I guess I should start by apologizing to the football teams at Union and Skyview.
Last week, I predicted a good week for local teams in the opening round of playoffs games with our teams going 5-2.
They went 7-0.
The two teams I didn’t pick to win were the Titans and Storm.
And it wasn’t that Union and Skyview didn’t lose. They didn’t even come close to losing.
Not even close.
Union rolled over Issaquah 51-21, after building a 51-0 lead. Skyview pounded Curtis 38-10, with its all-league running back sidelined.
But, hey, I wasn’t alone in being surprised by the strong showing by the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League.
Scott Odiorne, the Vancouver resident who produces computer-based rankings and predictions as “The Score Czar,” also had Union and Skyview losing.
“I guess our league is better than we thought,” Camas coach Jon Eagle said with a smile.
“I saw Issaquah play on TV, and they looked pretty good to me. And I knew Curtis had a really strong program. So to see what our teams did against them, that’s pretty impressive.”
Count me impressed.
The Papermakers were impressive themselves, rolling over Monroe 55-20. Camas led 49-0 at halftime and looked as if they could have won 98-0 if they wanted to.
Friday’s results by the 4A GSHL came as a less of a surprise to the Camas players.
“We knew from the start of the season that we played in a strong and talented league,” Camas senior Michael DiGenova said. “And now the rest of the state is starting to see that.”
And if Union and Skyview were so much better than their playoff foes, and top-ranked Camas was so much better than Union and Skyview this season, what does that mean for the Papermakers in their push for a state title?
“I don’t really look at it as what it means for us,” Camas quarterback Reilly Hennessey said. “I look at what it means for the league. I love rooting for the GSHL in the playoffs. You battle those guys all season, but in the postseason, you cheer for the guys across the field. I work out with a lot of them in the offseason, so it’s great.”
Hennessey is free to root for his 4A GSHL rivals for at least one more week.
If both Camas and Union win this week, it will set up a quarterfinal match on Nov. 22 between the Papermakers and Titans at McKenzie Stadium.
But first, Union gets another tough draw. The Titans play at Eastlake of Sammamish at 7 p.m. Friday. But after seeing Union do to one 4A KingCo Conference team, it would be hard to pick against the Titans against another.
Here are where and when other local football teams will play this week.
CLASS 4A: Cascade of Everett at Camas, 4 p.m. Saturday; Skyview at Richland, 7 p.m. Friday.
CLASS 3A: Seattle Prep at Mountain View, 4 p.m. Saturday at McKenzie Stadium; Columbia River vs. Kamiakin, 4 p.m. Saturday at Lampson Stadium, Kennewick.
CLASS 1A: Blaine vs. La Center, 2 p.m. Saturday at Ridgefield HS; Woodland vs. Mount Baker, 6 p.m. Saturday at Civic Stadium, Bellingham.
Volleyball
Six local teams advanced to the state tournaments in Lacey (4A, 3A), Lakewood (2A) and Yakima (1A). Here are their first-round draws on Friday.
CLASS 4A: Camas vs. Mead, 9:45 a.m.
CLASS 3A: Columbia River vs. Ferndale, 3:15 p.m.; Prairie vs. Seattle Prep, 3:15 p.m. If both teams win (or lose), they’ll meet in the next round for the fifth time this year.
CLASS 2A: Ridgefield vs. North Kitsap, 1:30 p.m.
CLASS 1A: Woodland vs. Lakeside, 11:30 a.m.; La Center vs. Cedar Park Christian of Bothell, 1:30 p.m.
Girls soccer
There are six area teams that have advanced to the state playoffs. First-round games are played on Tuesday or Wednesday.
CLASS 4A: Wenatchee at Camas, 5 p.m. Wednesday; Union at Moses Lake, 6 p.m. Wednesday.
CLASS 3A: Liberty vs. Columbia River, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Kiggins Bowl.
CLASS 2A: Bellingham at Ridgefield, 6 p.m. Tuesday; Hockinson at Squalicum, TBA
CLASS 1A: Woodland vs. Seattle Academy, 4:30 p.m. at Starfire Complex, Tukwila.
