Camas crushes Chiawana in battle of elite programs

PASCO — They scored so fast.

They scored so often.

And they didn’t allow much of anything of consequence.

“Another Papermaker season,” junior linebacker David Aarhus said. “New year. Same story.”

They still are the Camas Papermakers.

The Papermakers, voted atop The Associated Press’ preseason poll for Class 4A teams in Washington, showed why so many are impressed by them, topping No. 4 Chiawana 35-14 Friday night at Edgar Brown Stadium.

Liam Fitzgerald threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns, Jared Bentley had two touchdowns and 162 yards receiving, and the Camas defense ruled the first half.

“It gives us a huge boost of confidence,” said defensive lineman Jarrin Webb, who had a tackle for loss as well as a sack. “They’re a top team in the state. They’re unbelievable. We were happy we could control them.”

Camas, in fact, was in control from the opening drive. The Papermakers needed 77 seconds to score their first touchdown — Fitzgerald to Bentley on a 30-yarder — and the rout had started.

Camas scored three more first-half touchdowns, taking a 28-0 lead at the half.

“I expected to do what we did. We prepared well,” said Bentley, who had eight catches and also scored his team’s final touchdown of the night on a 17-yard pass from Fitzgerald.

“We just prepared so much for Chiawana this summer. We really like playing against them,” Aarhus said. “They’re a great team. It’s good to start against them. They kept us focused, they made us on point. It was a good start.”

Aarhus had a sack that ended one Chiawana drive, which led to Camas’ third touchdown of the game. And on Chiawana’s next possession, Aarhus intercepted a pass, setting up the Papermakers for another score.

Camas held Chiawana, the 2013 state champion and the 2014 runner-up, to 104 yards of offense in that first half.

“I would say it’s a statement,” Webb said. “Coming off our loss in the playoffs last year, I was not going to let that happen today. Our leaders took over and really set the energy.”

Fitzgerald finished 21 of 31 for 274 yards. His first pass of the season was a touchdown.

“Coming out and kicking them in the mouth felt good,” he said, referring to the four-play drive that started with three rushes for 24 yards.

The Papermakers continued to overpower the Riverhawks the rest of the half.  Fitzgerald connected with Tyler Blackwell for a 7-yard touchdown late in the first quarter.

The Camas running game had its moments, too, with Manase Nguamo and Jordan Del Moral scoring in the second quarter. The Papermakers totaled 343 yards in the first half.

Chiawana did get something going in the second half.

Andrew Vargas scored on the first possession of the third quarter to make it
28-7. And when Camas failed to score on its first possession of the half, the Riverhawks had an opportunity to get within two scores. Didn’t happen.

Chiawana went three-and-out against the Camas defense.

One minute later, Fitzgerald and Bentley teamed up again, making it 35-7 and pretty much ending the contest.

Vargas would score again in the fourth quarter but it was too late for Chiawana by then.

Chiawana, if you recall, made an incredible
fourth-quarter comeback to beat Camas in the 2013 state championship game.

While it is no consolation for that loss, Camas has now opened the 2014 and 2015 seasons with victories over the Riverhawks.

Last year’s game was another close one.

This one was not.

CAMAS 35, CHIAWANA 14
Camas 14    14    7    0—35
Chiawana    0    0    7    7—14
First quarter
Cam — Jared Bentley 30 pass from Liam Fitzgerald (Michael Boyle kick)
Cam — Tyler Blackwell 7 pass from Fitzgerald (Boyle kick)
Second quarter
Cam — Manase Nguamo 1 run (Boyle kick)
Cam — Jordan Del Moral 17 run (Boyle kick)
Third quarter
Chi — Andrew Vargas 7 run (Matt Winn kick)
Cam — Bentley 17 pass from Fitzgerald (Boyle kick)
Fourth quarter
Chi — Vargas 1 run (Winn kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Camas, Del Moral 13-71, Fitzgerald 6-4, David Aarhus 2-12, Nguamo 7-34, Austin Stevens 8-66. Chiawana, Andrew Vargas 23-134, Troy Simpkins 10-(minus 6), Josh Wilson 1-(minus 1), Roman Ruiz 1-(minus 1).
PASSING — Camas, Fitzgerald 21-31-1-274. Chiawana, Troy Simpkins 16-30-2-166
RECEIVING — Camas, Jared Bentley 8-162, Del Moral 2-14, Blake Roy 1-9, Blackwell 2-17, Aarhus 2-8, Hunter Bruno 5-58, Nguamo 1-6. Chiawana, Trent Simpkins 3-14, Wilson 6-67, Michael Sanchez 1-1, Matthew Caughey 2-21, Ruiz 3-49, Winn 1-14.