Kaden Jenks named first team all-state quarterback

ROYAL CITY — Junior quarterback Kaden Jenks of Royal High School was named the first team quarterback on the class 1A all-state football team selected recently by the Associated Press.

Also named to the first team, and deservedly so, was senior wide receiver Sam Christensen. He was also named at defensive back.

Joe Lang, the running back who couldn’t run up the statistics because of the greatness of his team, was named among the honorable mentions. But he made first team as a defensive back.

Also making honorable mention, which really is the second team, was senior wide receiver Jose Ponce.

There was disappointment for the Royal defense. Although it allowed only five points per game over 14 games, the AP could not find one lineman or linebacker from Royal for the honorable mention list, let alone the first team.

And there was not a single Royal offensive lineman on first team nor among the honorable mentions. You can only surmise that the Royal program develops so many good players it’s difficult to distinguish the great ones.

Jenks and Sam Christensen would be first tell you there was a lot more to this team than explosive offense. The defense smothered the opposition.

The entire 1A all-state team follows:

• Player of the year — Bryce Hoisington, jr., Vashon Island.

1st TEAM: Offense

• Quarterback — Kaden Jenks, jr., Royal.
• Running backs — Bryce Hoisington, jr., Vashon Island; Jed Schleimer, jr., Mount Baker.
• Wide receivers — Sam Christensen, sr., Royal; Jacob Cleveringa, sr., Zillah.
• Tight end — Steven Kroontje, sr., Connell.
• All-purpose — Kylar Prante, sr., Montesano.
• Offensive line — Hutton Napier, sr., Montesano; Kodie Hathaway, sr., Zillah; Mathew Davidson, sr., Connell; Kolton Zender, sr., Mount Baker; Jared Flattum, sr., Cascade Christian.
• Kicker — Connor Lovell, sr., Montesano.

Defense

• Defensive line — Oscar Cantu, sr., Cashmere; Te’ave Magalei, sr., Cascade Christian; T.J. Bass, jr., Mount Baker; Hutton Napier, sr., Montesano.
• Linebackers — Gabriel Wallis, sr., Klahowya; Hunter Esary, sr., Kalama; Tahj Malone, sr., Hoquiam; Blaine Ross, sr., Zillah.
• Defensive backs — Josh Seaton, sr., Cascade Christian; Joe Lang, sr., Royal; Sam Christensen, sr., Royal; Nick Perry, jr., La Salle.

HONORABLE MENTION

• Running backs — Thomas Pier, sr., Tenino; Joe Lang, sr., Royal.
• Tight end — Blaine Ross, sr., Zillah.
• All-purpose — Jose Ponce, sr., Royal.
• Offensive line — Ridge Walston, sr., Colville; Keegan Khile, sr., Port Townsend; Te’Ave Magalei, sr., Cascade Christian; David Hoglund, sr., Port Townsend.
• Defensive line — Zane Cully, sr., Goldendale; Jared Flattum, sr., Cascade Christian; Ridge Walston, sr., Colville.
• Linebackers — Kyle Milton, sr., Cascade Christian; Peyton Berry, sr., Cascade Christian; Jack Hinds, sr., Colville; Garrett Brown, jr., Lakeside; Dallas Rodriguez, sr., Connell; Cooper Wright, sr., King’s; Keegan Khile, sr., Port Townsend.
• Defensive backs — Jacob Ralls, sr., Port Townsend; Logan Boardman, sr., Goldendale.