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SBLive/SI Washington high school preseason all-state football team for 2024

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SBLive/SI Washington high school preseason all-state football team for 2024


As the 2024 Washington high school football season is set to kick off starting Thursday night, here is the final element of SBLive WA’s preview coverage:

The preseason all-classification, all-state team.

Five of the six WIAA classifications have representatives on the team. In all, players from 16 different leagues were chosen.

Our guiding criteria:

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1. Recent individual performance and accolades, especially in 2023.

2. Success of team holds considerable weight in selections.

3. A player was only eligible at one position.

Here is SBLive WA’s 2024 preseason all-state football team (names in position groups were listed in alphabetical order):

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Bellevue's Willi Wascher, left, and Demetri Manning, work together for Bellevue High School at the Thurston County Team Camp

Bellevue’s Willi Wascher, left, and Demetri Manning, work together for Bellevue High School at the Thurston County Team Camp in Tumwater. / Photo by Todd Milles

ALL-STATE OFFENSE

Quarterback: Kolton Matson, Lake Stevens, sr. (4A)

Program record-setter won a few significant awards in 2023, including Gatorade state player of year.

Running back: Indiana Jones, Kennedy Catholic, sr. (4A)

Incredible how 4A NPSL MVP comes from Wing-T background, yet is so fluid as pass catcher.

Running back: Jayshon Limar, Lake Stevens, sr. (4A)

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Legs of steel, hands of glue – all he wants to do is finish his prep career like older brother, Jayden.

Running back: Alex Roberts, Kennewick, sr. (3A)

Top running back in eastern Washington is a wiggle-pop-and-go runner with breakaway speed.

Wide receiver: Brayden Allen, Ridgeline, sr. (3A)

Replaces Bode Gardner as undisputed best perimeter playmaker in Spokane for pass-happy Falcons.

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Wide receiver: Gavin Packer, Skyview, sr. (4A)

Makes covering defensive backs look foolish with his footwork as arguably state’s top route runner.

Wide receiver: Cam Weir, Skyline, sr. (4A)

If is is elite speed you like, Weir has it as Spartans will find creative ways to keep football in his hands.

Tight end: Noah Flores, Graham-Kapowsin, sr. (4A)

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UCLA commit has always had good hands and keen spacial sense – and now he has prominent role.

Offensive lineman: Demetri Manning, Bellevue, sr. (3A)

Nice off the field, nasty in the trenches at left tackle as state’s top lineman recruit headed to Oregon.

Offensive lineman: Joellz “Jojo” Matautia, Eastside Catholic, sr. (3A)

Coming off junior season earning 3A Metro lineman of year honors at center and noseguard.

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Offensive lineman: Mason Perez, Othello, sr. (2A)

Reigning 2A CWAC MVP is the classification’s immovable object on both lines for run-first Huskies.

Offensive lineman: Jacob Tracy, Yelm, sr. (4A)

After playing tight end as junior, switched positions to left tackle in offseason; Boise State commit.

Offensive lineman: Willi Wascher, Bellevue, sr. (3A)

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Best center in the state, this undersized USC commit is going to be rare four-year starter at Bellevue.

Multipurpose: Lance Allred, Royal, sr. (1A)

Moved to quarterback from his receiver spot in 2023, and did not miss beat as 1A player of year.

Athlete: Terrance Saryon, Evergreen of Vancouver, jr. (3A)

Lines up in backfield or on perimeter to touch football. Once that happens, he creates big-play magic.

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Placekicker: Austin Ferencz, Sumner, sr. (4A)

Seems like Sumner is a destination spot for strong-legged kickers – and he is one of state’s best.

Camas' Luke Webb, a WSU commit, could register 20-plus sacks in first season in 4A GSHL.

Camas’ Luke Webb, a WSU commit, could register 20-plus sacks in first season in 4A GSHL. / Photo by Dan Brood

ALL-STATE DEFENSE

Defensive lineman: Derek Colman-Brusa, Kennedy Catholic, jr. (4A)

Just does things athletes his size aren’t supposed to do. Might be best player in Washington.

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Defensive lineman: Carter Kuchenbuch, Okanogan, sr. (2B)

His future is at tight end at Boise State, but he sets edge on defense – and plays a mean quarterback.

