Granite Falls Tigers: 2019 Washington high school 1A football preview

By WILL HOLLAND Here's an inside look at the 1A Granite Falls Tigers. Links: Granite Falls team page | 2019 schedule 2018 IN REVIEW 2-8 overall record, 2-3 in

By WILL HOLLAND

Here's an inside look at the 1A Granite Falls Tigers.

Links: Granite Falls team page | 2019 schedule

2018 IN REVIEW

2-8 overall record, 2-3 in 1A North Sound Conference

COACHING RESUME

HC: Brandon Davis

2-8 record (2nd season as head coach)

Coordinators: Tracey Bechtholdt (OC); Brandon Davis (DC).

Base schemes: Spread offense, 3-4 defense

RETURNING 

Offense - 6 Defense - 7

TOP RETURNERS

WR Mason McBride, 5-11, 155, Sr.

WR/DB Luis Hernandez, 5-7, 160, Jr.

OL/DL Jarad Barth, 5-9, 230, Jr.

DB Kolby Petraborg, 5-9, 155, Sr. 

QB RJ Gese, 5-9, 145, So.

THREE TO SEE

WR Mason McBride, 5-11, 155, Sr.

As a junior, McBride received first team all-league honors at wideout, relying on his speed to run by defenses on his way to the house. He’ll be a helpful target for young sophomore QB RJ Gese, and will certainly be the primary playmaker on offense for the Tigers.

OL/DL Jarad Barth, 5-9, 230, Jr.

Barth adds some much-needed size to the line on both sides of the ball. He’ll be a focal point for what Coach Davis expects to be a “strong run game,” and his ability to plug gaps will serve important for the Tiger defense against the run. 

DB Kolby Petraborg, 5-9, 155, Sr.

Petraborg is an experienced senior who will help lead the Tigers defense. While undersized, he’ll be able to help teach the system to the younger guys.

OUTLOOK

Brandon Davis steps into his second year as head coach for Granite Falls this year, after turning out a 2-8 record last year with a 4th place finish in the North Sound Conference. The Tigers lose five 2018 all-league selections to graduation, so they’ll have a lot of holes to fill on both sides of the ball. However, they return their shining star on offense: WR Mason McBride. A first team all-league wideout in 2018, McBride is constantly a threat to secondaries with his elite speed. The Tigers will look to feed him the rock all year long and get him in open space, where he is all the more dangerous. Coach Davis expects the Granite Falls special teams unit to make a big difference this year as well, as the Tigers hope to emerge on top of a conference that’s pretty much wide open. 

2019 SCHEDULE

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

Sept. 13, 7 p.m.: Nooksack Valley

Sept. 20, 6:30 p.m.: at Klahowya

Sept. 28, TBD: at Forks

Oct. 4, 7 p.m.: at Cedar Park Christian

Oct. 11, 7 p.m.: Kings

Oct. 18, 7 p.m.: Sultan

Oct. 25, 6 p.m.: at South Whidbey

Nov. 1, 6:30 p.m.: at Friday Harbor

*home games in bold