CAMAS — As a child, Liam Fitzgerald told people he had a superpower.
His right eye is green, the other a greenish-brown. About 11 people out of every 1,000 have different colored eyes.
Fitzgerald told other kids he could see through people.
“Liam, to me, is the ultimate threat at quarterback. Keeping him in the pocket, he has great accuracy. But he’s almost more dangerous running. He makes guys miss and throws a rocket for a touchdown.”
Opposing 4A GSHL coach
On Camas quarterback Liam Fitzgerald
These days, Fitzgerald can see right through a football defense.
It is not a superpower. Just a super talent.
As a junior, Fitzgerald was named the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League’s co-offensive player of the year, leading the Camas Papermakers to an undefeated regular season and the program’s fifth consecutive trip to the state playoffs.
There were no guarantees last season. The Papermakers had said goodbye to an incredible group of seniors who led them to the 2013 state championship game, and they were starting a new quarterback.
“I was feeling a little nervous. I felt it was my responsibility to step up,” Fitzgerald said.
“I felt confident with the team, my linemen, and my receivers. I just wanted to have confidence in myself.”
It only took a few minutes.
“Right after the first drive,” Fitzgerald said, recalling the 2014 opener, against defending state champion Chiawana. “I got the first-drive jitters out, and it was just playing football again.”
It also helped that the Papermakers won that game. Then again the next week against Federal Way.
This was not a foregone conclusion that Camas would just roll over every team again.
“It was good motivation,” Fitzgerald said. “People were doubting us a little bit.”
No one in Southwest Washington should be doubting the Papermakers any time soon. Fitzgerald, who is 6-1, 190 pounds, said the team’s surprising loss in the first round of the state playoffs last season is fueling the drive this season.
“We just need to show we can rebuild again,” Fitzgerald said. “You have to keep getting better every day, every week. We still have to prove to everyone we can go out there and play.”
Fitzgerald led the region last season with 2,682 passing yards. He also threw 24 touchdowns in 11 games.
“Liam’s strength is his ability to take a broken play and make it a big play,” Camas coach Jon Eagle said. “You will not find many quarterbacks with as quick of a delivery as he has. And he’s super athletic.”
Fitzgerald’s breakthrough season led to a hectic offseason. He attended more camps and passing clinics. He saw his name and his game praised on the recruiting sites, on social media.
“It’s really humbling for people to know who I am and appreciate my game,” he said. “Just humbling.”
He wants to play college football, but his focus is not on his future plans but of this season, right now with the Papermakers. He wants to get back on the field, to offset a certain memory. The loss to Bellarmine Prep in the first round last season still stings.
“When you lose, you want to come back with everything you’ve got,” Fitzgerald said. “We were expected to win that game. Obviously we weren’t ready.”
Fitzgerald is ready for everything that comes with being a senior, a quarterback.
“If you go as hard as you can, it’s going to rub off on people, and they’re going to go as hard as they can.”
Sounds like a superpower.
Want another? Liam Fitzgerald just might be able to see the future, too. If he and the Papermakers stick to their philosophy, it will be another successful campaign.
