Columbia River entered last season with two towering figures battling for a quarterback spot. Both those players are now gone, and there isn’t another 6-foot-3, 200-pound body to step in. Enter Mason Priddy. The red-headed junior stands 5-8 and 170 pounds. Before he throws, it’s hard to tell he’s a football player, let alone the Chieftains starter under center. As he slings the ball around in summer 7-on-7s, it’s easy to see why new coach Brett Smedley has tabbed him for the gig.
Priddy will guide Smedley’s spread offense this season as the Chieftains eye another playoff run.
“It’s a whole new offense and it’s all based on spacing and getting the most out of it,” said Priddy, who makes clear he has something to prove. “I just go out there and do me, and show them I’m not small and unathletic.”
The offense isn’t the only thing changing this season. River graduated 26 seniors and welcomes a new face atop the team, as Smedley, the defensive coordinator a year ago, takes over.
This article is part of The Columbian's High School Fall Sports 2019 special section, published in print on Sept. 1. View it online.
“We love our new coach,” Priddy said. “He’s super honest about everything and knows a lot about football.”
Smedley’s familiarity with the group has allowed him to quickly pick out the next wave of stars at Columbia River.
Isaac Bibb-O’Neil ran for 208 yards and six touchdowns last year and should give the Chieftains a weapon out of the backfield. He’ll run behind a bruising offensive line that includes returners Kyle Sheldon and Caeden Craig. AJ Ahyek and Cody Hardy, too, are big bodies in the trenches. At the skill positions, Keith Blau, Max Sturtevant and Jacob Ayers should give Priddy plenty of weapons.
And while everything has gone seamlessly in practice, Smedley is well aware things change when the lights flicker on.
“We’ll know if it’s all sunk in when the tough times come around,” he said.
3 Things to Know
— The Chieftains graduate 26 seniors from last year’s final varsity roster.
— Coach Brett Smedley has one year of prior head coaching experience: Coupeville in 2015.
— Columbia River has made the postseason in each of the past eight years
