QB Kaden Jenks should be player of the year
Coach Wiley Allred goes over the strategy – passing first – with Kaden Jenks before the game.
Looking at the season stats for key players on the Royal High School football team, the only logical choice for Washington State player of the year at the class A level must be junior quarterback Kaden Jenks.
His numbers were unbelievable, and he was great in every category by which college and pro quarterbacks are measured. His touchdown to interceptions ratio of 45/2 alone should make him player of the year..
As all-state voters consider Jenks’ stats for all-state, they need to keep in mind he rarely played full games. The first team played just two quarters in seven games and just three quarters in three games.
While the all-state voters are looking at Jenks’ stats, hopefully they’ll notice linebacker Valente Cortez’s stats. For what be can only an outrageous reason, the No. 1 tackler on the No. 1 defense in the state, didn’t make first team in his own league. The all-state voters could correct that oversight.
The stats you are about to see are the official stats after coach Wiley Allred went back and reviewed each game. They may be different than the ones in the Knights magazine appearing in the Sun Tribune today.
Cortez, a 5-8, 200-pound senior, led the team in tackles with 102. He had nine tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. He was the heart of a defense that allowed only five points and 104 total yards per game. Not passing or rushing yards but total yards.
Watching Kaden throw the ball in practice, I became convinced he was going to be one of the best quarterbacks in the state, if not the best. He turned out to be the best.
Jenks completed 142 of 219 passes for 2,734 yards and 65 percent efficiency. He connected for 45 touchdowns and was intercepted only twice. He ran for 303 yards and scored nine touchdowns.
When Wiley called on Jenks to shoulder the game plan at the state title game, he stepped up. After missing on his first pass, he connected on 17 of 24, with no interceptions. He took the team to the doorstep of the end zone for three rushing touchdowns.
The third Royal footballer who belongs on the all-state team is running back Joe Lang. He was big, fast and shifty. Because it would have been unfair to play him any more than that, Lang averaged only 12 carries per game, and 33 came in the game with Colville. In one game he ran for more than 100 yards on only three carries.
Joe still amassed 1,291 yards running, and he scored 19 touchdowns. His average yards per carry were an astounding 7.8. He caught 24 passes for 400 yards, a 16.6 yards per catch average, and he scored six touchdowns catching the ball.
Others who should get all-state consideration on offense are:
Sam Christensen WR, 5-11, 170 Sr. - 41 catches, 804 yards. (20 yards per catch) 16 touchdowns and 15 carries, 159 yards, 3 touchdowns.
Jose Ponce WR, 5-4, 155 Sr. - 33 catches, 766 yards, 13 touchdowns (23.2 yards per catch)
Hunter Follett offensive line - 5-9 225 Sr. guard. There are no stats for this position, but if the voters could see his work ethic on and off the field, they’d vote for him.
Considered for the defense should be:
Joe Lang DB - 38 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 5 interceptions, 160 return yards, 2 interception return touchdowns. Eastern Washington University summer camp Defensive Back MVP.
Carson Gilbert 6-0, 165 Sr. LB - 87 tackles, 11 for loss, 1 interception, 3 forced fumbles.
Juan Hernandez 5-9 215 Jr. tackle - 46 tackles, 9 for loss, 4 sacks.
Sawyer Stakkeland 5-10 195 Jr. end - 56 tackles, 7 for loss, 6 sacks.
Sam Christensen 5-11 170 Sr. Safety - 76 tackles, 6 for loss, 2 sacks, 1 fumble return for touchdown, 7 punt returns, 2 touchdowns. 21.5-yard average.
Two more Knights who should be considered for all-state on defense are the 6-2, 205 Kaden Jenks at Safety and 5-8, 195 Andy Villafana at linebacker.
Jenks had more than 30 tackles, picked off a couple of opponent passes and hit harder than anyone else on defense. He batted down two passes and intercepted another to end opposition dives in the state title game.
Villafana collected 65 tackles and made the interception that ignited the 47-7 romp over Connell in the semifinals.
“I have never coached a group like this,”Allred said. “All of these kids were first team All-League for the above positions except Valente Cortez. I believe he was one of the best in the state.”
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