After starting CBBN play with three close losses to the league’s top three teams, the Rams ended up evening their conference record by winning their final three games.
West Valley lost two of three non-conference games before falling to Sunnyside, Eastmont and Wenatchee by a combined 15 points. Facing the league’s bottom three teams to finish the season, the Rams exploded, scoring 160 points in victories over Moses Lake (51-0), Davis (52-34) and Eisenhower (57-12).
Junior Isaac Madrigal guided the offense all season, getting a boost from receivers Caleb Woodcock, Jack Van De Brake and Drew Johnson. Madrigal threw for six touchdowns in the Rams’ win over Davis and was a consistent running threat.
Sophomore Hayden Morehouse and Madrigal powered the run game for most of the season and were helped by Izzac Castellan and Niko DeLeon.
One major highlight for the Rams was seeing Van De Brake, a three-year starter, earn Defensive Player of the Year honors in the CBBN. He also was named a first-team all-conference wide receiver.
Junior offensive lineman Isaac Lervold, junior linebacker Jordan Bickler and junior defensive lineman also were selected for the all-league first team.
Madrigal and Woodcock, also a junior, were second-team selections on offense, along with senior lineman Grant Pickett. Morehouse received honorable mention.
The Rams will return nine starters on offense and seven on defense next season.
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Yakima’s three Class 4A football teams didn’t make the cut for the 2019 state playoffs, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t some highlights along the way.
West Valley ended up taking home the coveted “city championship” by defeating cross-town rivals Eisenhower and Davis, finishing the season at 3-3 in league and 4-5 overall.
Eisenhower beat Davis and Moses Lake to finish 2-4 in league (4-6 overall), while the Pirates earned their lone conference win over Moses Lake, finishing 1-5 in the CBBN (3-7 overall).
Yakima Valley Sports Network 