Sehome Mariners: 2019 Washington high school 2A football preview

By WILL HOLLAND

Here's an inside look at the 2A Sehome Mariners.

Links: Sehome team page | 2019 schedule

2018 IN REVIEW

8-4 in 2A Northwest Conference - Lake (three-way tie for first place); lost to Liberty in first round of 2A state playoffs, 21-14

COACHING RESUME

Kevin Beason, 3rd season

12-10 record

RETURNING STARTERS

Offense - 5. Defense - 5.

TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS

OL Quentin Icay, 6-0, 190, Jr.

QB Jacob Kaepernick, 6-1, 185, Jr.

WR Tim Malo, 5-9, 155, Jr.

OL Jake Ortega, 6-3, 190, Jr

RB Dawson Smith, 5-10, 190, Sr.

TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYERS

DL Rylie Bair, 6-4, 205, Sr.

DB Tim Malo, 5-9, 155, Jr.

LB Caleb Ryan, 6-0, 195, So.

LB Dawson Smith, 5-10, 190, Sr.

THREE TO SEE

Rylie Bair, defensive lineman

Enters senior campaign as one of the best edge rushers in the league.

Jacob Kaepernick, quarterback

First team all-league in 2018 with 2,000+ yards passing and 25 TDs (as just a sophomore).

Dawson Smith, running back / linebacker

Coach Beason speaks highly of this two-way ironman who replaces an all-league RB this year.

OUTLOOK

Mariners head coach Kevin Beason has gone to great lengths to turn around the Sehome football program.

Last year, in only his second year at the helm, he took the Mariners to the playoffs for the first time since 2013, helping lead the talented, senior-heavy squad to an 8-4 record before losing to state semifinal contender Liberty by just a score.

They lose a ton of seniors this year, seven of whom were selected to the NWC Lake Division’s all-league first team, but they do return some solid pieces.

Among the returning starters is star QB Jacob Kaepernick, who stepped into the starting role as a sophomore and was able to use Sehome’s bountiful supply of outside weapons to throw 25 touchdowns. Coach Beason loves this kid, telling us that “he doesn’t get rattled” and leads the team extremely well.

Defensively, the Mariners return a few key starters, and will look to use their speed and athleticism to come out on top of their division for the second year in a row. Should be a fun year for the Mariners.

2019 SCHEDULE

Sept 6: Nooksack Valley 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 13: at Mount Baker 7 p.m.

Sept. 21: Centralia 1 p.m.

Sept. 27: at Mercer Island 7 p.m.

Oct. 4: at Mountlake Terrace, 8 p.m.

Oct. 11: Cedarcrest, 7 p.m.

Oct. 19: West Seattle, 2 p.m.

Oct. 25: Bellingham, 7 p.m.