Building a culture where players have each other’s backs, in good times or bad, has been the cornerstone of Russell Cook’s coaching philosophy since day one after taking the El Reno High School football job.

Last week his players did just that – even in spirit.

Graduates Rustyn Cook, Jaron Youngbear and Omar Tristan were made captains of the North squad for the 2026 Citizens of Potawatomi Nation’s All-Star Bowl.

During pre-game player introductions, the trio carried in front of them the No.1 jersey which had been reserved for the fourth El Reno player positioned on the North squad for the event – Brad Palmer.

“It was an emotional moment. I teared up when I saw Brad’s grandma at the game. I was thankful that the organizers of the game allowed our boys to be captains and carry Brad’s jersey,” said Cook.

Palmer was one of four young people killed May 22 in a head-on collision with a wrong-way driver along Interstate 40 in Yukon.

Others killed were fellow EHS grads Quincy Jones, 19, and Haliegh Salazar, 18, and driver Kiercy Hickson, 20, of Stillwater.

Cook said Jones had also been selected for the game but had withdrawn his name.

It would have been the last game for the El Reno players together before college, with Palmer and Tristan headed to Langston University. Cook is bound for Northwestern Oklahoma State in Alva and Youngbear to Kansas-based Sterling College.

Though sponsored by the Potawatomi Nation, the event is open to any player in the state – Native American or not.

“Omar, Jaron and I just wanted to go out and play for Brad and Quincy one last time and try and put on a show for everyone.

“It was a cool moment for sure (pre-game), but it was also very emotional for all three of us,” said Rustyn.

Cook said carrying their fallen teammate’s jersey was well received by Palmer’s family at the game. The three players took the tribute even further by wearing helmet stickers with Palmer’s number and the No.7 worn by Jones.

“We put their numbers on the side of our helmets. We just wanted to do it for them,” said Cook.

Getting back on the football field was therapeutic for the trio, said Cook, only seven days after losing their former teammates.

“This has been emotional. It’s just very sad and at first I didn’t want to believe it and now we’re just trying to figure it out. We just want to do better for them,” said Cook.

Cook said all three had extra incentives to play well in the game.

“We just wanted to go out there and play for Brad and do our best.” 

And they did.

Youngbear played on the defensive line in the North’s 27-14 loss to the South, logging one solo tackle and three assisted.

Tristan split time on both the offensive and defensive fronts, recording two solo stops, one quarterback sack and three assisted tackles.

Cook was named the North Most Valuable Player after starting on defense at linebacker and closing with 13 tackles, four of those solo. He split time at quarterback, completing 5-of-7 passes for 30 yards.

He rushed for another 97 yards on eight carries, a 12-yard average, and found the end zone once.

“It was a fun game. We just wanted to go out and play for them and make them proud,” said Cook.