Putting the 'King' in 4A KingCo - Bothell, Mount Si, Woodinville make history with three 4A semifinal berths: Western Washington high school notebook

The usually-strong 4A KingCo has outdone itself this time around. For the first time in WIAA state football playoff history, three teams (Bothell, Mount Si,

The usually-strong 4A KingCo has outdone itself this time around.

For the first time in WIAA state football playoff history, three teams (Bothell, Mount Si, Woodinville from one league (KingCo) will play in the Class 4A state semifinals.

Six times before that, the 4A KingCo sent two schools to the state semifinals - 1993 (Inglemoor, Newport of Bellevue), 2005 (Skyline, Woodinville), 2008 (Issaquah, Skyline), 2009 (Bothell, Skyline), 2011 (Skyline, Woodinville) and 2014 (Bothell, Newport).

And yet, many coaches not only around the state, but in the league itself, thought the 4A KingCo would be a little down in 2019. It is up for debate whether it played out in that manner, but one things is for certain - none of the remaining KingCo teams are unbeaten.

Leading the offenses of those three survivors at quarterback are Bothell's Andrew Sirmon, Mount Si's Clay Millen and Woodinville's Noah Stifle. Sirmon and Miller are first-year starters.

Scorebook Live asked one 4A KingCo coach to break down each quarterback's skill set heading into this weekend's matchups:

ANDREW SIRMON, Bothell, 6-0, 190, junior

2019 stats: 2,227 passing yards, 19 touchdowns.

Biggest win: Defeating Woodinville, 33-29.

Scouting report: "He takes care of the ball. ... He does not make those kind of mistakes. If you have a kid that runs that Bothell system with that run game, all he has to take care of the ball, because sooner or later, he will have that post (route) open. And for him, it's been a 35- to 37-yard bomb every time. He hits the same distance every time."

CLAY MILLEN, Mount Si, 6-3, 190, junior

2019 stats: 2,984 passing yards, 33 touchdowns (and one INT).

Biggest win: Defeating Lake Stevens, 24-22.

Scouting report: Just like his brother (Cale), he keeps plays alive. And he likes to keep them alive moving laterally. He doesn't want to run you over - he wants to buy another 3-4 seconds so he can stand on the perimeter and see the one kid flashing down the seam for a touchdown. His play has been quintessential for a guy who has kept his team's season alive."

NOAH STIFLE, Woodinville, 6-0, 160, senior

2019 stats: 1,687 passing yards, 25 touchdowns (another 437 rushing yards).

Biggest win: Defeating Kennedy Catholic, 55-42.

Scouting report: Every Woodinville quarterback has to be baptized into that (run-first spread) system. Not only does he have to learn what to do, complimentary to that defense, but when to do it. It provides a kid an opportunity to make plays, but ... it comes down to feel. And he has gotten consistently better at that as the season has gone on."

THERE IS ANOTHER SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON-BASED LEAGUE JUST AS FORMIDABLE IN THE 2B RANKS

It has happened again, in back-to-back seasons - the 2B Central League owns all four spots in the state semifinals.

This season, it is No. 1 Onalaska, No. 2 Napavine, No. 3 Kalama (two-time defending state champion) and No. 5 Kalama left to settle things. Last season, it was Napavine, Kalama, Adna and Toledo.

"I have coached in a lot of places - in 4A on the west side, to the coast and on the east side. This group of coaches is great," longtime Adna coach K.C. Johnson said. "They have all figured out the big time is at the small schools. These are great places to raise kids. And it is great football in a small-school atmosphere."

THANKSGIVING IN LYNDEN? PRACTICE FIRST, EAT LATER

Many football programs around the state have already checked in their gear and are on to other things.

That is not the case in Lynden where, for the second consecutive year, both high schools are still playing in the state playoffs - Lynden in 2A, and Lynden Christian in 1A.

Lynden coach Blake VanDalen said there's plenty of excitement to go around in town.

"We are blessed to have a wonderful community with all-in kids and all-in parents," VanDalen said. "And all of our kids play together from kindergarten on ... until middle school. But they are still friends, and hang out on the weekends.

"We check their scores during our games, and I am sure when they are done, they are wondering how Lynden is doing as well."