Jay Mills keeps Tigers roaring

EPHRATA - The first week of practices leading up to the Battle of the Basin football game earlier this season seemed more like a group of guys in midseason form, as opposed to a group practicing together for only the third time.

The team has music blaring from a car pulled up to the practice field, they had chants about beating their opponent that the team yelled out in unison, they had inside jokes and they were running their offense at a lightning fast pace. The Tigers led by head coach Jay Mills, hit the ground running with a veteran group and now have their sights set on a playoff spot from the CWAC conference.

After a dominating win over Selah this past Friday the Tigers are hitting their stride as they prepare for the home stretch of the season, with only two loses and an outside shot at snagging a playoff berth. It has undoubtedly been the veteran leadership of this year's group that has made the difference for Mills' players and translated to success.

"Our greatest benefit this year has been our large senior group. The 18 seniors on the squad have played a lot of football, most of them varsity football. We returned nine starters and that type of leadership and experience made me comfortable and more importantly the guys comfortable in running our system and adding things to it." Head Coach Mills said.

After suffering tough losses to Ellensburg and Othello, both teams poised for playoff runs in the CWAC, Ephrata responded with wins the following week. The way this year's team has not hung their head is a testament to the coach and the cohesiveness on display in the team's moments of adversity.

"There have been challenges, like getting them to focus on improvement each week regardless of opponent. I think every coaches' challenge is to get your guys to practice at a high level during the week." Mills said.

The team now prepares for its most difficult challenge yet with three of their final five opponents also contending for a playoff spot out of the CWAC. To add a little more pressure to the situation, Prosser and West Valley, two extremely talented teams, will be on the road. Once again the Tigers will have to respond in the midst of adversity.

"We have really great people in our program. They are a fun group to be around on and off the field. In the hallways in the weight room wherever it is, these guys are having a good time and setting a good example as leaders of the Tiger football team. The big thing I tell my seniors is to leave a legacy; to do the right things on the field and off the field, and to take the underclassmen under their wing and show them how to handle the most difficult of situations. Then when this group graduates and the next group steps up they can handle whatever comes up." Mills said.

It is that kind of relationship that has fostered a close-knit group on the Ephrata team and translated into successes on the field. Dalton Balentine, Evan Brooks and Dylan Derr, along with a handful of other seniors have stepped up and taken on the challenge put before them by Coach Mills this season. It will now be on the shoulders of this senior class to win some important games and take the Tigers where they want to go.

"The biggest thing now is we have to win on the road. That is the key, but our focus has got to be week to week and not getting ahead of ourselves." Mills said.

Friday's game against the Toppenish Wildcats is scheduled for 7 p.m.