Garza scores TD but West rallies

YAKIMA, Wash — Othello running back David Garza scored the first touchdown of Saturday’s Earl Barden Classic for the East squad in Yakima, Wash., but the West rallied for 31 unanswered points to cruise to the 31-13 victory.

The Earl Barden Classic is the annual East-West All-State football game for senior players in the 2A, 1A, and B classifications.

Garza finished the game with seven carries for just eight yards and a score.

Former Royal High School star football player and Central Washington University signee Blair Collins represented the Knights in the Earl Barden Classic with seven receptions for 38 yards in the loss. Royal graduate Jace Christensen joined Collins on the Earl Barden Classic East team.

Christensen and Collins helped lead the Knights to the semifinals of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) 1A tournament, falling one win shy of playing for the school’s second consecutive state football title.

Othello graduates Jakob Scott, Miles Gardner and Garza represented the Huskies in the 15th annual Earl Barden Classic.

The Othello trio helped the Huskies to the quarterfinals of the WIAA 2A tournament before falling to Central Washington Athletic Conference rival and state runner-up Prosser 33-28.