TACOMA — For the first time since Week 4, Camas was not celebrating after the game. For the first time since Week 5, the Papermakers failed to score at least 40 points.
If you’re searching for a reason, you may not need to look further than this: For the first time all season — Zack Marshall was unavailable for the final 36 minutes.
In the first quarter of Camas’ 21-13 loss to O’Dea of Seattle in the Class 3A state semifinal, the senior running back dislocated his thumb and left with his parents to the hospital.
Marshall, the 3A Greater St. Helen’s League offensive player of the year, would not return to the game.
Perhaps not coincidentally, the Papermakers’ normally potent offense looked as though someone had slipped it a sedative.
And while Camas coach Jon Eagle doesn’t want to make excuses, he couldn’t ignore his leader’s absence.
“Every coach is supposed to say that one guy doesn’t make the team. That’s the stand a coach is supposed to take. But this was our league player of the year,” Eagle said. “He makes us go. He is the straw that stirs the drink.”
Eagle added that durability is a major part of football, and is generally irritated when other coaches use injuries as an excuse.
But with Marshall coming into the game with 1,015 yards, and adding 51 more on six carries Friday, it’s tough to deny his impact.
Even so, teammates refused to say that missing Marshall cost them the game.
Camas quarterback Tony Gennaro said that Zack was “a big-time running back,” but that “our other guys still got the job done.”
Receiver Jonathan Warner said once the second half began, the Papermakers had put Marshall’s injury behind them.
And while senior John Payne admitted that some of the younger players were asking “what are we going to do without Zack?” he was pumping everyone up saying “we still have a whole game to play!”
Sophomore Nate Beasley recognized that, so he ran for 76 yards on nine carries — including one rush for 46 yards. Fellow sophomore Zach Eagle did, too — so he caught five passes for 76 yards.
Did the offense decelerate without Marshall? Sure. But it didn’t come to a complete stop.
Marshall did not return to the Tacoma Dome, meaning the final game of his season was spent away from his teammates.
But those who have played with him hardly forgot how much he helped the Papermakers reach this point.
And if there was a silver lining, it forced the younger players to step up in a major game. That has Payne confident about the team he is leaving behind.
“The young guys played real well,” Payne said. “I think they’re going to win it all next year.”
