Could this be the year East Valley football finally breaks through?

If the Red Devils do end up winning the CWAC championship, it will likely hinge on the offensive triple threat of Jaxon Berg, Braden Albrecht and Greyson Stevens.

After reaching the state playoffs for the first time in 18 years, the Red Devils will lean heavily on their three returning all-league selections as they look to capitalize on their momentum from last season.

“We’ve all been playing together for years, and we’re excited to see what we can do,” said Berg, the team’s third-year starting quarterback. “We’ve definitely been putting in the work, and our expectation is to win a state title. Yeah, it’s a lofty goal, but we don’t want to set the bar any lower. It’s our last year, so it’s all or nothing.”

The Red Devils finished last season on a roll, winning five in a row before meeting their match in Franklin Pierce in the round of 16.

Berg amassed 1,843 passing yards and 22 touchdown passes in 2024, and his favorite target, Stevens, hauled in 984 yards and 14 TD catches through the air (20 total TDs). Albrecht provided the perfect complement on the ground, racking up 1,185 rushing yards and scoring nine TDs (11 total).

With that level of productivity, Berg and his teammates are confident that they can pick up where they left off — and keep rising.

“A lot of growth has happened with our offense in the past year, and now, we can go even deeper into our playbook,” he said. “This group of seniors has been waiting for an opportunity like this for a long time. We’ve created a real brotherhood here, and we truly believe this is our year.”

Twenty of the 22 starting positions will be filled by seniors, 18 of whom are returning starters.

Everyone has bought in, and everyone knows their role. EV also features a deep junior class that will be looking to make its mark, but what it really comes down to this year for the Red Devils is the supremely talented Class of 2026.

“This is such a great class overall, both in terms of character and athletic ability,” said head coach Eric Berg, Jaxon’s dad. “A lot of them have been starting since they were sophomores, so they understand what it takes to win.”

Coach Berg has been working alongside his son since he was 5 years old, first in flag football and then Grid Kids. The younger Berg started teaming up with Albrecht in the sixth grade and they’ve worn the same colors ever since.

Stevens came along a few years later, transferring to EV as a sophomore. But he was a known commodity on the youth football circuit and became a welcome addition to the Red Devils’ 

roster two seasons ago.

“We played against Greyson in Grid Kids and always knew who he was,” Eric Berg said. “When he decided to transfer to East Valley, I thought, ‘this could be something special.’”

Turns out the coach’s predictions were correct as Stevens flourished on both sides of the ball since his arrival. Aside from his offensive prowess, he snared five interceptions last season — two for touchdowns — and also returned two kickoffs and two punts for scores.

Stevens’ hard work has paid off and he has committed to play for Montana State.

“Greyson just goes at a different speed,” coach Berg said. “He’s just at a different level athletically, and it’s awesome to have him on our side.”

Albrecht also stars on both sides of the ball, earning first-team all-conference selections as a linebacker and running back the past two seasons. Coach Berg said he’s the strongest player on the team, pound for pound, and he is also entertaining some offers to play at the next level.

“Once Braden figured out that he could just use his strength and run through people, he’s been pretty hard to stop,” the coach said.

Jaxon Berg hopes to join his teammates in the college ranks after this season, although he’s still waiting for the right opportunity to come along. Until it does, he’s just going to continue working hard and letting the chips fall where they may.

“Team success is the end goal, but I would definitely like to keep playing after high school,” he said. “I think that if I continue to trust my teammates and get the ball in the right hands, the stats will come. The rest will take care of itself.”

If coach Berg had any sway with the college scouts, he would tell them:

“Jaxon is a really good football player, but he’s also a great person,” he said. “He’s the captain of the captains for this program, and all of the other kids follow his lead.”