Defensive lineman: David Schwerzel, O’Dea, jr. (3A)

Irish’s defensive front loaded with D1 talent, but his size-speed blend gives him biggest upside.

Defensive lineman: Luke Webb, Camas, sr. (4A)

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Highest-revving motor in the state might belong to this California transfer who is physical specimen.

Linebacker: Jonathan Epperson Jr., Auburn Riverside, sr. (4A)

UW commit gained 25 pounds in offseason so he can deliver bigger hits (and run faster). Yikes!.

Linebacker: Liufau Loumoli, Eastside Catholic, soph. (3A)

Broke into loaded starting defensive lineup as ninth grader, and showed mad skills getting to football.

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Linebacker: Cooper MacPherson, Chiawana, sr. (4A)

Coaches have been raving about this rangy, physical model as being generational performer in MCC.

Linebacker: Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, Bethel, sr. (4A)

Top senior recruit in state (and UW commit) has brute physicality of a lineman, ball skills of a safety,

Linebacker: Nikko Speer, Camas, sr. (4A)

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Instinctual middle linebacker had a whopping 144 tackles as 4A GSHL defensive MVP last fall.

Defensive back: Brady Beaner, Anacortes, sr. (2A)

Talks loud – and his play on the perimeter is even louder as all-state safety; Montana commit.

Defensive back: Cassidy Bolong-Banks, Roosevelt, sr. (3A)

With his speed and strength, can play cornerback, safety and nickel – and will lead Roosevelt defense.

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Defensive back: Elijah Durr, Mount Tahoma, jr. (3A)

A lockdown cornerback, he has uncanny knack of finding the football before the wide receiver.

Defensive back: David Kuku, Kamiakin, sr. (4A)

Rangy athlete with elite ball-playing skills at cornerback, all-MCC first teamer headed to WSU.

Defensive back: Casey Larson, Woodinville, sr. (4A)

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Big-framed all-4A KingCo cornerback pounces on wide receivers in a hurry; committed to Idaho.

Hybrid: Brock Beaner, Anacortes, sr. (2A)

SBLive WA’s two-way player of the year in 2023 can play at all levels of a defense; Montana commit.

Punter: Felix Romero, Montesano, sr.. (1A)

One of the region’s top-ranked punter, he takes care of Bulldogs’ special teams – and will play QB.

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Brothers shot Park Police officer who arrested one of them the day before, documents say

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Brothers shot Park Police officer who arrested one of them the day before, documents say


Charging documents reveal the U.S. Park Police officer who was shot Monday in Southeast D.C. had arrested one of the suspects the day before and was following that suspect at the time.

The suspects are brothers, 22-year-old Asheile Foster and 21-year-old Darren Foster, of Southeast. They appeared in federal court Wednesday afternoon.

Court documents state the Park Police officer who was shot had arrested Asheile Foster on Sunday on suspicion of dealing drugs. The officer said he followed Foster after he was released from jail on Monday and came to Park Police headquarters to get his personal belongings.

According to prosecutors, Foster told police he knew he was being followed by a white Tesla, and he confronted the officer on Queens Stroll Place SE, jumping out in front of the Tesla before the officer swerved around him.

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Then, dozens of gunshots went off, the officer told police. He said in charging documents he was shot in the shoulder as he kept driving several blocks to the intersection of Benning Road and Southern Avenue SE, where police found him. A helicopter then took him to a hospital. According to charging documents, the officer was treated and released the same night as the shooting.

A U.S. Park Police officer who was shot in Southeast D.C. on Monday is recovering from what authorities say was likely a targeted attack. Multiple law enforcement sources tell News4’s Mark Segraves that when the officer was shot, he was investigating a shooting that occurred in Anacostia Park on Friday.

Photos in the charging documents show the brothers firing at the officer’s Tesla, according to prosecutors.

The shooting drew a massive police presence to the Southeast neighborhood near the D.C-Maryland border Monday night.

Shell casings littered the middle of the street. Police said they recovered two weapons: a Glock 9 with an extended magazine and an AR-15.

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Prosecutors said that when the officer was shot, he was investigating a shooting that occurred in Anacostia Park on Friday. No one was injured in that shooting.

Darren Foster was located and stopped shortly after the shooting, D.C. police said. Asheile Foster was found on Tuesday.

