YAKIMA – There’s another Wade running wild in the CWAC.

Only this one isn’t chasing down quarterbacks and other ball carriers at a conference-defensive-player-of-the-year rate. Instead, this one is running away from defenders at 8.3 yards a carry, slightly more after catching a pass.

Zayden Wade, the sophomore brother of 2025 CWAC Defensive MVP and Portland State freshman Zeliah Wade, has helped East Valley reload rather than rebuild after a senior-heavy squad won its first 12 games last year, winning the conference championship and advancing to the Class 2A state semifinals for the first time in more than 20 years.

And while being chased by a hulking big brother in backyard scrimmages might’ve aided his elusiveness, watching Zeliah develop into a 6-foot-5, 255-pound terror on the defensive line helped the younger sibling even more.

“Seeing how hard he works, even when they weren’t practicing, he was in the gym, staying consistent with what he does and pushing himself,” Zayden Wade said.

Wade has rushed for 462 yards and seven touchdowns this season, eclipsing 100 yards in three of four games, and going for 63 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries in the other contest.

The younger Wade is part of a class of 10th-graders who Red Devils coach Eric Berg kept on the freshman team the whole season last fall, before elevating the players to varsity during the deep playoff run.

“We brought them up for the postseason, so they got all those extra practices and they got to be around the winning culture,” Berg said. “They’re a talented group and that’s why I kept them together. I didn’t move anybody up to the JV or anything.”

Fellow sophomore Liam Peterson has started at quarterback for EV, and Peyton Chapman – another 10th-grader – is a solid receiver, and helped spark the Week 3 victory at Toppenish with a long kickoff return after the Wildcats had taken the lead.

Being around those seniors – seven of whom are playing collegiately, including three at Big Sky schools – rubbed off on last fall’s freshmen.

“We had such an amazing senior class last year,” Wade said. “Just watching them, and seeing how much work they put in, and how intense they were in practice – I knew I would be pushing myself, too.”

While the sophomores have had a big impact, they’ve been joined by upperclassmen who saw playing time alongside the 12 all-conference players who graduated.

Senior running back Jacob Kerr carried the ball 17 times in 2025, and has teamed with Wade to give the Red Devils a 1-2 punch in an offense that runs the ball about 60% of the time.

At 5-foot-8, 185 pounds, Kerr is the power back of the pair, as the 5-10, 170-pound Wade is the shifty one of the two.

Kerr has rushed for 330 yards and a TD this season, despite missing a game.

“He’s our bruiser,” Berg said. “He softens them up, and then Zayden comes in, and he’s got that quick twitch and makes people miss. It’s a nice duo to have.”

East Valley is 4-0, one of three unbeatens in the CWAC, and visits Ellensburg on Friday night. The Red Devils’ schedule has allowed them to ease into the race, with games against fourth-ranked Prosser, No. 10 Selah and Othello this month.

“I think the schedule is set up well, it is for everybody in the top half of our league,” Berg said. “This second half of the season is going to be a battle.”

Wade’s continued development will be key in the Red Devils’ push for a berth in the 2A state playoffs in a thurd straight season.

“He’s a strong kid, he’s got good instincts, he’s still learning to run with his shoulders down and take care of the ball,” Berg said. “We’re excited for his future.”