Mariner Marauders: 2019 Washington high school 4A football preview

Here is an inside look at the 2019 Mariner football team. Links: Mariner team page | 2019 schedule | Roster 2018 IN REVIEW 2-7 in 4A Wesco (fifth place)

Here is an inside look at the 2019 Mariner football team.

Links: Mariner team page | 2019 schedule | Roster

2018 IN REVIEW

2-7 in 4A Wesco (fifth place)

COACHING RESUME

Mark Stewart, fifth season

17-23 record

RETURNING STARTERS

Offense - 5. Defense - 5.

TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS

QB Jackson Cole, 5-10, 170, jr.

RB Lemin Jallow, 5-9, 170, sr.

OL Josh Jarosik, 5-11, 230, sr.

RB Josiah Pesterkoff, 5-10, 235, sr.

TE/WR Roman Savchuk, 6-2, 190, sr. 

TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYERS

LB Bass Barjo, 5-7, 165, jr.

DB Leman Jallow, 5-9, 170, sr.

DB Vadim Kukhotskiy, 5-11, 155, jr.

LB Josiah Pesterkoff, 5-10, 235, sr.

DB Roman Savchuk, 6-2, 190, sr.

THREE TO SEE

Jackson Cole, quarterback

Arm talent still catching up to immense foot talent (wears tailback’s No. 29 jersey)

Josiah Pesterkoff, running back

One of a few rugby athletes on the team, he doesn’t mind squeezing through scrums

Roman Savchuk, tight end

Every game, he seems to make a tough catch or a block on sheer determination

OUTLOOK

Ask coaches, and the speedy Marauders -- who have posted losing seasons in five of the past six seasons -- are as scary a bunch to face on a weekly basis as any 4A Wesco team not named Lake Stevens.

Stewart said the team found its footing offensively back in 2016 when it placed third in the league. Ever since then, the attack has featured big-play athletes, and the Marauders have a trio in Cole (first season starting at quarterback was 2018), Pesterkoff and Savchuk.

And Stewart said all three are basically interchangeable, and can play multiple skill positions on offense.

Where Mariner needs to show the biggest improvement is on defense -- and the coach expects that unit to take a step in the right direction this season, led by Pesterkoff in the middle.

2019 SCHEDULE

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

Sept. 13: Ballard, 7 p.m.

Sept. 20: Kamiak, 7 p.m.

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

Oct. 4: at Jackson, 8 p.m.

Oct. 11: Mount Vernon, 7 p.m.

Oct. 18: at Glacier Peak, 7 p.m.

Oct. 25: Cascade of Everett, 7 p.m.

Nov. 1: at Lake Stevens, 7 p.m.