One player's team is making a deep run in the postseason for the second straight year, and the other's team had a premature end to its season, just like their star.
Kamiakin's Zach Umemoto and Chiawana's Jordan Downing share a lot of traits as hard-nosed running backs and hard-hitting linebackers.
On Monday, they shared one more as both were named MVPs of their respective leagues.
Downing was named the CBBN 4A MVP for the second straight season and was a unanimous choice at running back and linebacker -- that despite missing half the season with an ankle injury suffered Oct. 8 against Moses Lake.
Still, the Riverhawks senior finished third in the league in rushing with 954 yards and was fourth in scoring (13 TDs, 78 points).
Umemoto, whose Braves play Kennewick in the state quarterfinals Saturday, was a unanimous pick at running back and a first-team selection at linebacker. He finished second in the league in rushing with 1,173 yards, and his 15 touchdowns were third in scoring (90 points).
The Kamiakin senior said the honor caught him by surprise.
"I didn't really know it was an award," he said. "I thought it was pretty great, that all my hard work paid off, that I was a first-team linebacker and first-team running back was pretty cool."
Also, he was happy to see two of his offensive linemen make the first team -- Joe Hunt and Nate Brandhorst -- and two more get second team or honorable mention.
"That's pretty good," he said, "because they don't really get that much recognition."
Kamiakin and Kennewick both got plenty of recognition. The Braves have 10 first-team players and eight more on the second team or honorable mention; the Lions have seven on the first team and 14 second team or honorable mention.
Hunt was named offensive lineman of the year and defensive player of the year. Kennewick's Grant Woods earned offensive player of the year, and the Lions' Bill Templeton was selected coach of the year.
There were five two-way first-teamers: Umemoto, Hunt and teammate Jesse Houser (receiver, returner), Woods (running back, returner) and Southridge's Chris Haueter (punter, all-purpose).
There were only three repeat first-team selections, all at linebacker: Umemoto and teammate Drew Oord, along with Eastmont's Berlie Walker.
On the 4A team, Chiawana's Steve Graff was named coach of the year, and Riverhawks senior DB Miquiyah Zamora was chosen defensive player of the year. Eisenhower's Mike Jones was picked as offensive linemen of the year, and the Cadets also had the offensive line of the year. Also, a pair of Ike players, quarterback Kolney Cassel and receiver Denzel Jones, were chosen offensive players of the year.
Chiawana had 10 first-team players and eight more on the second team or honorable mention. Richland also had a strong showing with seven on the first team and 11 more second team or HM.
Zamora was selected a unanimous first-teamer at defensive back, receiver and returner. Joining Downing as two-way first-teamers are teammates Gates Michel (unanimous offensive and defensive lines) and C.J. Edrington (receiver and unanimous DB); Eisenhower's Mike Jones (unanimous OL and DL) and Denzel Jones (unanimous WR and returner); and Davis' Cooper Kupp (unanimous DB and WR).
All three of Zamora's selections are repeats of last season, as was Kupp at receiver.
CBBN 4A
First team
Offense: QB--Kolney Cassel, jr., Eisenhower. RB--u-Jordan Downing, sr., Chiawana; Trevon Harris, sr., Eisenhower. WR--u-Miquiyah Zamora, sr., Chiawana; u-Cooper Kupp, sr., Davis; u-Denzel Jones, sr., Eisenhower; C.J. Edrington, sr., Chiawana. TE--Austin Lynn, sr., Davis. OL--u-Gaes Michel, sr., Chiawana; u-Mike Jones, sr., Eisenhower; u-Dennis Christensen, sr., Richland; u-Ryan Osterlund, jr., Wenatchee; Kayden Maughn, so., Chiawana. K--u-Q Taycheck, sr., Richland. Ret--u-Miquiyah Zamora, sr., Chiawana. AP--u-Denzel Jones, sr., Eisenhower.
