High school football: Top 10 quarterbacks in Washington in 2022
We’ve reached Week 4 of the high school football season in Washington, and quarterbacks from all over the state have put up impressive numbers and won big games in the opening portion of the season. These are the top 10 quarterbacks in the state this fall, ordered alphabetically.
Note: Stats up-to-date through The News Tribune’s press time on Thursday. Stats from any games played on Thursday night (9/22) are not included.
Holden Bea, Washougal, jr.
6-1, 180
Offers: None
2022 stats: 51-of-88 passing, 853 yards, 9 TD, 5 INT; 63 rushing yards on 27 carries, TD
Bea comes from an athletic family at Washougal. His older sister, Beyonce, is a senior on the Idaho women’s basketball team and was a first-team all-conference selection in 2021-22 as a junior. Has a good arm with some mobility and worked hard in the offseason to make himself better athletically. “He is the real deal,” said Washougal coach Dave Hajek. “He is a great student, great teammate, and a great leader. One of the best I have been around in 20 plus years of coaching.”
EJ Caminong, Garfield, jr.
6-2, 195
Offers: UW, WSU, Oregon State, Colorado
2022 stats: 805 yards, 7 TD, 0 INT.
Along with Lincoln’s Gabarri Johnson, Caminong headlines the state’s quarterbacks group. He can make plays with his arm and his feet, but Garfield coach Reggie Witherspoon Jr. thinks what has Pac-12 schools knocking on the door is Caminong’s pocket presence, his work studying film and his ability to diagnose defenses. “EJ is able to dissect a defense mid-play and coach up his wideouts on what he sees, which ultimately gets them open versus any coverage,” Witherspoon said. “He’s a student of the game which helped his level of play on any given Friday.”
Skyler Cassel, West Valley (Yakima), sr.
6-1, 180
Offers: None
2022 stats: 69-of-109, 1,066 yards, 9 TD, 3 INT.
Maybe one of the state’s best-kept secrets, West Valley coach Dan Eyman said he’s “shocked” Cassel hasn’t received more interest from colleges. Eyman also coached Cassel’s older brother Kolney when he was at Eisenhower (Kolney is now West Valley’s offensive coordinator). Per MaxPreps, Cassel leads the state in passing yards through three games, averaging 355.3 yards per game in the run-and-shoot offense. “He has amazing instincts and his release is quick and accurate,” Eyman said. “Also has a cannon of an arm.”
Gabe Downing, Olympia, sr.
6-0, 183
Committed to: Portland State
2022 stats: 44-of-71, 590 yards, 4 TD, 6 INT.
Downing has gotten off to a rocky start to the 2022 season, thanks in large part to Olympia playing one of the state’s more difficult schedules so far, but make no mistake, Downing is still one of the state’s top signal callers. As a junior, Downing threw for 2,024 yards and 22 touchdowns. “He processes the field and gets the ball out fast,” said Olympia coach Nick Mullen. “He can make every throw.”
Gabarri Johnson, Lincoln, sr.
6-0, 200
Committed to: Missouri
2022 stats: 31-of-50 passing, 574 yards, 4 TD, INT; 518 yards rushing on 44 carries, 3 TD.
The clear-cut top quarterback in the state of Washington this fall, Johnson came into his senior year at Lincoln bigger, stronger and faster than ever. A true dual-threat QB, Johnson is equally dangerous as a passer and rusher. Johnson is fast, no question, but his best quality is an elusiveness and ability to make defenders miss with ease. It’s an ability that sometimes leaves Lincoln coach Masaki Matsumoto in awe. “It’s that elusiveness, that shiftiness, that little hop that he does. He’s a special kid,” Matsumoto told the TNT after a game against Lakes last fall. Chose Missouri over offers from UW, WSU, Oregon and others.
Mitch Johnson, Mountain View, sr.
6-2, 185
Interest: Linfield, George Fox
2022 stats: 50-of-76 passing, 650 yards, 9 TD, 3 INT; 196 yards on 41 carries, 2 TD.
Multi-year starter has Mountain View off to a 2-1 start with a 26-20 win over Ridgefield and a 62-35 win over Union. Johnson’s high-level understanding of Mountain View’s offense, situational football and read progressions makes him difficult to slow down in the passing game. “He knows when to go with an alert based on a particular personnel match-up and he also has a thorough understanding of his progression sequence,” said Mountain View coach Adam Mathieson. “While he is great at throwing on rhythm to his first read, where he truly excels is in his ability to work through the progressions to his second and third reads.” Also a tough runner when called on.
Rocco Koch, Curtis, jr.
6-2, 195
Offers: None
2022 stats: 33-of-54 passing, 563 yards, 6 TD; 330 yards on 54 carries, 3 TD.
Opposing defenses knowing when they face Rocco Koch, they’re going to feel him. The Vikings’ junior is a load in the run game, and as an underclassman, relied primarily on his legs to make plays. Koch didn’t start playing QB full time until high school and has been learning the nuances of the position the past few years. It’s starting to come together now and Koch has turned into a dangerous dual-threat QB in the tough 4A SPSL. “He’s seeing things better than he’s ever done before, and I think the ceiling for him is just so much higher,” said Curtis coach Darren McKay.
River Lien, Glacier Peak, sr.
6-0, 205
Interest: Linfield
2022 stats: 42-72, 728 yards, 13 TD, 2 INT; 157 yards rushing on 19 carries.
This Glacier Peak offense is humming, off to a 3-0 start and averaging 39 points per game. Lien is orchestrating the Grizzlies’ attack at a high-level. “River is a very intelligent QB who studies the game and knows the offense inside and out,” said Glacier Peak coach Shane Keck. Athletic, mobile when he needs to be and has the physicality to shed tackles.
Jake Schakel, Emerald Ridge, jr.
6-1, 195
Offers: Colorado State, Florida Atlantic, Nevada
2022 stats: 64-of-89 passing, 703 yards, 9 TD, 2 INT
At the heart of Emerald Ridge’s emergence into the 4A SPSL’s top tier, Schakel has the ability to pick apart and carve up opposing defenses and has a high-level understanding of timing and ball placement. “His passion for our team winning is year-round,” said Emerald Ridge coach Adam Schakel, Jake’s dad. “Tremendous pocket awareness and (the) most accurate QB I’ve coached.”
Blake Springer, Monroe, jr.
Offers: None
2022 stats: 49-of-70, 706 yards, 9 TD, 2 INT
Springer grew up as a ball boy in Monroe’s program, so he’s been on the sideline since he was a little kid. These days, he’s slinging the ball all over the field for the Bearcats. “He has a huge arm and can make any throw on the field,” said Monroe coach Scott Darrow. “He is highly competitive and always prepared. He does an outstanding job preparing himself through film study.”
