Auston Downs ready to compete with state's best

MOSES LAKE — When Auston Downs was a sophomore he began his pursuit to play college football.

Downs crossed that goal off his list when he committed to Eastern Oregon University in February. Now, Moses Lake’s standout offensive guard will suit up as a Chief one last time in the 53rd annual East vs. West All-State football game Friday, 7 p.m., at Lions Field.

“I feels amazing to know that you’re playing with the best football players from the state of Washington; it just feels amazing,” Downs said. “Just to be known to be one of those players in order to play in that game it feels great.”

For the fifth year in a row, a Moses Lake player will be on the all-state roster. Justyn Simmons (2013), Brett Moser (2014), Rehn Reiley (2015), Derek Crum (2015), Isaiah Thomas (2016) and Masaih Deleon (2016) preceded Downs. Along with representation on the field, this will be the third time in five years Moses Lake has served as the host city.

“The community support we get is as good or better than anywhere else that they have it (the game) at,” Moses Lake head coach Todd Griffith said. “They continue to want to come back here. Our community does a great job of getting kids out in the community and supporting us having the game here and supporting the sport of football. The guys who are in charge definitely see that and they want to keep on coming back here.

“It’s a great facility. (Moses Lake athletic director) Loren (Sandhop) does a great job of setting it up and getting it going. It flows well.”

In exhibition games with limited practice time, the defense is usually ahead of the offense. The 2014 all-state game at Lions Field only had 19 combined points scored. Teams want to run the ball, which Downs welcomes.

“Our coaches have been making sure we’re learning the plays and they’re emphasizing just plays just to make sure we get it and so I think we’re actually going to turn out pretty well,” Downs said. “We’re actually going over plays every single day just to make sure that we have it our head and, you know, memorize it so I think we’ll do pretty good.”

Downs, along with the rest of Moses Lake’s offensive line, was the focal point of a punishing rushing attack in 2016. Moses Lake running back Draven Nevarez topped 1,000 yards rushing and led the Columbia Basin Big Nine with 15 touchdowns.

On Friday, Downs will have the opportunity to block for state champion and Class 4A Player of the Year Jack Colletto of Camas as well as other talented skill position players.

“For Auston, I think it’s going to bode well for him,” Griffith said. “He’s prepared, he’s ready, he’s going to have a great game on Friday night. He’s happy to be here and I think he’s going to do fine.”

The players will spend the rest of the week practicing and venturing out for community activities.

The game is Friday night — like the majority of high school games. It will certainly be a few degrees warmer than the players are used to, but Downs is eager to step onto the Lions Field turf one more time.

“It feels amazing to play my last high school football game on my home turf,” he said.