YAKIMA – Montana-bound offensive lineman Josiah West is getting one last high school game to show why he was one of the state’s top linemen this week.

While some players are already heading off to college or their school of choice doused hopes of playing in the Earl Barden All-Star Classic, the Missoula school gave the Prosser graduate and all-CWAC first-team offensive tackle the green light.

“They let me have my summer, let me be a kid for a little bit,” West said during Thursday’s practice for Saturday’s game. “But I have to put in the work when I get there.”

West was a captain on a squad on a sophomore-heavy squad that finished third in the CWAC, but gave conference champion and eventual Class 2A semifinalist East Valley all it could handle in a 13-7 Red Devils’ victory in the third week of the season.

While his 6-foot-6, 290-pound hulking frame clears up any doubt why the perennial Big Sky power Grizzlies recruited West, Mustangs coach Corey Ingvalson said it's the two-way standout’s leadership that makes him so valuable.

“You can talk about size, ability and skill but we stood on his shoulders through some challenging moments,” Ingvalson said. “His commitment, positivity and constant desire to push the program forward was invaluable to the success of his teams, but as important to the future success of Mustang football.”

Prosser’s season ended in the first round of the 2A playoff on a drenched, Orting field against the fourth-seeded Cardinals, who needed a fourth quarter score to subdue the Mustangs.

But with soon-to-juniors manning many of the skill positions and a few key returners up front, a return to the top of the CWAC looks to have been kickstarted.

“You always wish you could go further, but I wouldn’t trade those times for anything,” West said. “I’m glad our team could get (morn going back in motion.”

Planning for 2027 underway

The 2026 Earl Barden All-Star Classic is still a day away, but planning for next year’s event already has begun.

Former East Valley and Toppenish football coach Mark Mochel, the chairman of the event and one of the East team coordinators, has since 2019 been in charge of the event that annually brings the top players in Class 2A and smaller to the Yakima Valley.

The game caps a week of activities for players and coaches, including competitions (more on that later) leading up to the game. Coaches arrive Monday, with players hitting Yakima and practices starting Tuesday.

“As a football coach, I was more worried about building memories for my players and that’s my goal here,” Mochel said. “I want each of them to walk away with another lifelong memory.”

Bill “Alex” Alexander, the former Quincy football coach who founded the game in 1994, led the charge to get the game moved to the field with which it shares a name.

Gofers are an integral part of the games, and Mochel has a group of 10 this year, but is always looking for more.

“We have some of the old guard who have been here for years and some new blood as well,” he said. “(We’re) always welcoming the experienced guys, but we do need some young blood, too.”

Mochel takes the stewardship, wanting to make each year better than the next.

“I also said when I took over that, ‘I just don’t want to screw it up,’” he said. “I wanted to make all of the Hall of Fame coaches that had built this game proud of our direction.”

Competition from the get-go

East Valley coach Eric Berg, who will guide the East team after earning CWAC Coach of the Year honors this past fall, had a simple message for his players before the start of Tuesday first practice – you’re here for fun, but we also want to win.

Berg was an assistant two years ago, when the West rolled to a 32-8 victory.

He’s been encouraging his players to do their best in all the competitions, which have included bowling, timed events and a belly-flop competition.

The team that totals the most points in the events leading up to the game will be the home team for Saturday’s game.

“I said, ‘I am not coaching on the other side on my home field,’” Berg said.