Monroe’s Greatest Quarterbacks: Blake Springer

Blake Springer celebrates another Monroe touchdown against Snohomish, 2023
Courtesy of Striped Hat Photography

Published on December 11, 2023

The years following Monroe’s 2017 State playoff run were marked by transition and change. After the 2019 season, Michael Bumpus left the program as longtime Assistant Coach Scott Darrow by promoted to Head Coach. Additionally, Monroe went down to the 3A classification, ending almost twenty years as a 4A school.[1] Before Coach Darrow and his Bearcats could play a full season, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, putting football on hiatus until Spring 2021. With a normal football schedule returning in Fall 2021, Monroe sought to reestablish itself and return to the State Playoffs. As the season began, a young Blake Springer looked to fulfill his goal of becoming a Monroe Bearcat. Over the course of three seasons, Blake Springer became the latest in the long history of legendary Monroe quarterbacks.

The Monroe Kid

Blake Springer in uniform during his first season of youth football, 2011
Courtesy of Becky Springer

For Blake Springer, Monroe football has been a life-long passion. As a young boy, Springer donned the orange and the black while playing youth football in Monroe.[2] While Blake dreamed of becoming a Bearcat, he was caught the attention of Monroe coaches long before he joined the team. His skills were noticed by Coach Scott Darrow, who marveled at his natural athletic ability. “Blake was a great player in youth football, it was obvious he was going to be good,” said Darrow in an interview. “Honestly I remember him throwing balls thirty or forty yards down field after our playoff game at Sumner in 2016 and I knew he was going to be good. He was just tossing the ball with friends, but it was obvious he had a huge arm even back then.”[3] Springer remained committed to his goal of becoming a Bearcat and in 2021, he would finally live it out.

After a decade of dreaming, Blake Springer made it onto the Bearcat varsity team as a sophomore. “It meant a lot,” recalled Springer. “Growing up around the program I had always wanted to be the Monroe quarterback. It has always been my dream to play at a high level and I was super excited to be able to have the chance.” Despite being on the team and listed as a quarterback, Blake’s dream was not quite complete. Evan Leggett, a Senior, already had experience at the quarterback position ahead of the 2021 season, leading to a battle for the starting role.[4] With both players having different skill sets and neither being able to secure the starting role, both quarterbacks would share the position as the season began.

the Dream becomes Reality

Blake Springer runs out of the pocket against Glacier Peak, 2021
Courtesy of Striped Hat Photography

Uncertainty hung in the air as the Bearcats embarked on their first full season since 2019. Many players had lost significant playing time due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Monroe would be playing teams they had not faced in years. In the opening game of the season against Ferndale, Monroe’s inexperience showed as the Bearcats fell 55-35. While Blake was able to complete the first two touchdown passes of his career, the two quarterback system hindered Monroe’s offensive production.[5] After a 50-21 blowout loss to Glacier Peak the following week, Coach Darrow began adjusting the offense and saw immediate results.

Blake Springer points out the defense before the snap against Woodway, 2021
Courtesy of Striped Hat Photography

The Bearcats routed Lynnwood and Mariner in the following weeks as Leggett and Springer increased their passing yardage. Though the season appeared to be heading in the right direction, Monroe dropped a close game to Woodway, leaving them with a 2-3 record.[6] In the defeat, Blake broke out with his strongest performance yet. Completing 27 of his 37 passes, Springer totaled 358 passing yards and three touchdown passes.[7] While Springer would share the position intermittently for the remainder of the season, Blake Springer became Monroe’s primary quarterback.

With Monroe’s quarterback battle settled, the team began to realize its full potential. According to Springer, the Bearcats “started clicking very well” as the offense solidified around Blake’s playstyle. “We never lost confidence either,” said Blake. “We knew we belonged in the conference title game and had full confidence that we would win.”[8] Following the loss to Woodway, Monroe rebounded with 42-0 and 62-0 wins over Meadowdale and Shorecrest.[9] These victories proved to be crucial as the Bearcats were now in position to play for the WESCO 3A South title. Standing in the way of Monroe would be Snohomish, an old rival who held a one game lead in the South division.

