2021 Football Preview: 10 top offensive players to watch in the Mid-Columbia

One thing we do know about the upcoming high school football season — which start Sept. 2 with a few games, and the majority kickoff off Friday night — is that there is plenty of offensive firepower around here.

So much so that when we try to narrow things down to 10 players to watch in the big-school ranks, we know we’re leaving some deserving players off of the list.

For example, Kamiakin’s two senior quarterbacks, Payton Graham and Henry Mercado, are both outstanding. They both will be seeing action on what is another state-ranked Class 4A school. Graham, in fact, will be listed on the defensive side of the ball. And Mercado is a three-year starter at QB.

Or two-way lineman Isaiah Anderson of Chiawana will be missing from this list and the ensuing top 10 players to watch on defense list. Anderson, who signed a letter of intent to wrestle for Oregon State University, has a shoulder injury that will likely keep him off the gridiron this fall.

Or for that matter, multi-talented athlete Dash Sirmon of Walla Walla.

Some of the following players could play on either side of the ball. But we’ve put a few of them in on offense.

So here are 10 players to watch this season in the big-school ranks:

▪ Chase Elliott, quarterback, Hermiston.

An extremely talented three-sport athlete who already has committed to playing baseball beginning in 2022-23 at Mt. Hood Community College, the senior can beat you either with his legs or his arm. If the Bulldogs can give him enough time in the pocket, Hermiston could do some damage.

▪ Simeon Howard, wide receiver, Kennewick.

If you think Howard has been playing football for the Lions forever, you’re not far off. He’s been a big part of the Lions since he was a freshman.

Now a senior, Howard will do pretty much everything — offense, defense, punt. Oh yes, he’s also a standout baseball player.

▪ Jake Humphrey, running back, Walla Walla.

Now a senior, Humphrey burst onto the scene two years ago as a sophomore transfer from Idaho. He’s usually the focus of the Blue Devils’ offense and can easily get them over 100 yards rushing every game.

He’s also a tough, hard-nosed linebacker that will be wherever the ball is.

▪ Ayden Knapik, lineman, Kennewick.

Knapik was a two-way standout for the Lions in the spring, being named first-team All-Mid-Columbia Conference as both an offensive lineman and as a defensive lineman.

His big 6-foot-7 frame makes it hard for opposing defensive linemen and linebackers to get around him to the quarterback.

▪ Michael Kot, kicker, Chiawana.

It’s bad enough that the Riverhawks can find ways to put the ball into the end zone for touchdown after touchdown.

But even if the offense stalls, they’ve got a standout kicker who can at least give them 3 points.

Kot has a strong leg. I saw video of him last soccer season kicking a ball over 50 yards into the net for a goal.

▪ Myles Mayovsky, running back, Kennewick.

A starter for the Lions since his freshman season, Mayovsky is now a senior and the leader of this team. He also will man a linebacker spot for the Lions.

On offense, he can beat you on the outside with his blazing speed. But he also knows how to run up the middle and get the tough yardage. He can also come out of the backfield and catch the football. He will provide plenty of headaches to defenses this season.

▪ Myles Newhouse, running back, Sunnyside.

Newhouse was the Big Nine Conference’s Offensive MVP this past spring, and is part of a lethal 1-2 punch that the Grizzlies will have on offense this fall.

He can hurt you by rushing with the ball, and he can hurt you even more taking a screen pass and dashing to the end zone.

▪ Elijah Rodriguez, running back, Richland.

Named first-team All-MCC last spring at both running back and defensive line (an interesting combination), this guy will be a big reason if the Bombers can go deep into the postseason.

Bombers head coach Mike Neidhold realized he had something special last season when Rodriguez started gobbling up rushing yards and clock time.

▪ Logan Rodriguez, quarterback, Sunnyside.

Rodriguez is the other half of the Grizzlies’ 1-2 punch on offense, and he’s done a great job of slinging the football all over the field in the high-powered Sunnyside offense. He was the Big 9’s first-team selection at his position in the spring.

▪ Aaron Tano, lineman, Kamiakin.

Tano was the co-Lineman of the Year this past spring in the MCC, and he could easily be inserted onto the defensive side of the ball in these lists.

Now a senior, back when Tano came out for football — late, I might add — as a sophomore in 2019, he immediately made a big impression on Kamiakin head coach Scott Biglin. He’s been impressing ever since.

▪ JP Zamora, quarterback, Chiawana.

Now a senior, Zamora has been the Riverhawks’ QB ever since his freshman season. This is his team this year.

He de-committed from the University of Utah a while back, so he’s still on the market.

With Chiawana, opposing defenses will get the fury of his passing arm to multiple receivers. But just try to plug up the secondary: he can beat you with his legs too.

We’ll also be taking a look at players to watch among the defensive ranks. Plus we’ll put out the compiled big-school football schedule.