Cruz has one more football game

SPOKANE — He’s got one more, uno mas.

Moses Lake graduate Hunter Cruz knew this day was coming, but what a ride it was his senior season where he was named the Columbia Basin Big Nine defensive player of the year last fall, then followed it up with his second consecutive 4A state wrestling championship. He also won a second consecutive Tri-State championship, which some say is more difficult to do.

The day was coming where he had to pick one. Would it be football or wrestling? Cruz has a NCAA wrestling career waiting for him at Fresno State University.

But the 5-foot-11, 190-pound former Moses Lake outside linebacker has one more football game in him and he’ll let ‘er buck Friday for the East squad at the 54th Annual East-West All-State Game at Bullpup Stadium in Spokane. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

He’ll take his place on the stage with an elite, all-star cast and strap it on one more time to showcase his talent in a game featuring a who’s who list of Washington state 4A/3A football talent from around the state.

“I feel like this is really where I can leave my mark as an athlete from Moses Lake and from Washington state,” said Cruz, who is expected to start at defensive end as well as play on special teams. “I’m one of the best wrestlers in the state. Hopefully, I can prove myself Friday as one of the best football players. That’d be a big honor man.

“To be a part of something like this is certainly a nice way to wrap up a football career that started way back when.”

Said Chiefs coach Todd Griffith, “I talked to him yesterday and he said he’s doing really well. The thing I like about him is that he’s just a warrior. With this being his last football game, he wants to make it special,” he said. “(Hunter) was beyond a quality player on our football team.

“To make this East-West team, you have to be special. He was the No. 1 defensive player in our league. When the lights turn on, he competes harder than a lot of kids I’ve coached in the past 23 years. He’s the epitome of competition and that’s what made him so special these past three years for me.”

Cruz said he’s proud to represent Moses Lake. Wearing gold and maroon means something to him. He has one more game of football to play in an all-star environment before moving on to the bright lights of NCAA competition.

“I’ve been practicing with these guys all week and I’ve earned my respect,” he said. “They’re cool dudes and I’m just happy to play with them. We all know we’re moving on in sports, so we’re not there to kill each other or see anybody get hurt. But I’m going to make my presence known.”

He’s known for awhile now that wrestling was his ticket to a college education. The recruiting process was brutal at times, sorting out what was right. What was right for him and his family. He had offers from as far away as Rutgers University, University of Wyoming, Oklahoma University. He made his choice to go to a place that felt like home when he visited.

Now he has one more football game, before he turns the page.

“One last game has been going through my head lately,” Cruz said. “I knew the day would come when I would have to choose. Fresno State is the best choice for me.

“But Friday’s going to be a high-level game and I’m going to give it everything I got.”