East Valley (Yakima) Red Devils: 2019 Washington high school 2A football preview

Here is a look inside the 2019 East Valley (Yakima) Red Devils football team. LINKS: East Valley (Yakima) team page | 2019 schedule | Roster 2018 IN REVIEW 5-5

Here is a look inside the 2019 East Valley (Yakima) Red Devils football team.

LINKS: East Valley (Yakima) team page | 2019 schedule | Roster

2018 IN REVIEW

5-5 overall, 1-3 in the 2A Central Washington Athletic Conference - North (4th place).

COACHING RESUME

Eric Berg, 4th season

14-15 overall

RETURNING STARTERS

Offense - 8. Defense - 6.

TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS

RB Tyler Stone 5-7, 155, Jr.

OL Michael Toby 5-8, 230, Sr.

OL Karter Kline 6-2, 280, Sr.

OL Carl Randolph 5-11, 190, Sr.

QB Aiden Estill 6-0, 170, Soph.

TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYERS

DL Michael Toby 5-8, 230, Sr.

LB Moses Alexander 5-3, 145, Sr.

LB Joren Hooper 5-11, 180, Sr.

LB Tyler Stone 5-7, 155, Jr.

DL Carl Randolph 5-11, 190, Sr.

THREE TO SEE

Tyler Stone, running back

Hard-nosed runner. Not a breakaway back, but reads blocking and has the reaction time to cut when needed. Has about 15 pounds more muscle than last season. 

Aiden Estill, quarterback

As a freshman, three-sport standout. Comes in as a rarity: sophomore experience. Knowledge of the game, decision-making, athlecism. Held him back from running as much as a freshman, expected to make more plays with his legs this season.

Carl Randolph, linebacker/offensive guard

Defensive leader. A weight room junkie, and in the top-three for fastest kids on the team. If he wasn’t a guard he’d be playing running back, says coach Eric Berg.

OUTLOOK

East Valley (Yakima) was on the outside looking in to postseason qualification last season. This year, the team hopes that changes to who qualifies will play into its favor. 

Three teams in each 2A CWAC division — North and South — will qualify for the week 9 league crossover instead of two in an effort to give more teams a shot at the postseason. 

The Red Devils’ strength starts with its line, where three-year starters return and two others saw starting time last season. Such experience will give sophomore quarterback Aiden Estill, who started as a freshman, time to operate. And it should prove useful for running back Tyler Stone, who has built a reputation as a smart, patient running back with a penchant for reading blocking schemes.

For the Red Devils to be in the mix, they will need to pick up another key win against the likes of Ephrata, Ellensburg or Othello.

2019 SCHEDULE

Sept 6: La Salle, 7 p.m.

Sept. 13: at Naches Valley, 7 p.m.

Sept. 20: Toppenish, 7 p.m.

Sept. 27: Grandview, 7 p.m.

Oct. 4: at Ellensburg, 7 p.m.

Oct. 11: Othello, 7 p.m.

Oct. 18: at Quincy, 7 p.m.

Oct. 25: Ephrata, 7 p.m.

Nov. 1: CWAC crossover, time TBD

*home games in bold