Hockinson football preview: Defending state champs have new QB, lots of weapons

Levi Crum faces perhaps the tallest task of any quarterback in Clark County: replace the golden boy.

The junior is set to step in for the recently graduated Canon Racanelli, the quarterback who brought the program its first state title eight months ago — and step into those shoes on a team that many, including Crum himself, project to be back in the Tacoma Dome in December.

How has the junior quarterback handled replacing Racanelli, who is also his first cousin? For starters, he’s kept his expectations in check.

“It’s just knowing that I’m not trying to do too much, simplify it for myself and not be like, ‘Canon had 74 TDs, I need to do that,’ I just need to do what I need to do to win the game,” Crum said.

It will help, too, that Crum has plenty of weapons around him, such as highly recruited wide receiver Sawyer Racanelli and dynamic 6-foot-5 receiver Peyton Brammer.

As a sophomore, Crum saw limited action on varsity. But he learned the playbook, and studied behind the most decorated quarterback in the county.

“We all got on Canon’s back last couple years and (head coach Rick Steele) doesn’t want Levi to have to step into that, so we’re trying to take a little pressure off,” defensive standout Jonathon Domingos said.

Still, Crum spent the summer in the weight room trying to build muscle, and on the Hawks’ 7-on-7 squad trying to build confidence.

At a 7-on-7 competition at the University of Washington in July, he did the latter.

Crum led a Hockinson team to victory against the likes of Graham-Kapowsin, Hazen, Skyline and Mercer Island, and past players who touted offers from UW, Alabama and Tennessee.

That went a long way. But for Crum, it’s only just the beginning.

“It was a big confidence builder,” Crum said. “Seeing the best schools in Washington and knowing we could beat them all, and that we’re better than them. It was fun to see where our ceiling is at.”

Freshman quarterback Levi Mallory, a promising young talent for Hockinson, posed a challenge for Crum, too, as the two shared reps at times.

For Domingos, it didn’t take much time to see this team’s potential. He admittedly took a mental break from football after the season ended, but once he began to assess the pieces Hockinson had coming back, he teemed with excitement.

“I like what we have,” he said. “It should be fun.”

3 THINGS TO KNOW

— Won program-first state title last season

— QB Levi Crum and WR Sawyer Racanelli are first cousins

— Sawyer Racanelli had 1801 yards and 28 TDs receiving last season

2017 season: 14-0, 6-0, first place 2A GSHL. Won 2A state championship.

Best state finish: State champion in 2017.

Schedule

Home games at Hockinson High school

League games in bold

Aug. 31 at Toppenish 7 p.m.

Sept. 6 at Archbishop Murphy 7 p.m.

Sept. 14 R.A. Long 7 p.m.

Sept. 21 Columbia River 7:00 p.m.

Sept. 28 Woodland 7 p.m.

Oct. 5 Mark Morris 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 19 at Washougal 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 26 Ridgefield at 7:00 p.m.