A history lesson. A poorly timed piece of trash talk. An effective answer to that yapping. It all happened so fast Saturday night in the Tacoma Dome.
It is true that the Camas Papermakers had some recent history going against them in the state football semifinals. Then again, they also had the opportunity to learn from that history.
So when a Bellarmine Prep linebacker tried to irk the Papermakers, by reminding them of 2012, the 2013 Papermakers taught him a lesson.
Just another example of a game within the game. There is plenty of time between plays for the athletes to say things to one another. It can be a simple, “Good play” or “nice tackle” but it also can be an opportunity to try to get under an opponent’s skin.
At least one Lion tried to bug the Papermakers. The plan backfired.
First, some background. The Camas Papermakers lost in the Class 3A state semifinals in 2011. Then, as a 4A program, the Papermakers reached the 2012 semifinals, only to lose to Skyline. In last year’s game, Camas jumped out to a 14-0 lead. Then Skyline attacked.
This year, Camas was up 14-0 within five minutes. The Lions bounced back with a quick touchdown of their own.
“Uh oh,” Camas lineman Drew Clarkson acknowledged thinking. “It reminded me of last year.”
Just for a second, though.
Clarkson said while the thought crossed their minds, the Papermakers were not really concerned about history repeating itself.
Still, gotta give credit to one of the Lions for trying.
When the teams returned to the field after the ensuing kickoff, Camas quarterback Reilly Hennessey heard one of the Bellarmine Prep linebackers yelling at him. “Just like Skyline!”
Hennessey smiled. He did not say anything back, but after the game he explained what he was thinking.
“Buddy, we’re so past that. It’s in the rear-view mirror.”
The Papermakers went 74 yards on 10 plays. Hennessey was 3-for-4 for 37 yards and also rushed for 10 yards on the possession. Jason Vailea scored to make it 21-7.
Hennessey did not say a word to the Lions.
“I let the ball do the talking that drive,” he said.
The Camas defense forced a three-and-out on Bellarmine Prep’s next possession, and the Camas offense got right back to doing its thing, going 62 yards in nine plays. Nate Beasley scored on a 2-yard run for a 28-7 lead.
“Our defense was lights out, and our offense was going,” Clarkson said.
Final score: Camas 49, Bellarmine Prep 21.
Hennessey praised his opponents after the game.
“I can judge how good your team is by how sore I am after the game,” he said. “They did a good job of getting me on the ground.”
Still, Camas finished with 581 yards of offense, including 406 in the first half.
“It makes it that much more fun and rewarding,” Hennessey said of accomplishing that against a quality opponent.
…
Southwest Washington football teams certainly are not afraid of a tough schedule.
Back in September, Camas beat Jesuit and Canby in the first two games of the season. Those two teams just played each other in Oregon’s Class 6A semifinals.
Union, the second-place team from the 4A Greater St. Helens League, went 8-3 this season. The three losses: Camas (Washington finalist), Jesuit (Oregon finalist) and Eastlake (Washington quarterfinalist that gave Camas its toughest game to date).Paul Valencia covers high school sports for The Columbian. He can be reached at 360-735-4557 or e-mail at paul.valenciacolumbian.com. Follow him on Twitter 360paulv.
