4A football: Bellarmine bottles up Camas 20-13

CAMAS — The Bellarmine Prep Lions stunned the Camas Papermakers early, and the shock never really wore off Saturday in the first round of the Class 4A state football playoffs.

The Lions led from start to finish, topping the second-ranked Papermakers 20-13 at Doc Harris Stadium. Bellarmine Prep will host a state quarterfinal game next week, while Camas’ season came to an end with a 10-1 record.

“Energy, I guess,” said Camas senior James Price when asked how Saturday happened. “We always say we have to set the tone early and play with intensity.”

That did not happen.

“You can’t blame one facet of the game on the loss. It was a conglomerate that just ended up in a loss,” Price said.

The Lions scored a defensive touchdown 45 seconds into the game, and after Camas responded one play later, the Lions found the end zone again on their first offensive play. Just like that, it was 14-6 a mere 76 seconds into the game, and the Lions held that lead.

Camas eventually fell behind by 14 and pulled within seven late in the third quarter, but did not get into the red zone on its final two possessions.

“We prepared really well and believed in ourselves,” said Bellarmine Prep linebacker Matt Ogard, who had two of his team’s seven sacks. “We were fueled from last year. We were motivated to play our game, and the scoreboard took care of itself.”

Oh yes, last year.

Camas beat the Lions in the 2013 state semifinals, 49-21.

Not this year.

Erik Glueck intercepted a Camas pass and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown on the third play of the game. Then he and his Lions held a Camas team that had averaged 50 points a game to 13.

“That was definitely an awesome effort by everybody,” Glueck said. “It took a whole week of practice. That’s why this happened.”

Camas running back Cole Zarcone answerd Glueck’s big play with one of his own, an 80-yard touchdown run to make it 7-6.

But after the ensuing kickoff, Bellarmine Prep’s Nathan Doyle broke free for a 70-yard touchdown run. That was three touchdowns in a 31-second span.

The defenses ruled most of the rest of the first half, with Bellarmine Prep settling for a Matthew Philichi 36-yard field goal to make it 17-6 at the half.

Philichi added another field goal to open the second-half scoring — this time from 42 yards out — to make it a 14-point game.

Two possessions later, Camas found a passing gear. Price scored on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Liam Fitzgerald to make it a one-possession game.

The Lions, though, would not give up any more points.

“I don’t even know,” Zarcone said, shaking his head. “Bad plays here and there. I think we didn’t play Camas football. We kind of got going there for a little bit, but we didn’t have time to make it happen.”

Camas coach Jon Eagle gave credit to the Lions.

“We were never able to find any rhythm on offense,” Eagle said, pointing out all the pressure from the Lions.

Camas had a 10-play drive to get to the Bellarmine Prep 32-yard line early in the fourth quarter, but a sack for a 12-yard loss and back-to-back incomplete passes ended that drive.

The Camas defense forced a three-and-out, and the Papermakers got the ball back at their own 40. This time, Camas reached the Bellarmine 41-yard line. But more pressure on the quarterback forced an errant pass on fourth down.

The Lions picked up a first down and ran out the remaining 3 minutes, 41 seconds.

The Papermakers, with a number of new faces in starting positions, agreed that they still had a special season. They went undefeated in the regular season and started 10-0 — something the program has now done three years in a row.

“We came a long way since the start of the season. People said we weren’t even going to make the playoffs,” Price said. “That’s the best gift we could have, when people doubted us.”

Price added that he believes next year’s class of Papermakers will continue the winning legacy.

“It was great to prove everyone wrong who said we weren’t going to make it very far,” Zarcone said. “I couldn’t be more happy for my guys. Great season.”

Eagle echoed those thoughts, proud of the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League title.

“We’re league champs. We proud of our seniors and the effort they brought, in my opinion, in a very tough league,” he said.

BELLARMINE PREP 20, CAMAS 13

Bellarmine Prep 14 3 3 0–20

Camas 6 0 7 0–13

First quarter

BP — Erik Glueck 26 interception return (Matthew Philichi kick)

Cam — Cole Zarcone 80 run (kick failed)

BP — Nathan Doyle 70 run (Philichi kick)

Second quarter

BP — Philichi 36 FG

Third quarter

BP — Philichi 42 FG

Cam — James Price 35 pass from Liam Fitzgerald (Michael Boyle kick)

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Bellarmine Prep: Doyle 29-134, Ahmad Lewis 9-21, William Roberson 10-20, Matt Ogard 1-5. Camas: Bryan Kelly 8-24, Zarcone 9-112, Liam Fitzgerald 11-(minus 38).

PASSING — Bellarmine Prep: Roberson 5-9-0-101. Camas: Fitzgerald 16-25-1-175.

RECEIVING — Bellarmine Prep: Lewis 1-8, Ogard 2-70, Blake Wilcoxen 2-23. Camas: James Price 8-106, Jared Bentley 5-28, Hunter Bruno 2-32, Blake Roy 1-9.