The brothers were charged with assault on a federal officer, assault with intent to kill and weapons charges. They could face up to 60 years in prison if they’re convicted.



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Washington passes new AI laws to crack down on misinformation, protect minors

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Washington passes new AI laws to crack down on misinformation, protect minors


Washington just became the latest state to regulate artificial intelligence.

Under a pair of bills signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson Tuesday, companies like OpenAI and Anthropic will have to include new disclosures in their popular chatbots for Washington users.

Ferguson asked legislators to craft House Bill 1170 to crack down on AI-generated misinformation. When content is substantially modified using generative AI, that information will now have to be traceable using watermarks or metadata. The new law applies to large AI companies more than 1 million monthly subscribers.

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“ I’m confident I’m not the only Washingtonian who often sees something on my phone and wondering to myself, ‘Is that AI or is it real?’ And I feel like I’m a reasonably discerning person,” Ferguson said during the bill signing. “It is virtually impossible these days.”

RELATED: WA Gov. Bob Ferguson calls for regulations on AI chatbot companions

House Bill 2225 establishes new guard rails for AI chatbots that act like friends or companions. It applies to services like ChatGPT and Claude, but excludes more narrowly tailored chatbots, like the customer service windows that pop up when visiting a corporate website.

Chatbots that fit the bill will have to disclose to users that they are not human at the start of every conversation, and every three hours in an ongoing chat. The tools will also be barred from pretending to be human in conversation with users.

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The rules go further if the user is a minor. Companies that operate chatbots will have to disclose that the tools are not human every hour, rather than every three hours, if the user is under 18. The bill forbids AI companions from having sexually explicit conversations with underage users. It also bans “manipulative engagement techniques.” For example, a chatbot is not allowed to guilt or pressure a minor into staying in a conversation or keeping information from parents.

“AI has incredible potential to transform society,” Ferguson said. “At the same time, of course, there are risks that we must mitigate as a state, especially to young people. So I speak partly as a governor, but also as the father of teenage twins who grapple with this as a lot of parents do every single day.”

Under the law, AI chatbots will not be allowed to encourage or provide information on suicide or self-harm, including eating disorders. The companies behind these tools will be required to come up with a protocol for flagging conversations that reference self-harm and connecting users with mental health services.

The regulations come in the wake of several high-profile instances of teenage suicide following prolonged interactions with AI companions that showed warning signs. Many more AI users of all ages have reported mental health issues and psychosis after heavy use of the technology.

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Washington faces Utah, aims to stop 16-game skid

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Washington faces Utah, aims to stop 16-game skid


Washington Wizards (16-55, 14th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (21-51, 14th in the Western Conference)

Salt Lake City; Wednesday, 9 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Washington heads into the matchup with Utah after losing 16 in a row.

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The Jazz have gone 13-24 in home games. Utah ranks second in the Western Conference with 16.6 fast break points per game led by Lauri Markkanen averaging 3.3.

The Wizards are 5-29 in road games. Washington is 9-10 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents and averages 15.3 turnovers per game.

The Jazz score 117.4 points per game, 6.7 fewer points than the 124.1 the Wizards give up. The Wizards’ 46.1% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.9 percentage points lower than the Jazz have allowed to their opponents (49.0%).

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Jazz won the last meeting 122-112 on March 6, with Ace Bailey scoring 32 points in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Kyle Filipowski is averaging 10.5 points and 6.9 rebounds for the Jazz. Brice Sensabaugh is averaging 19.9 points over the last 10 games.

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Alex Sarr is averaging 16.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and two blocks for the Wizards. Will Riley is averaging 14.4 points over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 3-7, averaging 116.4 points, 43.3 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 9.9 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.7 points per game.

Wizards: 0-10, averaging 114.3 points, 37.4 rebounds, 24.5 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 130.6 points.

INJURIES: Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: out (hip), Isaiah Collier: out (hamstring), Keyonte George: out (leg), Cody Williams: out (shoulder), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic: out for season (nose), Jaren Jackson Jr.: out for season (knee).

Wizards: Anthony Davis: out (finger), Tristan Vukcevic: day to day (back), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Alex Sarr: day to day (toe), Tre Johnson: day to day (foot), Kyshawn George: out (elbow), D’Angelo Russell: out (not injury related), Trae Young: out (quad).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.



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