Three Cardinals Make All-State Football Team

WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg-Prescott football team fell one game short of a return trip to the state championship game this fall, but a trio of its members still earned best-in-state individu­al honors. Dalton Estes, Ben Shafer, and Danny Stansell garnered selections to the Associated Press all-state 2B squad. Estes earned the hon­or at two different positions.

Estes, last year's champi­onship game MVP, and this year's all-league all-purpose player of the year won first team honors at both running back and defensive back.

"For Dalton to get all- state running back on offense when he only played half the season there was really something," WP head foot­ball coach Jeff Bartlow said. "He split the season between there and receiver. He had like 1,700 yards receiving and 1,100 yards rushing. I was very happy for him."

This is Estes' second time on the all-state squad. Last year he was chosen all-state receiver.

"To be all state at three dif­ferent positions really means something," said Bartlow. "That hasn't happened in a while."

Joining Estes from Waits­burg High is senior lineman Shafer. Shafer was selected to the all-state squad on the offensive side.

"He put his time in and started three years for me," Bartlow said of Shafer. "The hard work he's put in in the weight room and all the sac­rifice has really worked out."

Stansell, a stocky sopho­more from Prescott, made the team at linebacker.

"Danny led the team in tackles. He was a good o(utside) line backer and did a great job for us," Bartlow said. "(His selection as a sophomore) was a little of a surprise. He was an all- league player this year and he deserved that too."

Being chosen to the AP all-state team does not mean an appearance in the all- state game in June. A sepa­rate group-the Washington State Coaches Association- makes those picks. Bartlow plans to be at the group's January conference to nomi­nate several of his players for the squad.

Last year, Zach Bartlow and Dalton's older brother Eshom Estes played in the all-state game. Jeff Bartlow coached the East squad who lost to the West in overtime.