Blake Springer winds up for a pass against Meadowdale, 2021
Courtesy of Striped Hat Photography

In front of a raucous Monroe crowd, Snohomish scored first and continued to pile on points. Facing a 19-0 deficit late in the second quarter, the Bearcats began to mount a comeback after returning an interception for a touchdown. In the second half, Monroe’s offense awakened and slowly whittled Snohomish’s lead. In the fourth quarter, Monroe briefly took a 28-26 lead before Snohomish regained the advantage. Now trailing 34-28, Springer and the Bearcat offense mounted another drive as the fourth quarter was coming to a close. With three minutes left, Springer threw a costly interception that dashed Monroe’s hopes. The Bearcat defense rallied and forced a Snohomish punt, allowing Blake one final opportunity to mount a critical drive. With under a minute remaining, Springer threw a touchdown pass that evened that score at 34-34. With Monroe’s two point attempt failing, both teams headed into overtime. With Monroe beginning overtime on offense, Blake completed his third touchdown pass and was followed by a successful two-point attempt. Snohomish responded with a touchdown of its own but failed the two-point conversion, ending the game and delivering Monroe the WESCO South title.[10]

After an emotional victory, Monroe looked to an even larger prize ahead of them. The Bearcats were slated to take on Ferndale in a rematch that would decide the champion of the WESCO Conference. Both teams struggled on offense for the first quarter but then exploded for points as the second quarter began. A Blake Springer touchdown pass opened the scoring, culminating into a 22-14 Monroe lead at halftime. The Bearcats only added one more touchdown for the remainder of the game but the defense managed to preserve the lead. A crucial interception by Eli Miller snuffed out Ferndale’s hopes, sealing Monroe’s victory and its first conference title since 1991. Springer’s stats from the game were modest but effective, as he completed 12 passes on 21 attempts, totaling 161 passing yards and one touchdown pass.[11]

With the conference title secured, Monroe traveled to Lakewood to take on Lakes High School in the Qualifying Round of the State Playoffs. Lakes ran out to an early 14-0 lead after the first quarter but the Bearcats came back with 14 points of their own before halftime. Unfortunately for Monroe, the Lakes defense held the Bearcats scoreless for the rest of the game, winning 28-14.[12] Springer contributed heavily to Monroe’s offense, racking up 221 passing yards and two touchdown passes. Though his season ended before reaching the State Playoffs, Blake Springer’s inaugural year was a resounding success. He passed for 1,750 yards and threw 18 touchdown passes, impressive totals for a first-year quarterback.[13] With a year of experience, Blake prepared to take a greater step forward during his Junior season.

Returning to the State Playoffs

Blake Springer throws on the run against Kamiak, 2022
Courtesy of Striped Hat Photography

As the Bearcats approached the 2022 season, excitement was in the air as the players prepared to take another step forward. The team had proven itself in 2021 and in 2022, familiar faces came together. According to Springer, many of Monroe’s players had played in youth football together as kids and were now playing together on the high school team. Their shared chemistry would play a large part in the success of the team going forward. For Blake, 2022 was the first season he would play as Monroe’s full-time quarterback. Springer spoke about what it meant by stating, “Sophomore year I felt like I had to focus more on the position battle and less on being a leader on the team. Moving into my Junior year I was able to fill that leadership role and focus on being a game manager and winning games.”[14]

Blake Springer passes against oncoming Shorewood defenders, 2022
Courtesy of Striped Hat Photography

Blake’s Junior year campaign got off to a solid start as Monroe torched Roosevelt 56-14 in the opening game. Springer impressed by completing 19 of his 22 passes, resulting in 188 passing yards and three touchdown passes. He also added a rushing touchdown, giving him the first four touchdown game of his career.[15] Monroe’s hot start continued into the following weeks as the Bearcats crushed Shorecrest and Kamiak. After throwing for 336 yards and a career-high four touchdown passes against Kamiak, Blake broke his personal record and tied a school record the next week.[16] During a 70-26 beatdown of Lynnwood, Springer threw five touchdown passes as Monroe’s offense appeared to be unbeatable.[17] Springer and the Bearcats continued their dominant stretch through the rest of the regular season. The final game was largely uneventful as Monroe crushed Snohomish 49-7, earning another WESCO South title and an undefeated regular season.