Defense: DL--u-Gates Michel, sr., Chiawana; u-Mike Jones, sr,. Eisenhower; Jarret Wolf, sr., Richland; Jarret Snowhite, sr., Richland. LB--u-Jordan Downing, sr., Chiawana; u-Nate Guillen, sr., Eisenhower; u-Ethan Whitby, sr., Richland; Sawyer Powell, sr., Richland. DB--u-C.J. Edrington, sr,. Chiawana; u-Miquiyah Zamora, sr., Chiawana; u-Cooper Kupp, sr., Davis; Elijah Gardaya, sr., Richland. P--u-Chris Woodard, sr., Wenatchee.
MVP: Jordan Downing, Chiawana. Offensive lineman of the year: Mike Jones, Eisenhower. Offensive player of the year: Denzel Jones, Eisenhower; and Kolney Cassel, Eisenhower. Defensive player of the year: Miquiyah Zamora, Chiawana. Coach of the year: Steve Graff, Chiawana. Offensive line of the year: Eisenhower.
Second team
Offense: QB--Deion Wright, sr., Davis. RB--B.K. Robinson, sr., Richland; Jonah Hoe, jr., Walla Walla. WR--David Trimble, sr., Davis; Elijah Gardaya, sr., Richland; Connor Black, sr., Wenatchee; Moe Handcox, sr., Walla Walla; Ridge Harmon, so., Eisenhower; Isaiah Brandt-Sims, so., Wenatchee. TE--Jarret Wolf, sr., Richland. OL--Ryan Garcia, sr., Chiawana; Kaleb Garza, sr., Eisenhower; Jeremy Larson, jr., Walla Walla; Cody O'Connell, jr., Wenatchee; Sam Knox, sr., Davis; Alex Fick, sr., Moses Lake. K--Isaac Mitz, so., Chiawana. Ret--Moe Handcox, sr., Walla Walla. AP--Elijah Gardaya, sr., Richland.
Defense: DL--Dustin Hessdorfer, sr., Eisenhower; Dennis Christensen, sr., Richland; Brennen Smith, sr., Moses Lake; Ryan Osterlund, jr., Wenatchee. LB--Nick Sells, jr., Wenatchee; Alex Weber, so., Chiawana; Jacob Martinez, jr., Eisenhower; Hector Zavala, jr., Moses Lake. DB--David Trimble, sr., Davis; Roger Andrade, sr., Eisenhower; Moe Handcox, sr., Walla Walla; Conner Egberg, sr., Richland. P--Isaac Mitz, so., Chiawana.
Honorable mention
Offense: QB--Zach Whitby, so., Richland. RB--Austin Wagner, sr., Davis; Cameron Simpson, jr., Richland; Spencer Smith, so., Wenatchee. WR--A.J. Johnson, sr., Moses Lake; Darius Pati, so., Eisenhower; Conner Egbert, sr., Richland; Colter Quick, sr., Richland. TE--Ehtan Whitby, sr., Richland. OL--Jacob Herr, sr., Eisenhower; Calvin Henriquez, sr., Davis; Chandler Newell, so., Chiawana; Logan Reardon, jr., Walla Walla; Brenden Cox, jr., Moses Lake. K--Dean Atkinson, jr. Walla Walla. Ret--Denzel Jones, sr., Eisenhower. AP--Isaiah Brandt-Sims, so., Wenatchee.
Defense: DL--Logan Reardon, jr., Walla Walla; Mark DeRuyter, so., Chiawana; Jorge Alcala, sr., Davis; Jacob Stoll, so., Wenatchee; Rob Ferenz, sr., Walla Walla. LB--Jake Scroggie, sr., Wenatchee; Grady Graff, so., Chiawana; Orion Karn, sr., Davis; Kyle Jameson, sr., Walla Walla; Paul Trapani, sr., Walla Walla; Stuart Gillin, so., Walla Walla. DB--Denzel Jones, sr., Eisenhower; Isaac Daniels sr., Chiawana; Blake Rowley, sr., Walla Walla; Trino Rubio, jr., Moses Lake.
