Lake Stevens QB Kolton Matson named Gatorade state football player of year in 2023

Junior passed for 3,388 yards and a program-record 49 touchdowns in guiding Vikings to back-to-back Class 4A titles.

Lake Stevens High School captured back-to-back football honors in something else this fall - Gatorade state player of the year.

Junior quarterback Kolton Matson, who played a near-perfect postseason in helping the Vikings to a second consecutive Class 4A championship, won the honors when the award was revealed Wednesday - a year after Oregon signee Jayden Limar took home the state MVP nod.

Matson said it is a cool honor to receive.

"I would be lying if I don’t say I’ve been happy as ever today," he said.

Mason, who has now started in three consecutive WIAA title games, had a breakou season as a junior - completing 224 of 335 passes for 3,388 yards and a program-best 49 touchdowns while rushing for six more touchdowns.

He was also named SBLive WA's 2023 state offensive player of the year.

Three other quarterbacks - DJ Lagway (Texas), Julian Lewis (Georgia and Julian Sayin (California) - are the finalists for the Gatorade national player of the year.