YAKIMA – With the start of a new football season, West Valley began prepping for the 2026 campaign with a first practice on Clasen Field at dawn.

It could’ve started even earlier for Rams coach Ryan Scott, entering his fourth season as head coach and 11 in the program.

“I didn’t sleep worth a damn; I was up at 4 and here at 4:15,” Scott said after West Valley wrapped up its 90-minute practice with afternoon drills to follow. “We had our senior meeting and senior dinner last night and had some goal setting.

“And a ton of kids popped in because they’re super excited.”

Teams throughout Central Washington and throughout the Evergreen State opened practice Wednesday, some even hitting the field shortly after midnight.

Moderate air quality – well within Department of Health guidelines for safe conditions – greeted players and coaches.

With those first drills come the hopes of a successful season.

For the Rams, who finished 5-5 overall and 3-3 in the CBBN, those aspirations are buoyed by three wins in their last four games, and group of seniors that include quarterback Drayden Birley – nearly 1,800 yards passing and 18 touchdowns a season ago – and first-team all-CBBN receiver Dalton Hargraves, the conference’s leading pass-catcher in 2025 with 56 receptions for 927 yards and nine touchdowns.

Moses Lake went unbeaten in conference last season, and figures to again be the favorite even after a slew of graduations, including record-setting QB Brady Jay, and Mavericks coach Brett Jay stepping down.

Eastmont and Sunnyside, which tied for second place also have new head coaches, but should figure in the conference championship mix.

“There’s opportunity depending upon what we put in here,” Scott said. “The league is not going to be a walkthrough for anybody, I don’t think.”

Stat Hound will continue runup to the football season, capped with its Kickoff ’26 preview set to come out before the first games in early September.