Basin athletes compete in Earl Barden Classic

YAKIMA — Local Basin athletes from Ephrata, Othello and Royal represented Eastern Washington in the Earl Barden Classic, an all-star high school football game hosted at East Valley High School bringing together top athletes from the 2A and 1A/B. The East earned a strong 36-6 win in Yakima. 

“I told the kids after the game, that was the highlight of my life,” EHS Head Coach Eric Berg said. “Just truly blessed to have been selected, and to be around such an amazing group of young men. I told them it's a testament to their character; it's a testament to their programs that they played for and their parents that raised them.” 

Berg and senior players from the East and West were selected by the Washington Football Coaches Association. Representing the Basin was Shea Stevenson and Rolando Cedillo from Royal, Miguel Zuniga from Othello and Calvin Lybbert from Ephrata. These four got play alongside many other players who were once their opponents from programs like Cashmere, Kittitas, East Valley and Tri-Cities Prep to name a few.  

The East came out strong in the first quarter, scoring a touchdown through the air on their second drive of the game. They followed it up with a successful two-point conversion to make it 8-0. It remained competitive early on, with the West responding in the second quarter with a touchdown of their own. However, they were unsuccessful on the two-point play, cutting their deficit to 8-6.  

On the following drive for the East, they drove right down the field with East Valley’s Jaxon Berg leading the way at quarterback. They punched it into the endzone to make it 16-6 before halftime. From there, the East piled on two more scores in the third quarter, while holding the West scoreless.  

The East held the lead for the remainder of the game as they forced several turnovers and prevented the West from finding a consistent rhythm on offense. 

While both teams played as hard as they do in the regular season, everyone was more determined to make the day as fun as possible. In addition to some backyard style of play, the players also brought out some fun celebrations like a makeshift limbo where the players walk under another being held up.  

For the players, it was a final opportunity to represent the programs they had spent the last four years playing for.  

“I feel amazing. Got to represent the ‘O’, we work hard out here, and it just represents all the practices and all the hard work that Othello showed me. I got to give all glory to God, and got to represent the town I came from,” Zuniga said.  

For Cedillo, he shared similar sentiments. He cited that getting to play in this game meant more than representing the Knights one last time, but also all of Royal City.  

“I don't just represent my team, I represent the town through the things I accomplished,” Cedillo said. “We have a saying, ‘We go one, we go all,’ and I wrote that on my wrist today. I've been there my whole life, I don't know anything else.” 

Cedillo also had a unique opportunity compared some of his other East teammates; he also got to suit with Knights teammate Shea Stevenson one more time.  

“We're always going to be brothers. That’s a bond that we can't break, so it is really special,” he said.  

Stevenson said he had a blast getting to know all of the players he was used to lining up against during games.  

“It's been fun,” Stevenson said. “Just meeting all the people, and then meeting new faces, but then faces you've seen with a helmet on and having that helmet come off and talking to them, and it's been a great time. It's been great to be selected for something like this.”  

For Lybbert, it was a pleasant surprise to be selected to play with some of the best players in the 2A and 1A/B. 

“This was a goal of mine since freshman year,” Lybbert said. “Seen all my teammates play in this game, and I did not think I was going to get selected, but I got the email that they selected me, and I felt so blessed, and just so happy to be here.” 

Cedillo shared similar feelings about being recognized by the WFCA and other programs he never thought knew who he was.  

“I'm like, ‘I know there's better people than me, like there's always someone better out there,’” he said. “But being selected, and like other coaches knowing about me, it really felt special. Not just 1A coaches know me, but other coaches like know the town and where we come from.” 

BOX SCORE: 

EAST: 8-8-14-6: 36 

WEST: 0-6-0-0: 6 

    The Knights’ Shea Stevenson (23) sprints downfield after the ball was snapped during the Earl Barden Classic. Stevenson was a two-way player for the Knights, playing receiver and defensive back for Royal High School.
  

    The Tigers’ Calvin Lybbert (11) and the Knights’ Rolando Cedillo (68) stand next to each other as they watch the East defense.
  

    The East team from the Earl Barden Classic celebrate a touchdown by falling down.
  

    The Othello Huskies’ Miguel Zuniga (55) lines up on defense ahead of the West’s next offensive snap during the Earl Barden Classic.