When Darren Schmitt — Evergreen High’s can’t-miss, 6-foot-6, 225-pound tight end — was asked if he misses playing basketball, his answer came quickly.

“No,” the senior said. “I love the coaches at Evergreen, I love the players, and I feel like our team works harder than anybody else in the state. But I don’t really miss basketball at all. I know where I want to be — I know what I love.

“So football is where I want to stay.”

Basketball’s loss is football’s gain in a big way for Schmitt and the Plainsmen, who are back in the postseason as the 3A Greater St. Helens League runners-up.

On Friday, Evergreen (6-3) travels to face Liberty of Renton (8-1) in the Week 10 state preliminary round.

Those who remember Schmitt from Evergreen’s playoff-bound team in 2024 may not recognize the player

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