Eastlake Wolves: 2019 Washington high school 4A football preview

Here is an inside look at the 2019 Eastlake Wolves football team.

Links: Eastlake team page | 2019 schedule | Roster

2018 IN REVIEW

8-3 in 4A KingCo Crest (second place); lost to Gonzaga Prep in 4A first round

COACHING RESUME

Don Bartel, seventh season

42-21 record

RETURNING STARTERS

Offense - 5. Defense - 6.

TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS

RB Garrett Carney, 6-1, 200, sr.

OL Axel Isackson, 6-3, 200, sr.

RB Leroy Jackson, 5-8, 145, jr.

OL Jake O’Donnell, 6-2, 235, sr.

QB Grady Robison, 6-1, 180, sr.

TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYERS

DL Jacob Allen, 6-0, 225, sr.

LB Jalen Bright, 5-10, 190, sr.

LB Garrett Carney, 6-1, 200, sr.

DB Leroy Jackson, 5-8, 145, jr.

DL Jake O’Donnell, 6-2, 235, sr.

THREE TO SEE

Jalen Bright, linebacker

He’s always flashed elite talent, and now is pairing it with relentless work ethic

Garrett Carney, linebacker

Wolves wish too-polite 4A KingCo Crown defensive MVP played with more swagger

Grady Robison, quarterback

Goes about his business quietly, but bound to make loud big-play noise on the field

OUTLOOK

The Wolves have never had a losing season since Bartel came over from Skyline where he was the defensive coordinator for the Spartans’ 2012 state championship squad.

But this might be their best chance to nab a league title under their fiery coach -- and first since 2011.

Robison gives Eastlake its first returning starting quarterback since Blue Thomas (2013), and the Montana State commit is a good one. He has the arm strength to hit on big plays, but he also has the speed (4.4-second 40-yard time) to run away. If the Wolves can get him rolling early, a 1,500-yard passing and rushing season is possible.

Since Thomas doesn’t have a real perimeter threat, expect him to feed his multi-purpose running backs -- Carney, Jackson and Bright -- in the short passing game. Those three will line up all over the field.

The Wolves are shallow along the defensive line with all-4A KingCo Crest first-team pass rushers Zach Kennedy and Cameron Lynch graduated, but they might have the best inside-linebacking tandem in the league in Carney and Bright, a transplant from California.

2019 SCHEDULE

Sept. 6: at Monroe, 7 p.m.

Sept. 13: Lake Washington, 7 p.m.

Sept. 20: Union, 5 p.m.

Sept. 27: at Issaquah, 7 p.m.

Oct. 4: Mount Si, 7 p.m.

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

Oct. 18: Newport of Bellevue, 7 p.m.

Oct. 25: Redmond, 7 p.m.