In the WESCO 3A Championship game, Monroe took on Ferndale for the second straight season. After an early Ferndale score, the Bearcats added two touchdowns to take a 14-7 after the first quarter. The two teams went into halftime tied 21-21 but the momentum began shifting against Monroe. Ferndale’s offense continued to score while the defense neutralized Springer’s passing attack for the remainder of the game, picking off the Bearcat quarterback four times. Monroe was able to muster one final score late in the game but fell 34-28.[18] While the loss was demoralizing, the Bearcats focused their attention on the upcoming State Qualifying Round.

At home against Liberty, Monroe took the lead early and never surrendered it, comfortably winning 35-21. The win brought Monroe back to the State Playoffs for the first time since 2017. Blake played conservatively but was extremely efficient with his passes, completing 13 on 15 attempts for 113 yards and one touchdown pass. This was the fourth time that Springer finished a game with a completion percentage of 80 percent or better, displaying his remarkable accuracy.[19] The win was significant for Monroe as the program returned to the State Playoffs for the first time since 2017. In the First Round of the State Playoffs, the Bearcats traveled to face the Lincoln Abes.

Blake Springer sprints away from Lincoln players, 2022
Courtesy of Striped Hat Photography

The game began with promise as Monroe held an 8-7 lead in the first quarter. Unfortunately for the Bearcats, their slim lead quickly vanished as the game progressed. The Bearcats were held to just two scores as Lincoln ended Monroe’s season with a 49-16 rout.[20] The loss was a difficult end to the season but the Bearcats enjoyed greater success for the second consecutive season. Blake Springer also continued to grow as a quarterback as he logged in another stellar campaign. He completed 163 of 250 passes, adding up to a remarkable completion percentage of .652. He also totaled 2,221 passing yards, 25 touchdown passes against 11 interceptions, and two rushing touchdowns.[21] With his Junior season complete, Springer readied himself for his final season in Monroe.

The Last Ride

Blake Springer runs for yardage against Woodway, 2023
Courtesy of Striped Hat Photography

With the 2023 season approaching, the attention surrounding Blake Springer continued to grow. Colleges and scouts began to take notice of Blake’s talent as he was listed as a three-star player, one of the highest ratings ever given to a Monroe player.[22] For Springer himself, his last season was full of mixed emotions. “It felt weird knowing that this was my last season as a Bearcat,” he admitted. “It was a bittersweet season because I had an amazing time as a Bearcat and I got to spend my last year with the same guys I started with.” Still, the weight of expectations did not affect Blake’s outlook on the season. “I felt less pressure my senior year than any other season. I felt like I had already proven myself and I just had to go out there and play football like I know I’m able to.”[23]

Blake Springer throws a pass to a Bearcat running back, 2023
Courtesy of Striped Hat Photography

Despite the continued growth of the Bearcats, the first game of the season began with an unexpectedly close game. Monroe ran out to a 28-7 lead in the second quarter when Roosevelt, now vastly improved from the prior season, began to mount a comeback. The Bearcats fended off Roosevelt and came away with a close 34-28 victory. Blake threw for 237 yards and three touchdown passes but his performance was marred by two interceptions.[24] The game proved to be the closest Springer and the Bearcats came to defeat for the remainder of the regular season. As they had in 2022, Monroe dominated their opponents to begin the season and racked up huge margins of victory. In their next three games, the Bearcats scored over fifty points in each contest while only allowing six points. On offense, Springer was nearly unstoppable during the winning streak.

