Ephrata's Mills takes top coaching honors for CWAC football
COLUMBIA BASIN - After leading his Tigers to a 7-2 conference mark and their first state playoff berth in 15 years, Ephrata High School football coach Jay Mills was named the Central Washington Athletic Conference's Coach of the Year.
Mills, whose Ephrata team takes on Pullman this Saturday in a first-round state matchup, was one of several Columbia Basin athletes on the All-CWAC football rosters announced earlier this week.
Ephrata, which finished third in the conference behind Prosser and Othello, had nine representatives on the three teams. Seniors Travis Ruffin (offensive tackle), Kip Swem (running back and inside linebacker) and Tyler Lesko (defensive line) were all first-team selections.
Senior Blake Jensen (center), senior Tyler Cummings (offensive guard), junior Eric Tinnell (defensive back), senior Derrick Webb (wide receiver), and junior Eric Hensley (place kicker) were named to the second team. Honorable mention choices for the Tigers included senior running back Tryston Mann and Cummings (defensive line).
Othello placed six players on the first team - senior Jeromy Garza (center), senior Roman Favro (offensive guard), senior James Valdez (running back), senior J.P. Underhill (defensive back), junior Jakob Scott (defensive line), and senior David Walker (inside linebacker).
The second-seeded Huskies, who host Colville on Saturday in a first-round state playoff game, also had second-team selections in sophomore Nic Diaz (offensive tackle), Walker (running back), senior Gabe Cantu (tight end), and junior Miles Gardner (outside linebacker).
Othello's honorable mention choices were senior Michael Carmona (defensive line), junior David Garza (inside linebacker), senior Michael Harvey (wide receiver) and junior Aaron Simmons (punter).
Quincy senior Colby Melburn was an honorable mention choice at defensive back and a second-team choice at return specialist. Junior Max Melburn earned an honorable mention nod at defensive line.
The remainder of the three squads are listed below.
Offensive MVP: Cody Bruns, Prosser.
Defensive MVP: Daniel Gannon, Prosser.
First team: OG Nate Meeske, So., Prosser; OT Gannon Maggard, Sr., Ellensburg; OT Derek Small, Jr., Prosser; RB Drake Washington, Sr., Prosser; RB Matt Orthmann, Sr., East Valley; QB Jordan Durbin, Jr., Prosser; TE Kellen Crawford, Sr., Prosser; DB Kirby Moore, Jr., Prosser; DB Cody Bruns, Sr., Prosser; DB Aaron Galvan, Sr., Prosser; DL Kellen Crawford, Sr., Prosser; DL Steven Natho, Sr., Prosser; ILB Keegan Pilot, Sr., Prosser; OLB Daniel Gannon, Sr., Prosser; OLB Miguel Valencia, Sr., East Valley; WR Cody Bruns, Sr., Prosser; WR Kirby Moore, Jr., Prosser; WR Kurt Russell, Sr., East Valley; P Kurt Russell, Sr., East Valley; K Cameron Muggleston, Sr., East Valley; KR Kurt Russell, Sr., East Valley.
Second team: C Jaime Sanchez, Jr., Grandview; OG Trevor Morris, Sr., Ellensburg; OT Kyle Crowston, Sr., East Valley; RB Drew Ronning, Sr., Ellensburg; QB Kyle Washut, Sr., Selah; DB Michael Rogstad, Sr., East Valley; DB Marty Guillen, Sr., Grandview; DB Josh Schutz, Jr., Toppenish; DL Aaron Erickson, Sr., Selah; DL Blake Nichols, Jr., Ellensburg; DL Cody Meeske, Sr., Prosser; DL Alan Molina, Sr., Prosser; ILB Sheldon Lommers, Jr., Selah; ILB Tyler Morris, So., Ellensburg; OLB Derek Small, Jr., Prosser; OLB Drew Ronning, Sr., Ellensburg; WR Tyler Porter, Jr., Selah; WR Wes Ferrell, Sr., Ellensburg.
Honorable mention: OG Taylor Klein, Jr., East Valley; OG Jacob Love, Sr., Prosser; OG Ethen Bersing, Jr., Selah; OT Casey Reason, Jr., Selah; RB Kenny Garza, Jr., Wapato; RB Storm Shea, Jr., Grandview; RB Oscar Ramirez, Jr., Toppenish; QB Kevin Komstadius, Sr., East Valley; TE David Osorio, Sr., Toppenish; WR Marty Guillen, Sr., Grandview; WR Cade Wandling, Sr., Prosser; K Josue Oros, So., Grandview; KR Marty Guillen, Sr., Grandview.