.

Defensive backs — Xavier Barnes, North Thurston, sr.; Jaylen Clay, Tumwater, sr.; Jack Jones, Tumwater, jr.; George Packard, Yelm, sr.; Gabe Taylor, Capital, sr.; Blaine Wass, Centralia, jr.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker — Braden Hill, Yelm, sr.

Punters — Ty Gilliland, Tumwater, sr.; Mason Joubert, Timberline, sr.