KENNEWICK -- It shouldn't be long before Tim White begins establishing himself at the next level.
In fact, Kamiakin's electrifying receiver/return man/cornerback is about to make his first official recruiting visits to Washington State and Central Washington University, his top two choices so far.
But even after he embarks on his next big step, the 6-foot senior won't ever forget the year he had during the Braves' dramatic run to the 3A state title game. Neither will the Tri-Cities community.
Even though there's still a tinge of regret after a 38-0 loss to Bellevue in the championship, White -- the Tri-City Herald's All-Area Most Valuable Player -- remembered that in the end it's not always about winning.
"Looking back, I wish we could have made things happen a little differently. ... I've thought about it every day since it happened," White said. "But I'm still proud of the guys I played with. I wouldn't want to be on any other team than this one.
"I want to thank all the players for letting me have the best four years of my life."
And what an amazing four years they were. White's numbers exploded under coach Scott Biglin, and he developed into one of the most dangerous playmakers on the field. In three varsity seasons, White caught 131 passes for 2,070 yards and 23 touchdowns.
And sadly for his opponents, he rarely left the field, playing offense, defense and special teams.
"It was exhausting. Sometimes, I would get a break as a receiver, but it didn't happen very often," White said.
This season he caught 34 passes for 658 yards and 10 touchdowns, but a lot of his value was taking pressure away from his teammates, who hauled in 26 more passes for scores from quarterback Joey Jansen.
White also added a pair of defensive touchdowns on interception returns, but perhaps his most significant contribution this season was on special teams, where he returned 25 punts for just under 700 yards -- nearly 28 yards a return -- and five touchdowns.
In fact, teams would kick the ball away from White on special teams, choosing instead to face Kamiakin's offense, which ranked No. 1 in the CBBN at 7.7 yards a play.
He even threw for two touchdowns this year.
"He kind of made us go. He was a special kid," Biglin said. "You've got to have those guys to take you over the top. A lot of people said he had a down year, but to me it was phenomenal that he made the catches he did."
Biglin had a phenomenal season himself, earning coach of the year honors in his second season with the Braves. The Pasco graduate and former Whitworth quarterback stepped in and earned the trust of his players and coaches, getting them to buy into his spread offense.
After that it was just a matter of how far the team would go.
"Any time you get awards like coach of the year, it has a lot to do with the people around you," Biglin said. "I feel like we're the hardest working staff in the business. There were 12 coaches out there pulling their weight, and I'm just one of 12."
White was one of six repeat first-team selections, getting the nod as a receiver, defensive back and kick returner for the second consecutive year. Joining him for the second consecutive season were Connell running back Matt Hadley, Chiawana linebacker Nick Vincent, Walla Walla punter Matt Watson, Kennewick quarterback Drew Loftus (as the all-purpose player) plus Braves teammate and defensive end Jon Allen.
Kamiakin locked up 10 spots on the first team to lead area squads. Other Braves picks were quarterback Joey Jansen, offensive lineman Tanner Meier, kicker Garrett Bowe, defensive back Shad Fletcher and linebackers Drew Oord and Zach Umemoto.
Next was Chiawana, which earned five first-team nods, including running back Jordan Downing, offensive linemen Pat Sullivan and Vincent, and defensive back Miquiyah Zamora.
Richland claimed four slots, led by running back Jake McKinney, offensive lineman Joey White, defensive lineman Keenan Carrato and linebacker Joel Teats. Kennewick's Loftus was also named as a defensive back and was joined by Lions defensive lineman Tyler Morfin.
Connell, fresh off a trip to the 1A championship game, earned two spots on the team -- Hadley plus defensive lineman Bryant Anderson. Watson got some company with Walla Walla receiver Moe Handcox, one of just six juniors on the first team along with Downing, Hadley, Oord, Umemoto and Zamora.
Rounding out the squad is Pasco receiver Brandon Search and Sunnyside offensive lineman Adam Peters.
Second-team offense
QB | Matt Mendenhall, jr., Southridge
RB | Cam Wagar, sr., Hanford
RB | Caleb Garza, sr., Othello
WR | Dominic Garza, sr., Prosser
WR | Tyler Holle, sr., Kamiakin
WR | A.J. Henderson, sr., Southridge
TE | Brett Adamson, sr., Chiawana
OL | Tyler Morfin, sr., Kennewick
OL | Brady Simpson, sr., Richland
OL | Rex Lyle, sr., Connell
OL | Kyle Bailey, sr., Prosser
OL | Adrian Garcia, sr., Othello
Second-team defense
DL | Charlie Petersen, jr., Prosser
DL | Nick Mackay, sr., Chiawana
DL | Pat Sullivan, sr., Chiawana
DL | Joey White, sr., Richland
LB | Dylan DeLay, sr., Royal
LB | Cody Rush, sr., Southridge
LB | Grant Gallinger, sr., Richland
LB | Jordan Downing, jr., Chiawana
DB | Jon Snider, sr., Southridge
DB | Brett Adamson, sr., Chiawana
DB | Matt Franz, sr., Moses Lake
DB | Gage Reynolds, sr., Richland
All Purpose | Dallin Palmer, sr., Southridge
Special teams
PK | Ivan Barragan, sr., Connell
KR | Miquiyah Zamorah, jr., Chiawana
Punt | Tanner Meier, sr., Kamiakin
Third-team offense
QB | Lucas Graff, sr., Chiawana
RB | Steven Monterrey, jr., Sunnyside
RB | Chance Watt, sr., River View
WR | Justin Grow, sr., River View
WR | Hayden Wing, sr., Kiona-Benton
WR | Troy Redmann, sr., Tri-Cities Prep
TE | Alan Hawkins, sr., Connell
OL | Tre Bannock, sr, Waitsburg-Prescott
OL | Tanner Whitaker, jr., Royal
OL | Matt Epperson, sr., Hermiston
OL | Zack Bliss, sr., Richland
Third-team defense
DL | Adam Peters, sr., Sunnyside
DL | Tyson Mollotte, jr., Othello
DL | Eric Farnworth, sr., River View
DL | Kraymer Eppich, sr., Connell
LB | Kris Welch, sr., River View
LB | Jared Sabin, sr., Wahluke
LB | Cesar Lopez, sr., Prosser
DB | Tucker Hamlin, sr., River View
DB | Dylan Smith, sr., Columbia-Burbank
DB | Shaq Ledesma, sr., Royal
All Purpose | Zach Simpkins, sr., Liberty Christian
All Purpose | Mark Hodges, jr., Hermiston
Special teams
PK | Pilate Lopaya, sr., Chiawana
KR | Gage Reynolds, sr., Richland
Punt | Riley Shintaffer, sr., Hanford
