Graham-Kapowsin QB Wood, Kamiakin QB Mercado have been friends since middle school
On Saturday, Graham-Kapowsin quarterback Joshua Wood and Kamiakin quarterback Henry Mercado will take the field, hoping to lead their respective teams to a win, which would send them to the Class 4A state championship game.
Despite growing up on opposite sides of the mountains, it’s not the first time the two quarterbacks have shared the field. Interestingly, Wood and Mercado were teammates during a Diamond All-American youth football game in the San Diego area, when they were middle schoolers.
“I remember he was easy to talk to, a cool dude,” Wood said. “Just able to make jokes with. We knew we had the same mindset coming into the game, just knowing what we were supposed to do, knowing our position and our part of the team. Being leaders, sharing that role.”
They both played quarterback back then, too, and split reps equally during the game. They quickly became friends, bonding over representing Washington and playing the quarterback position.
“He’s a good football player, obviously,” Mercado said. “We just got along pretty good.”
And they’ve kept tabs on each other over the years, following each other on Instagram and periodically checking on how football is going. Both Mercado and Wood said they’ve mostly been focused on their own programs. Now that their squads are set to face each other, they’ve watched more film on each other than they have in years. They both see similarities in each other’s game.
“We’re both able to escape out of the pocket, make something happen,” Wood said. “We’re both dual-threats. He can run and use his legs, make something happen and go score.”
Mercado said that Wood doesn’t get rattled, never looks hurried.
“He’s real poised in the pocket,” he said of his counterpart. “Knows how to stay patient, has great feet, obviously.”
It’s safe to say most coaches around the state would take either one of them right now, no questions asked. Wood, an Eastern Washington commit who was named the 4A South Puget Sound League offensive player of the year, has completed 138-of-191 passes for 2,114 yards and 31 touchdowns, adding 315 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
Mercado, the Mid-Columbia Conference offensive player of the year, has thrown for 2,624 yards and 40 touchdowns this year. He’s also rushed 57 times for 321 yards and four touchdowns.
“They’re both really good quarterbacks,” Kamiakin coach Scott Biglin said. “Josh can run, throw, seems like he’s a good leader. Just like Henry. (Henry) has really picked up his run game. Last year, he didn’t run it as much. This year, he’s thriving in the run part. His game has picked up. … A lot of people look at his size. I hope they look past that. He’s got one of the best arms I’ve ever had as a coach and his football IQ is through the roof.”
It’s been several years since Wood and Mercado shared the field together in that youth football All-American game. This time, the stakes are higher. The winner will take his team to the 4A state championship game. They’re excited to be on the field together one more time, hoping to get the better of one another.
“It’ll feel good,” Wood said. “Whoever comes out with the win, we’ll dap each other up and say congrats to whoever wins, tell them to keep your head up. To whoever loses, we’re going to stay friends and keep going.”
This story was originally published November 25, 2021 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Graham-Kapowsin QB Wood, Kamiakin QB Mercado have been friends since middle school."
