Previewing the Top 50 high school football teams in Washington: No. 46 Mt. Spokane Wildcats

SBLive Washington is previewing the Top 50 high school football teams in the state ahead of the 2020-2021 season. Here’s an inside look at the Mt. Spokane

SBLive Washington is previewing the Top 50 high school football teams in the state ahead of the 2020-2021 season. Here’s an inside look at the Mt. Spokane Wildcats of the 3A Greater Spokane League – No. 46 in our countdown.

Editor’s note: Mt. Spokane is in the East Region of Washington's COVID-19 reopening plan. The region is still in Phase 1, and must advance to Phase 2 to resume competition. The metrics will be reassessed on Feb. 12.

2019 IN REVIEW

9-3 in 3A Greater Spokane League (won league); lost to O’Dea in the 3A state quarterfinals.

COACH’S RESUMÉ

• Terry Cloer, sixth season.
• Overall record: 47-20.

NOTABLE DEPARTURES

Kannon Katzer, running back

Tommy Madill, wide receiver

Matt McNitt, lineman

Jaymon Funk, offensive line

Tyler Dallas, offensive line

Ryan Miller, defensive line

Kegan Young, defensive line

Josh Osso, linebacker

Jose Alvarez-Renteria, defensive back

RETURNING STARTERS

Offense – 2. Defense – 1.

TOP PLAYERS

QB/WR Connor Marll, 5-8, 155, sr.

RB Hudson Gilbert, 5-10, 195, sr.

DB Craig Runge, 5-11, 155, sr.

K Ethan Moczulski, 5-10, 170, jr.

OL/DL Kingston Grey, 6-4, 275, sr.

THREE TO SEE

Connor Marll, quarterback

He played a little bit of quarterback last year, and when he wasn’t under center, he was in the slot. Marll has been training to play quarterback in the offseason, and is the type of athlete that has to be on the field at all times. 

Ethan Moczulski, kicker

Primarily a soccer player until he beat out five teammates for the kicking spot as a freshman. Strong leg and consistent finisher who put 75 percent of kickoffs in the end zone as a junior.

Kingston Grey, OL/DL

A big body and developing athlete up front will look for one last season before playing at Central Washington. Missed junior year with foot injury.

2021 OUTLOOK

As if the pandemic hadn’t thrown a big enough wrench in the season, Mt. Spokane was dealt another set of curveballs.

The injury bug.

Top returners Cooper (LB) and Carter (OL/DL) Miethe both suffered separate season-ending knee injuries in wrestling competitions. And last year’s starting quarterback Jeter Schuerman recently underwent Tommy John surgery.

Still, the Wildcats must replace 18 starters. To do so, they plan to install a more balanced attack as they aim to fill the shoes of all-state running back Kannon Katzer and compete against a league-only schedule in a fairly wide open 3A Greater Spokane League.

“(We’ll be) throwing the ball more often,” head coach Terry Cloer said. “Every skill position player will do more so (defenses) can’t just load the box on us like last year.”

Connor Marll stepped in as quarterback during the team’s run to the 3A quarterfinals last season and has been working all offseason on being a QB. He’ll compete with sophomore Colby Danielson for the job and Cloer sees both getting snaps early on.

COVID-19 IMPACT

“It’s been tough … being in school has been great. Getting to see the players face to face a couple times a week is huge. Are we going to have a season? It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions since last spring. There are days that I’m certain we will get on the field and then there are others that I think that we have no chance.” — Mt. Spokane coach Terry Cloer

2020-21 SCHEDULE – MT. SPOKANE TEAM PAGE

• Feb. 27 vs. Gonzaga Prep
• March 5 vs. Cheney
• March 12 vs. Ferris
• April 2 vs. Mead
• April 9 vs. Lewis & Clark