Last season, when East Valley made a historic run to the Class 2A semifinals winning its first 12 games, many forecasted the Red Devils’ success.

This fall, with EV having graduated 12 all-CWAC players and looking to reload, it’s Prosser – and the Mustangs’ junior-led roster – that looks primed for a conference championship and deep postseason run.

For Prosser coach Corey Ingvalson, himself a receiver on the program’s 1999 state championship team, there’s no reason to dodge the expectations.

“I don’t think it’s a bad thing,” Ingvalson said. “I think they want to be good, and they expect to be good – we’re not running from it.”

It’s been five years since the Mustangs last won the conference championship, and their 11 years removed from Ingvalson guiding them to the school’s fifth state championship.

Selah’s CWAC title wait is nine years, but third-year coach Greg Haste has the Vikings trending in the right direction, and they figure to be the biggest challengers to Prosser’s predicted return to the top.

The two will meet in Week 8 of the season at Art Fiker Stadium.

Here’s a breakdown of the CWAC, in order of predicted finish:

PROSSER

As sophomores, the Mustangs gave East Valley its toughest game of the season, falling at Earl Braden Stadium 13-7 in the third week of the season.

A year older, and with the return of a familiar face, Prosser was voted the conference favorite.

The weapons are plentiful with quarterback Daniel Diaz, running back Autry Hoefer and receivers Brody Buxton and Xzander Espino – all juniors – poised to put up big numbers behind a stout line led by senior two-way all-CWAC first-team Alexander Barreras, a senior.

All that and the addition of senior Korbyn Hopwood, a former Prosser player who had moved to Kamiakin, but is back this season. The 210-pounder was an all-Mid-Columbia Conference linebacker, who’s also a load when he carries the ball.

Hall of Fame coach Tom Moore, whose air assault led the Mustangs to their first four state titles, has given his OK to the offense that might be a bit more grounded.

“He saw us, and after one of the run plays, he had the remark, ‘your job is a little easier this year.’”

SELAH

The Vikings, too, have been building toward a playoff run under Haste, who has led them to back-to-back 5-5 seasons.

A strong senior class that has largely been with Hastes since he was the middle school coach has led the way.

“We have a large 20-member senior class and they've really bought into us focusing our culture on what true toughness and trust look like,” Haste said.

One of those seniors, running back Calen Wuitschick, again will be the key piece for the offense after rushing for more than 900 yards.

“I think for a 2A running back, he does everything,” Haste said. “He’s started putting it all together with the physicality and the speed and also how he treats practice. He’s gotten better at owning practice and working hard all the time.”

Wuitschick will help with the breaking in of a new quarterback after the graduation of Dylan Kingston.

The Vikings also should have a stout defense, led by all-CWAC lineman Brayden Grams, and Wuitschick, who’s moving to linebacker from safety, and fellow all-leaguers Hayden Nelson-Hawkins and Clayton Bucknell behind him.

EAST VALLEY

So, what’s the benefit of seeing a generational class graduate?

For Red Devils coach Eric Berg, it’s that this year’s roster is full of players who went against standouts that included a trio now playing at Big Sky programs.

“We got a lot of guys who were behind those Big Sky kids and seven kids that went on (to college), and they got better,” Berg said. “They were on the scout team and they were learning how they did things. We’re just reloading.”

Sophomore Liam Peterson will take the reins of the offense, and will be trying to connect with seniors Max Cuevas and Banyon Dunn, and handing off to 12th-grader Jacob Kerr.

East Valley's schedule sets up well, as its first four conference games are against teams that combined for 10 CWAC wins a year ago.

TOPPENISH

A strong ground game has been a hallmark of Toppenish squads, and that will start with Esequiel Ramirez, an all-CWAC second-team running back, who rushed for more than 500 yards a season ago.

Junior Nayden Magana also is likely to contribute in the backfield after a strong summer.

On defense, linebacker Moses Melgoza and Ramirez up front key the pursuit after earning all-CWAC honors last year.

EPHRATA

The Tigers, who always seem up to springing an upset every season, will have to replace standout quarterback Brady Hendrick.

Ephrata coach Patrick Mitchell will have second-team all-CWAC receiver Mitchell Morford to lead the offense, and first-team linebacker Owen Fitch on defense.

Prosser nearly fell victim to the Tigers, escaping with a one-point victory. Ephrata has notched wins against all of the conference's top contenders in recent years.

OTHELLO

It’s a new era for the Huskies after Hall of Fame coach Roger Hoell retired.

The school found his replacement at the college level with Jerome Learman, who was working as a performance scientist at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn.

While graduation took its toll on last season’s second-place team, senior lineman Aiden Valdez – all 6-foot-2, 310 pounds of him – does return up front.

ELLENSBURG

The Bulldogs have made a quick transition atop the program after Zeke Fife left in early July and was replaced by former Mabton coach at Toppenish defensive coordinator Ryker Ely by month’s end.

“It was definitely a whirlwind, but in a good way, what else could you want?” Ely said.

Ellensburg will likely lean on its defense early with eight returning starters, as the team works toward an identity.

“Year 1 one is always that foundational piece, building the culture,” he said. “These assistant coaches have been helping me navigate these crazy times.”

In a scheduling twist, the Bulldogs will visit Othello and Grandview, which also have new coaches, to start the season.

GRANDVIEW

Beau Riley, who relocated from Texas after his wife’s career led the family to Washington, takes over the Greyhounds program.

His first step was to identify strengths.

“We watched film and found what the kids did well last year and so we’re building on that,” Riley said.

With first-team all-CWAC running back Nathan Montes de Oca having graduated, there’s a large hole in the backfield.

QUINCY

The Jackrabbits still are looking for their first win in the conference since joining the CWAC in the fall of 2024.

Quincy does have standout sophomore Jody Gardner, a multisport standout, back after earning all-CWAC honors at receiver.

The schedule does the Jacks no favors, as their first five games are against the CWAC teams who finished .500 or better in conference play last season.