YAKIMA — Six North Olympic Peninsula football players will represent the westside of the state Saturday as the The Earl Barden Classic all-star football game returns from a two-year pandemic-induced hiatus.
The game will be held at East Valley High School with a 1 p.m. kickoff. The game will be live streamed for $9.99 at tinyurl.com/PDN-EarlBarden22.
The all-state football game for players in Class 2A, 1A and the B levels began in 1995 in an effort to showcase the play of small-school athletes.
Forks’ Dalton Kilmer, an All-Pacific League first-team pick at wide receiver and second-team defensive back for the Class 2B quarterfinalist Spartans, is on the West squad.
Kilmer will be joined by three members of the Nisqually League-champion East Jefferson Rivals: Nisqually League MVP Logan Massie, a running back and linebacker, along with offensive/defensive linemen Marshall Graves and Chris Fair, also first-team Nisqually League picks.
Port Angeles running back/defensive back/returner Daniel Cable, a first-team All-Olympic League selection and the Peninsula Daily News’ selection as the All-Peninsula Football MVP last December, also will play for the West.
Cable recently signed a letter of intent to play at George Fox University.
Quilcene’s Kevin Alejo, a running back/wide receiver/defensive back for the Rangers’ state runner-up Class 1B team, also will play for the West squad.
Forks head coach Trevor Highfield explained that being selected to play in the game is not just about athletic talent.
“Coaches nominate players that then go into a pool; for the team selections, they are looking for senior athletes with great character as well as good academic history,” Highfield said.
“Dalton is going to have a great time. This is an awesome opportunity for him. The All-Star game also helps with the development of the person he is becoming, and I have watched him grow.”
Highfield said he couldn’t think of a better person to be representing the Spartans
“I am so proud of him,” he said.
The five area players have spent the week in preparation for Saturday’s game.
The head coaches for the 2022 Earl Barden Classic will be Wiley Allred of Royal for the East and Jeff Weible of North Kitsap for the West.
Allred took over the Royal Knight football program in 1999 and has overseen one of the most dominant small-school programs in the state.
Assisting Allred for the East will be Jeremy Scroggins of Royal, Wayne Riner of Connell and Aaron Cochran of Goldendale.
Weible is one of the most successful coaches in 2A football. He has led the North Kitsap Vikings to league titles as head coach in both football and baseball. Assisting Weible for the West will be Vikings assistants Dave Snyder and Chris Richardson along with Mike Christensen of Toledo.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@ peninsuladailynews.com.