u-unanimous pick
CBBN 3A
First team
Offense: QB--Matt Mendenhall, sr., Southridge. RB--u-Zach Umemoto, sr., Kamiakin; u-Grant Woods, sr., Kennewick. WR--u-Josh Richards, sr., Southridge; u-Paul Hamada, sr., Southridge; Jesse Houser, sr., Kamiakin; Ethan Cantus, sr., Pasco. TE--u-Dylan Whitaker, sr., West Valley. OL--u-Joe Douglas, jr., Hanford; u-Joe Hunt, sr., Kamiakin; u-Aaron Beck, sr., West Valley; Nate Brandhorst, sr., Kamiakin; Garrett Wilz, sr., Kennewick. K--David Ellis, jr., West Valley. Ret--Grant Woods, sr., Kennewick; Jesse Houser, sr., Kamiakin. AP--Chris Haueter, sr., Southridge.
Defense: DL--u-Rudy Navarro, sr., Sunnyside; Joe Hunt, sr., Kamiakin; Jake Sullins, sr., Kennewick; Robert Koch, jr., West Valley. LB--u-Drew Oord, sr., Kamiakin; u-Shaun Smith, sr., Kennewick; Berlie Walker, sr., Eastmont; Zach Umemoto, sr., Kamiakin. DB--u-James Swinyard, sr., Kamiakin; Corey McLean, sr., Kamiakin; Brock Schuh, sr., Kennewick; Joey Contreras, jr., Sunnyside. P--u-Chris Haueter, sr., Southridge.
MVP: Zach Umemoto. Offensive lineman of the year: Joe Hunt, Kamiakin. Offensive player of the year: Grant Woods. Defensive player of the year: Joe Hunt. Coach of the year: Bill Templeton, Kennewick.
Second team
Offense: QB--Jason Hutchison, sr., Kamiakin. RB--Chris Haueter, sr., Southridge; Israel Manzo, sr., Sunnyside. WR--Ronnie Roosendaal, sr., West Valley; Bodie Simpson, jr., Kennewick; Brandon Larson, sr., Kamiakin; Reggie Clionton, sr., Kennewick; Joey Contreras, sr., Sunnyside. OL--Ivan Diaz, sr., Kennewick; Tommy Clark, sr., West Valley; Christian Reyes, sr., Eastmont; Marcos Nunez, sr., Sunnyside; Sean Clausen, sr., Kamiakin. K--Chandler Mertens, sr., Southridge. AP--Ethan Cantus, sr., Pasco.
Defense: DL--Zack Gaston, jr., Hanford; Kevin Greager, jr., Kamiakin; Kyle Hoffman, jr., Eastmont; Garrett Wilz, sr., Kennewick. LB--TJ Fields, sr., Kennewick; Zack Kreider, jr., Pasco; Troy Fulton, sr., Kennewick; Johnny Jansen, jr., Kamiakin. DB--Adam Sanders, sr., Southridge; Jake Oram, jr., Hanford; Reggie Clinton, sr., Kennewick; Ethan Cantu, sr., Pasco. P--Rudy Navarro, sr., Sunnyside.
Honorable mention
Offense: QB--Lucas McGill, sr., Eastmont; Bryce Leavitt, sr., Kennewick. RB--Cody LaRiviere, sr., West Valley; Devven Ramos, jr., Kennewick. WR--Dalin McDonnell, jr., Eastmont; Miguel Torres, jr., Pasco; Clay Gonzalez, so., Southridge; Brock Schuh, sr., Kennewick. TE--Tyler Sanchez, sr., Hanford. OL--Jared Miller, sr., Hanford; Luke Bare, sr., Kamiakin; Zack Kreider, jr., Pasco; Jarrod Gonzales, sr., Kennewick; TJ Fields, sr., Kennewick. K--Ryan Gibson, so., Pasco; Tim Gibson, sr., West Valley. AP--Israel Manzo, sr., Sunnyside.
