In the end, the site was familiar.
Like the Union Titans have done in all of their nine victories, players proudly sang the school’s fight song, soon followed by big hugs and even bigger smiles posing for photos on the field.
Although Friday’s 14-7 victory over Camas at McKenzie Stadium proved different than the previous eight that vaulted Union to a No. 1 state ranking for most of the season.
This came by repeating as 4A Greater St. Helens League champions.
And this came by earning a No. 1 seed into the playoffs that begin next week.
“It’s a special team,” senior Jojo Siofele said. “Against this team, we brought the intensity. We brought it all and focused all in.”
Union’s win secured a second straight 4A GSHL for the Titans. It’s the program’s first back-to-back league titles since 2008 and ‘09 when it reached the state semifinals twice, including a run to the state title game in ‘08.
As theatrical as last year’s 14-13 come-from-behind win was at Doc Harris Stadium, Friday’s proved equally thrilling with the defense standing ground when Camas threatened twice in the final quarter.
Union led 14-0 at halftime using clock-eating drives for both touchdowns on runs by Alishawuan Taylor (1 yard) and Jojo Siofele (3 yards). Siofele had 117 yards on 21 carries.
What’s when Camas’ defense beefed up. It shut the Titans out in the second half by forcing two turnovers on downs and had a fumble recovery while capitalizing on its opening scoring drive of the third quarter.
Shane Jamison’s 2-yard touchdown run to pull within 14-7 with the offense finding its rhythm for two more chances to strike late.
For the second straight week, Jamison and Jacques Birdsell shared the majority of the ball-carrying duties because of recent injuries to Camas’ rushers. Jamison finished with 119 yards on 21 carries Friday.
Camas twice had chances for the equalizer. Aidan Hoyt, who began the season as a third-string defensive back, had the biggest game of his career with two interceptions for Union. The latter came on sophomore quarterback Jake Blair’s attempt for the end zone to start the fourth quarter.
Camas got the ball back, though, with 5 minutes, 38 seconds to play after holding Union to a field goal attempt that was wide. It’s final drive went 13 plays and ate 4:15 off the clock and 12 of the 13 plays were rushes by Birdswell and Jamison, including a key first-down run by Jamison on fourth-and-2.
Three plays later with 1:23 on the clock, play No. 13 was Blair’s pass attempt on fourth-and-9 that fell incomplete.
Teamwork was the name of the game on the final drive, senior linebacker Joshua Joo said. “Once we stopped them, it was done. The heartbreaker for Camas; the Cinderella story for it. It’s so amazing.”
Blair (foot) made the start at quarterback a week after sitting out of the team’s 48-35 win over Skyview in a game senior quarterback Andrew Boyle suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Camas (5-4) travels to face Bothell, the Kingco’s No. 3 seed seed, next Friday or Saturday.
As the league’s top-seeded team, Union (9-0) faces Enumclaw to open the state preliminary round next week at McKenzie Stadium.
Of Union’s nine wins, five came by seven or fewer points. That just shows who the Titans are, said senior Lincoln Victor and what potentially they can be as the playoffs begin.
Or in Victor’s words, the third season — playoffs — in a season filled with adversity. Victor played his first game Friday since Week 6 against Skyview.
“Things like that help us make our team strong and a stronger unit,” said Victor, who was 8 of 16 passing for 115 yards. “That really translates on the field to big games like this. We’re able to pull a win our because we’re so close together and we’ve been through so much.”
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UNION 14, CAMAS 7
Camas 0 0 7 0 – 7
Union 7 7 0 0 – 14
First quarter
U — Alishawuan Taylor 1 run (Christian Alcorn kick)
Second quarter
U — Jojo Siofele 3 run (Alex Koga kick)
Third quarter
C — Shane Jamison 2 run (Bryce Leighton kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Camas: Shane Jamison 21-119, Jake Blair 4-(minus-13), Jacques Birdsell 12-20; Union: Lincoln Victor 11-79, Jojo Siofele 21-117, Alishawuan Taylor 1-1, Lamont Lane 1-14, Nile Jones 11-23.
PASSING — Camas: Jake Blair 3-11-1-67; Union: Lincoln Victor 8-16-0-115.
RECEIVING — Camas: Luc Sturbelle 1-29, Joey Schnell 2-38; Union: Alex Vallejo 4-64, Darien Chase 2-37, Jojo Siofele 2-14.
