In a high school football career that was nothing short of sensational, Austin Joyner saved the best for last.
In his senior season at Marysville Pilchuck last fall, Joyner put up remarkable numbers as a Tomahawks running back. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Joyner rushed for 1,768 yards on 133 carries, a 13.3 average. Thirty-two of those carries went for touchdowns.
In addition, Joyner had seven pass receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown, three punt returns for touchdowns, and he even tossed a 46-yard TD pass.
After the season Joyner was named to the Class 3A all-state first team, making it three consecutive years he has been a first-team all-state pick.
For his memorable achievements in his final MP season, Joyner was a finalist for The Herald’s Man of the Year in Sports award.
In an interview after the season, Tomahawks head coach Brandon Carson called Joyner “a once-in-a-lifetime type of player for me as a coach. … I think you could say that over the course of the last three years, each and every time he’s stepped on the football field, we’ve had the best player on the field.”
Others saw the same special abilities from Joyner. Among them, University of Washington football coach Chris Petersen, who recruited Joyner to play for the Huskies. Joyner begins his college career later this summer.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.