Olympia’s Juergens thought he was too small for football. Now he’s one of the state’s top receivers

Mason Juergens had always played football.

But when he enrolled at Olympia High School in the fall of 2019, he joined the tennis team instead.

“I felt like I was too small to make an impact in football,” he said.

The delay of football from fall to winter during the 2020-21 school year because of COVID-19 gave his body a chance to mature, restoring Juergens’ confidence. He’s now listed as 6-foot-2, 195 pounds.

By the time the next full football season came around last fall, Juergens, catching passes from his cousin, Portland State-bound quarterback Gabe Downing, was the state leader among receivers statistically.

He caught 72 passes for 1,172 yards and 16 touchdowns playing in what’s regarded as one of the state’s toughest leagues in the Class 4A South Puget Sound League.

One recruiting website called him the best football player among 4A’s 2021’s non-seniors, period. He’s preseason 4A all-state this year as a senior.

More than the possibility of earning various honors drew Juergens — part of a city-wide extended sports family that includes not only Downing, but the quarterbacks’ younger brothers, Juergens’ sister Lauren, a Bears’ basketball player, and the notable Penner family, whose three siblings played sports well at Capital — back to football.

“I was missing football when I didn’t play — the connectedness, the family, everything about Olympia,” he said. “I love making my teammates and my coaches happy.”

As a kid who started out in flag football during first grade and transitioned to tackle in third grade, Juergens played mostly running back. But, when he returned to the sport as a sophomore after that season away, that family tie with Downing beckoned.

“I enjoy scoring touchdowns and I’ve got a pretty good quarterback who makes that pretty easy,” he said.

With another strong wide receiver available to throw to in senior Parker Fouts and running back Kenyatta McNeese Jr., a 750-yard rusher who earned 4A SPSL honors last season, also a viable option to pick up key yardage, the Downing-to-Juergens connection is only one aspect of Olympia’s offense opponents need to defend.

Downing, Juergens said, has a knack for picking the right options in the right moments.

“He does a really good job of reading defenses. He’s a really talented guy,” Juergens said. “I’m usually alright at getting open and he puts the ball in the perfect spot.”

If Juergens had to file a scouting report on himself, he’d report on a player with some skills and an area that needs some improvement.

“I have pretty good hands. I’m pretty good at keeping my balance and breaking tackles,” he said. “I’m explosive, but I need to be more explosive and get faster.”

Olympia coach Nick Mullen doesn’t agree completely with Juergens’ assessment.

“Mason’s deceptively fast. He catches people off guard,” Mullen said. “He knows how to use his body. He runs well. His first step is crazy explosive. If he bodies you, you’re not touching the ball. His biggest strength is body control, body awareness.”

Mullen also is impressed by the connection the cousins have.

“They have an unspoken communication,” he said. “For example, back shoulder throws are pretty stinking hard to make, but these guys do it routinely. If it’s in Mason’s catch radius, he’s catching it.”

Juergens is no secret to colleges and has offers, including one to join Downing in Portland. He wouldn’t mind continuing their on-field connection, but is keeping his options open.

“We’ll see what the season brings,” he said. “To be honest, I’m focused on winning games and proving people wrong.”

Mullen’s been impressed by how Juergens, Downing, Fouts, McNeese and other seniors such as 6-3, 255-pound defensive end Aiden Dehnis have handled their pandemic-altered high school careers.

“This senior class, we’ve grown up a lot together,” said Mullen, in his third season at Olympia after 11 years at Timberline. “I got the job and then COVID hit. They’ve weathered the storm, and now I think they’re in a perfect position to surprise. I feel like this is my first real year. I feel brand new.”

This story was originally published August 23, 2022 at 5:00 AM.