East Valley’s class of 2026 last fall cleared one historical hurdle – returning the Red Devils to the Class 2A state playoffs for the first time since 2006.

Now seniors, the group has its sights set on another milestone – EV’s first CWAC championship since 2004.

The Red Devils enter the 2025 campaign looking to be the first conference champ not residing in Othello or Prosser since Selah took the title in ’17.

“They’ve had this thing circled for four years,” Prosser coach Corey Ingvalson said. “They have us at home, they have Othello at home – it’s a perfect storm for them.”

With the triad of quarterback Jaxon Berg (1,686 passing yards, 22 TDs), tailback Braden Albrecht (1,047 rushing yards, 8 TDs) and Greyson Stevens (968 receiving yards, 14 TDs), the Red Devils are ready to roll.

“They put in a lot of work in the offseason,” EV coach Erik Berg said. “They’ve been champing at the bit.”

Of course, getting past Othello and Prosser, whether at home or not, will be a great challenge.

The defending conference champion Huskies again will be formidable, in spite of graduating all-state defensive tackle 

Mason Perez, the CWAC defensive player of the year. 

Roger Hoell’s Huskies have two-way first-team all-CWAC pick Gavin Carl, along with standout cornerback/receiver RJay Garza to lead the charge.

Prosser is in somewhat of a transition, with a youth movement joining a senior class that includes Montana commit Josiah West, a 6-foot-6, 290-pound fixture up front.

Second-year Selah coach Greg Haste had more than 100 players turn out for a program that went from to wins in 2023 to five last season. 

“Football has to be more than games, for us it’s really about family and brotherhood,” Haste coach.

Fellow sophomore coach Ray Hernandez at Toppenish also has a solid core back, topped by quarterback Jason Sanchez. The Wildcats advance to the round of 32 last season,

Ephrata, which knocked off Prosser last year in Week 1, has quarterback Brady Hendrick back.

Top running back Nathan Montes de Oca returns for 

Grandview, while Ellensburg will try to rebound in coach Zeke Fife’s second season. 

Seth Longwill takes over in Quincy after the Jackrabbits went winless in conference play.