A quarterback in a linebacker’s body, Kieran McDonagh can throw the deep ball, plus he has a nice touch with the short passes.
When he gets in trouble, he can run. He might even take the opportunity to run over a defender instead of around one.
Yep, more than a linebacker’s body, he also has a linebacker’s mentality.
It took about half the season and an injury to a teammate, but junior Kieran McDonagh has arrived for the Skyview football team. At 4-0 as the starting quarterback, he is preparing to face Union for the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League football crown.
When he leads the Skyview offense onto the field Friday night at McKenzie Stadium, surely he will be playing in front of thousands of spectators. This Skyview-Union tilt has been hyped since August, long before most of Clark County knew about Kieran McDonagh.
Football fans know him now.
A two-year starter at La Salle High School in Milwaukie, Ore., — the Washington equivalent of a 2A program — McDonagh, who lives in Vancouver, enrolled at Skyview last February.
“I didn’t really expect anything. I just thought I’d have to prove myself,” McDonagh said. “I knew there were older players, and players who have been here for years. I was just trying to work harder than them. I had to get bigger and faster for a higher level of football.”
Skyview athletes looking to get better head to the Breakfast Club, conditioning drills that begin at 6 a.m., prior to school days. All athletes, not just football players, are invited. McDonagh said he started going as soon as he got to Skyview. He wanted to be ready for spring drills, for training camp in August, and for game time in the fall.
As a 6-foot, 2-inch, 225-pound athlete, he quickly showed the coaches that he was worthy of playing time for the Storm. However, Kody Watts beat out McDonagh for the starting quarterback role for Week 1. And for the next few weeks, the plan was for both to compete in practice for more snaps. McDonagh got a few plays at quarterback early and also excelled as a linebacker. Back and forth it went before Watts went down with an ankle injury.
McDonagh became the starting QB in Week 5, and the Storm have averaged 47.75 points per game in the four victories.
Against Columbia River, McDonagh completed 13 of 14 passes for 215 yards and four touchdowns.
“The biggest thing is what he hasn’t done,” Skyview coach Steve Kizer said. “He knows how important ball security is. He throws it away when he has to. He doesn’t turn it over. He’s got good decision-making skills.”
With his talent, and the fact that he is only a junior and should get a lot more experience, it is only natural that he is dreaming of playing college football one day.
“He should have those aspirations,” Kizer said. “He’s got great size, he’s got a great arm, and he’s got a great brain. He’s going to go somewhere.”
McDonagh is quick to credit his receivers — the best in the state, he says — his offensive linemen, and running back Parker Henry for taking the pressure away from him in his first season at Washington’s 4A level. By them doing their jobs, it is easier for him to do his job.
Kizer says those other guys are responding to McDonagh, too.
“He has the support of the offense, and that’s huge,” Kizer said. “He’s become a good leader.”
McDonagh’s only regret about being the No. 1 quarterback is he is seeing little time at linebacker.
“It’s fun to hit people,” he said. “I miss the thrill on defense. The crowd goes nuts when we are on defense.”
The Skyview crowd is loud, too, after all those touchdown passes. McDonagh’s four TD passes last week all came in the second quarter.
“I really had no idea I had a perfect first half until someone told me,” McDonagh said of his 8-for-8 performance in the first two quarters. “Austin Dodge (the starter for Skyview the past two seasons) told me not to break any of his records.”
Well, McDonagh came close. Dodge completed 15 of 16 passes in a playoff game last year.
Playoff appearances have become a regularity at Skyview. The Storm have won three of the past four 4A GSHL titles and are looking for a fourth this week. Win or lose, the team has qualified for the state qualifying round.
“I’m just trying to join the tradition that’s been going on here the past four years,” McDonagh said.
With the victories come the big crowds. La Salle has a good football team, as well, but it’s a small, private school.
“It’s totally different,” McDonagh said. “The atmosphere (here) is just ridiculous. It’s louder. More people. Everyone’s cheering. They know what’s going on. Nothing comes close to what it is over here.”
Friday night, Kieran McDonagh and the Skyview Storm will be in another wild environment.
