Camas posts impressive victory over Federal Way

CAMAS — Three Camas offensive linemen shook their heads.

It was difficult even for them to comprehend what they and the rest of the Papermakers just accomplished.

Winning in the Class 4A state football quarterfinals is one thing. It’s an entirely different thing to destroy a talented squad.

That’s what the Camas offense did Saturday night at Doc Harris Stadium. Nate Beasley rushed for 249 yards and four touchdowns, caught another TD pass, and the Papermakers routed previously unbeaten Federal Way 65-32, advancing to the semifinals for the second year in a row.

New to the 4A ranks, Camas will take on defending champion Skyline of Sammamish next weekend in the Tacoma Dome.

“I’m at a loss for words,” Camas lineman Chris Durrett said. “I’m just blown away. Completely blown away.”

“It’s amazing,” added lineman Matt Walser. “I would have never foreseen this. Just a great win for us.”

Durrett, Walser, Drew Clarkson and just about anybody with a big frame and big number was down field all night, leading the way for Beasley. There were times when the linemen were 30, 40 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, with Beasley trying to catch them.

“I just turned it on. It seemed to work, whatever we were doing,” Beasley said. “It was fun seeing those big guys getting down the field.”

Camas had 51 points at halftime.

Camas scored 37 in the second quarter.

After the Papermakers scored to open the third quarter, the game was played with a running clock. Yes, the Papermakers got to the mercy rule against the team that was ranked No. 2 in the state by The Associated Press.

“All week, we’ve been stressed out,” Clarkson acknowledged.

The Papermakers had seen the Eagles on video. They knew what they were capable of doing.

“They are ridiculous on offense,” Clarkson said. “They have freak athletes.”

It turns out, there was no need to worry. Not when the Camas machine is in fine tune. Running the offense was quarterback Reilly Hennessey, who completed 12 of 15 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 37 yards and a score.

“I really think we made a statement to the state,” Hennessey said. “We’re out here to compete.”

In fact, Beasley said that might have been the only drawback to scoring such a big win.

“People are going to be aware of who we are now,” Beasley said. “It was kind of cool to be under the radar. But people will know what we are capable of now.”

Such as scoring nine touchdowns and a safety against a quality opponent.

“You don’t expect to beat a team that good like that,” Beasley said. “When it happens, you go with it, and you don’t let up.”

In fact, Hennessey said the offense was so focused all week because the Papermakers were concerned that the Eagles could put up a bunch of points.

“We knew we had to answer them,” Hennessey said.

Actually, the Eagles were looking for the answers all night.

The Camas defense ended up giving up a lot of points and yards by the end of the night, but it was that unit that set the early tone for the Papermakers.

They forced a three-and-out on Federal Way’s first possession of the game. After a punt, Beasley scored on a 22-yard run.

On Federal Way’s next possession, Nick Gadbaw got a sack and forced a fumble. Jason Vailea recovered it, setting up a Hennessey touchdown run, giving Camas two touchdowns in 55 seconds.

The Eagles would get a field goal to make it 14-3 and got the ball back.

But Zach Eagle intercepted a Federal Way pass to end a threat. The Papermakers responded with a 93-yard drive and a Hennessey-to-Dylan White touchdown pass with 9:50 left in the second quarter. It was the first of five touchdowns for Camas in the period.John Norcross, running the Wildcat formation, had two touchdown runs, sandwiching a Camas safety when Federal Way fumbled a ball out of its end zone. Those three scores came in a span of 96 seconds.

Beasley scored two more touchdowns later in the quarter. The Eagles also got two more touchdowns in the period, the last kept the game from being a running clock the entire second half.

Might as well have been, though. Because Camas scored early in the third.

Beasley capped Camas’ scoring with a 12-yard pass from Hennessey late in the third, giving the Papermakers 65 points.

“Who would have thought?” Camas coach Jon Eagle said.

The Papermakers even impressed themselves Saturday night.

CAMAS 65, FEDERAL WAY 32

Federal Way 3 14 7 8–32

Camas 14 37 14 0–65

First quarter

Cam — Nate Beasley 22 run (Roldan Alcobendas kick)

Cam — Reilly Hennessey 3 run (Alcobendas kick)

FW — Koby Craig 35 FG

Second quarter

Cam — Dylan White 18 pass from Hennessey (Alcobendas kick)

Cam — John Norcross 6 run (Alcobendas kick)

Cam — Safety, Federal Way fumbles out of own end zone

Cam — Norcross 4 run (Alcobendas kick)

FW — Chico McClatcher 80 pass from Evan Elliott (Craig kick)

Cam — Beasley 6 run (Alcobendas kick)

Cam — Beasley 5 run (Alcobendas kick)

FW — Marcel Morris 5 pass from Elliott (Craig kick)

Third quarter

Cam — Beasley 51 run (Alcobendas kick)

FW — Mike Tate 14 pass from Elliott (Craig kick)

Cam — Beasley 12 pass from Hennessey (Alcobendas kick)

Fourth quarter

FW — D’Londo Tucker 1 pass from Elliott (Morris from Tucker)

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Federal Way: McClatcher 9-45, Zeek McNeal 10-34, Elliott 9-34, Keena Curran 3-28, Team 1-(-19). Camas: Beasley 25-249, Hennessey 6-37, Norcross 2-10, Zach Eagle 1-9, Vincente Huber 4-7, Bryan Kelly 3-4, Team 3-(-4).

PASSING — Federal Way: Elliott 18-37-4-315, Curran 0-4-0-0. Camas: Hennessey 12-15-0-142.

RECEIVING — Federal Way: Morris 5-91, Aaron Persinger 5-88, McClatcher 2-74, Tucker 5-48, Tate 1-14. Camas: Beasley 3-47, Norcross 3-26, Michael DiGenova 2-18, White 1-18, Eagle 1-13, Jack Beall 1-11, Connor Maloney 1-9.