TUMWATER -- East Valley's seniors didn't want to leave the field.
The 17 Red Devils who helped author their school's best football season in 21 years lingered on the turf at Tumwater District Stadium on Saturday after enduring a 42-0 loss to No. 2 Tumwater in a Class 2A state semifinal.
It was a bitter end to what had been a magical season. Twelve straight wins, most by margins so lopsided that second halves were perfunctory.
A victory over longtime league foe Othello -- EV's first since 2006. A second win in three seasons over Prosser, which hadn't lost to EV in 41 years prior to this senior class' sophomore breakthrough. A league championship and a pair of playoff wins -- neither of which had been seen on Beaudry Road since 2004. Seniors deserving a rousing sendoff were reminded that only one team gets a truly happy end to its season.
And so, after addressing the entire team, head coach Eric Berg pulled his seniors aside and tried to offer some words of solace. With many a bleary eye, they all formed a line with arms linked and walked from one end zone to the other.
"It's just one last walk together as a class with coach," Berg, who walked arm-in-arm with his son Jaxon, said before pausing to collect himself.
"I've had the privilege of knowing most of them most of their lives. To see the level of football they were capable of playing was a joy, something I'll never forget. I'm really proud of them as football players, and I'm even more proud of the young men that I got to watch grow up in front of me."
And he should be proud.
Jaxon Berg, one of a handful of three-year starters among the senior class, finished his high school career as one of the most prolific passers in Valley history. His 90 touchdown passes are the fourth most in our area's history, and his 6,579 yards rank fifth.
Every great quarterback needs a great receiver, and he had one in Greyson Stevens. The Montana State commit finished fourth on the Valley leaderboards in yards (3,554) and fifth in catches (192). His 60 career touchdowns are tied for the 10th most in the Valley—and are the most by any area player since Ellensburg’s Gabe Caskey in 2011-14.
Braden Albrecht, a three-time, first-team All-CWAC running back and linebacker, posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and finished with 2,745 career rushing yards and 33 touchdowns. Cody Gasseling emerged as a two-way monster after transferring from Selah and sitting out with an injury as a sophomore, and Zeliah Wade grew into a terror at defensive end.
They’re just five of the 12 all-league seniors EV will need to replace to reach the state playoffs for a third straight season. Dominic Verduzco, Jayden Buckalew, Garen Chapman, Brock Goodell, Logan Jones, Zeke Nolan and Mathew Dosch joined arms with Skyler Lingle, Logan Van Pelt, Mason Stanchfield, AJ Gutierrez and Gavin Newcomb for one last chance to be on the field together.
It was moments like the walk, like practicing in the rain together on Thanksgiving, and not just the major milestones that Albrecht will cherish.
“There was never a moment with these guys that wasn’t special. There was never a moment that didn’t mean something to me,” Albrecht said while holding back tears. “I got to do it with them, and that was pretty special.”
Eric Berg told his team postgame that it’s not about the destination, but about the journey.
“It’s been something that I’ll cherish the rest of my life,” he said. “I know it doesn’t feel good now, but we need to try to remember the past 14 weeks that we’ve had, from camp and the years before and all the good things. One game isn’t going to define this season, but unfortunately one game ended your season."
After they reached the far end zone, he embraced each of his seniors in turn before each reluctantly waded back across the field to be comforted by family and friends.
The last walk down the field wasn't about the destination. It wasn't about the end of a high school career. It was about the journey.
For Albrecht, it was a journey he didn't want to end.
"It was the longest 100 yards I've ever walked."