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PASCO -- Duke Washington, Dustin Lamb, Leon Jackson.
Heck, Rayford Guice, for you true Pasco historians.
When Austin Wilborn broke off big rushing numbers as a sophomore -- 1,000-plus yards, 10 TDs -- the chatter cranked up that the next in a long line of great Bulldogs backs had arrived.
"I started hearing that, starting thinking about that," Wilborn said after practice Thursday, the final walkthrough before tonight's CBBN Columbia game at Moses Lake. "I'd be working out, and Leon's dad would be there, telling me I got to beat Leon's records, and then Leon would text me, encourage me."
All his life, Wilborn had envisioned himself wearing Pasco purple on Friday nights, tearing off big runs and helping Steve Graff win another state title -- especially after Graff and star Shayne Kelly paid his school a visit during his eighth-grade year.
Those dreams, though, never became a reality as, first, Wilborn's numbers plummeted in a revamped offense his junior year. Then Chiawana High opened, and Graff took his entire coaching staff to the new school. Finally, under new coaches and in a new system, Pasco's next great running back is playing slotback.
And loving it.
"It's a lot different," Wilborn said. "But we're having fun under Coach Lamb."
And success, measured though it may be.
The Bulldogs are off to a 2-1 start, opening the season with a pair of close wins against underwhelming opponents and then losing a heartbreaker to CBBN Columbia favorite Wenatchee -- a game they felt they should have won.
"That's kind of the thing -- we played our best football game in a loss," said Lamb, who took over the Bulldogs after spending a combined seven years at Ilwaco and Grandview. "But we proved to ourselves the kids can play anybody on any night, and that's a good feeling to have."
Lamb said it's also a good feeling having Wilborn around -- "he's such an unselfish kid" -- along with a slew of playmakers on offense.
Speedster Marques Avery has 13 catches for 349 yards and 4 TDs and easily leads the CBBN in yards per catch (26.8).
All-league tight end Jacob Price has 10 catches for 130 yards and 2 TDs; Wilborn has 10 catches for 84 yards and a score; and Brandon Search adds six catches for 74 yards and a TD.
Wilborn's offensive numbers may not jump off the page, but he's picked up the slot position quickly.
"He gets better every week at it," said receivers coach Travis Elliott. "The speed and quickness is all there. He just has to fine-tune some things."
And along the way, Wilborn became a shutdown corner, evidenced by the three pass deflections and two tackles for loss against Wenatchee.
His college choices likely will be limited by his size -- he's only put on about 15 pounds since he was a 135-pound sophomore sensation, even though "all I do is eat," he said.
Washington, WSU and EWU have been in contact along with a bunch of Division II schools.
College, though, is over the horizon. For now, Wilborn just wants to make sure to have a strong senior finish to a high school career that, he said, has flown by.
"It's crazy how fast it goes," he said.
He remembers moving up to varsity for the playoffs as a freshman, when his biggest contribution was giving the defense a good look on the scout team.
He remembers those nervous nights as a sophomore when he found out two days before the beginning of the season that he was a starter. "I prayed every night before bed," he said. "Let me do good."
He remembers a junior year that fell short of expectations -- 424 yards and three TDs -- as the focus shifted to running QB Carlin Andrew, and ended with a separated shoulder late in the season, surgery in February and rehab in the spring.
As Wilborn looks back, he's happy with the journey, happy with where he's at now.
"As long as we win," he said, "I don't care."
