Coulston catches East victory

SPOKANE - The best high school football stars in Washington took to Central Valley High School's football field Thursday night for the East-West All State football game, and none shone brighter than Moses Lake's Ryan Coulston.

With 13 seconds left and the East trailing the West 14-10, East wide receiver Coulston caught a 2-yard, game-winning touchdown pass from East quarterback Jeff Minnerly of Ferris High School to secure the 17-14 win.

Minnerly completed an 18-yard completion to Coulston with less than 25 seconds to set up the 2-yard score.

Coulston ended the game with 5 receptions for 49 yards.

After Coulston's catch completed the come from behind victory, friends and family swarmed Coulston on the field.

"It feels awesome," Coulston said. "This is the greatest football experience of my life. I saw my dad and my brother had tears in their eyes and I had to cry myself."

Coulston was originally an alternate for the game and was not expecting to become the hero for the East during the preparation camp.

When Minnerly called the play in the huddle, Coulston said he did not expect to have Minnerly through him the the ball.

"I didn't expect any glory," he said. "We ran that play in practice all week and I wasn't running it right. I didn't expect to have the ball thrown to me."

With the game on the line, Coulston ran his out route and when he saw the ball in the air, he said he couldn't help but think of how close his defender was to him.

Coulston fell to his knees to create space from the defender and made the catch.

He said he was excited for the experience, but before he checked into camp on June 29 he was nervous to be there.

"I was kind of afraid to come by myself," he said. "I thought they were all going to make fun of me."

But Coulston was not alone in the all state game. Joining him was fellow Moses Lake graduate and defensive back Jarred Walker.

"Ryan and I wanted to do what we did in the season," Walker said. "Moses Lake pulled through. This is one of the greatest football experiences of my life."

Representing Moses Lake was one of Coulston's primary goals, he said.

"We wanted to represent Moses Lake well," he said. "Not many people knew where Moses Lake was. We passed out spears, and now everyone knows."

After four days of football camp and an all state game victory, Walker said he is going to miss bonding with his East teammates, including Coulston.

"I am going to miss these guys," he said. "They are my brothers, battling on the field."

As the final seconds ran off of the game clock, Coulston's father Wayne Coulston cried on the rubber track surrounding the football field, waiting to congratulate his son.

"For him to catch the game winning touchdown is all a dad could ask for," Wayne Coulston said. "He could go on to play in college and win a national title, and it wouldn't mean anything compared to this. This is a memory I will never, ever forget the rest of my life."