Blake Springer prepares to pass before being tackled by a Snohomish player, 2023
Courtesy of Striped Hat Photography

After throwing an interception in the third game of the season, Blake improved his passing efficiency to levels never seen before. He did not throw another for the next five games while completing multiple touchdown passes every contest. A week after Springer again tied a school record with five touchdown passes against Shorewood, the Bearcats clinched their third consecutive WESCO 3A South title with a win over Ferndale. Though Blake had been outstanding all season long, the best game of his career came against Snohomish in the final regular season game. Springer absolutely demolished the lowly Snohomish defense in a nearly perfect performance as Monroe romped to a 55-7 victory. He completed all but one of his fourteen passes as he threw for 306 yards and set a school record with six touchdown passes.[25] While many Monroe quarterbacks have had exceptional games, Springer’s game against Snohomish is arguably the greatest single-game performance by a Monroe quarterback.

With a second straight undefeated regular season behind them, the Bearcats now faced an old rival in the WESCO 3A Championship game. Arlington finished their own perfect regular season and proved to be a formidable opponent. Monroe fell behind in the first quarter and never overcame the deficit as Arlington shut down their potent offense. The game ended with a 45-18 defeat as the Bearcats suffered another devastating championship loss. Blake Springer was able to produce 277 passing yards and two touchdown passes but also threw two interceptions and had one of his lowest completion rates of the season.[26]

Despite the loss, the Bearcats readied themselves for their next challenge during the State Qualifying Round. At home against Bonney Lake, Springer and the Bearcats returned to form with a solid performance. The offense scored points throughout the contest while the defense held Bonney Lake in check. The 41-24 victory secured Monroe’s spot in the State Playoffs for the second consecutive season. Blake did not complete any touchdown passess but he contributed greatly to the win, completing 23 of 31 passes for 308 yards.[27] Rejuvenated after their victory, Monroe was slated to face a powerful Bellevue team in the First Round of the State Playoffs.

The Bearcats struck first in the contest as a blocked punt was returned for a touchdown. Bellevue quickly recovered and began overpowering Monroe’s vaunted defense while silencing the Bearcat offense. By the end of the first half, Monroe was down 35-7 as their playoff hopes dimmed.[28] Disaster struck early in the second half as Blake Springer received an injury that hampered his playing ability. It was later revealed that Blake suffered a broken left hand but he remained on the field for the remainder of the game. In addition to the injury, Springer tried to stave off thinking about this game being his last game at Monroe. “After the last drive it hit me,” said Springer.[29] A 49-7 loss ended Monroe’s season and Blake Springer’s illustrious career as a Bearcat.

A Storybook Career

Blake Springer speaks with his teammates on the sideline, 2023
Courtesy of Striped Hat Photography

Though many players have left their mark on Monroe football, Blake Springer shattered records that seemed unbreakable during his three seasons. In his Senior year, Blake passed for 2,649 yards and broke a single season school record after completing 32 touchdown passes. He also finished with a completion rate of 68 percent, a remarkable rate that undersold his accuracy. Springer’s accuracy for much of the season was exceptionally high as he completed more than 70 percent of his passes in seven games and over 80 percent in four games. Springer’s amazing Senior year added to an already impressive resume at Monroe. In addition to setting single game and single season touchdown records, his career marks completely surpassed all others. These included 75 career touchdown passes, 6,611 passing yards, and 478 career points.[30] These far exceed all prior records and is a testament to Blake’s talent and the length of his career. Over the course of three seasons, Springer played at an elite level and improved each year. Though the game of football is always changing, it is unlikely that Springer’s records will be surpassed in the near future.

Aside from statistics and games, Blake Springer’s story with Monroe football is remarkable. He grew up in Monroe and at a young age dreamed of becoming a Bearcat quarterback. Once he reached high school, he made his dream a reality while also becoming one of the most decorated players in program history. Though his time at Monroe came to an end, there is no doubt that Blake’s football career will continue into the future. While he has not committed to play anywhere, his talent and lengthy record of success make him a desirable prospect for many college programs. Wherever Springer chooses to play, he will always be remembered in the pantheon of Monroe’s greatest quarterbacks.

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