CAMAS — In the end, the sight was a familiar one.
Like the Camas Papermakers have done thus far in 2023 at Doc Harris Stadium, they’ve celebrated home victories surrounded by their fans with attaboy chants of teammates’ performances.
Another sight was a familiar one Friday: the 21-9 victory over Skyview was another Camas win in what’s been a run of Camas wins over Skyview.
On Friday, Oct. 13, it turned out to be lucky No. 13 in a row.
Skyview’s last win over Camas came in 2011 — the year Skyview last captured the 4A GSHL title and went onto play in the 4A state championship game.
Since then, Camas has won 13 straight, including two meetings in the 2015 season: one regular season and one postseason.
“I love to compete with them,” said Camas running back Titan Brody. “It’s always good to have them as our opener. It’s great competition.”
In fact, going back to the teams’ past six meetings, no final score has been more than 13 points.
Friday’s win by Camas might not have been in the come-from-behind theatrics such as last season’s 19-point fourth-quarter road victory at Kiggins Bowl that put Camas on the path to another league crown.
But nonetheless, theatrics were ever present in the form of defense on a drizzly Friday night at Doc Harris Stadium to open league play.
In fact, senior Trenton Swanson said postgame it was the team’s best defensive output since the 8-7 season-opening loss to defending 3A champion Yelm.
Against a previously undefeated Skyview team that entered Friday posting four shutouts, averaging 42 points per game on offense, and only allowing just two touchdowns in six games, Camas limited Skyview to without a touchdown through 45 clock minutes.
“What we did tonight just showed how good our defense is,” Swanson said. “Our defense is the rock of our team. If we win a state championship this year it’s going to be on our defense. And I think we proved how good we were tonight.”
But it didn’t start out that way.
A blocked punt by Skyview’s Rex Allinger eventually set up the Storm’s first possession up at the Camas 17-yard line, leading to a quick 3-0 Skyview lead on a 26-yard field goal by Ethan McClinton. As it ultimately turned out, that was Skyview’s best field position of the game until its final offensive series when Jake Kennedy hit Jerid Secor for a 9-yard touchdown reception with 2:43 left in the game.
Camas led 14-3 at halftime and both drives came on big plays. First, Anthony Forner’s 26-yard touchdown reception came on a fourth-and-11 to give the Papermakers a 7-3 advantage. The Papermakers followed that up with defense. Ayden Jones’ fumble recovery eventually led to Beau Harlan’s 4-yard rushing touchdown to take a 14-3 lead. Skyview’s drives after its opening field goal were: punt, punt, turnover (fumble), turnover (interception).
Offensively, the Camas offensive line powered its run game. Brody rushed for game-highs in carries (23) and yards (104). Beau Harlan rushed for both the Papermakers rushing touchdowns.
The run game set the tone early. And again to open the third quarter when Brody carried the ball nine times in a 12-play drive. It ended with Harlan’s second touchdown to give Camas a 21-3 lead with 4:09 left in the third.
“Those are my guys; I love them to death,” Brody. “I can’t ask for a better O-line.”
But Skyview found momentum late. Starting at its own 21 with 5:47 to play, it drove 79 yards to cut the deficit to 21-9 on Sector’s 9-yard touchdown reception. The drive was highlighted by a 38-yard catch by Gavin Packer one play prior.
With two games left in the regular season, Swanson said the Papermakers know the outcome of this game gives him and his teammates a lot.
“This game gives us so much confidence that we can make a deep run.”
—
CAMAS 21, SKYVIEW 9
Sky 3 0 0 6 – 9
Cam 7 7 7 0 – 21
First quarter
S — Ethan McClinton 26 FG
C — Anthony Forner 26 pass from Jake Davidson (Trenton Swanson kick)
Second quarter
C — Beau Harlan 4 run (Swanson kick)
Third quarter
C — Harlan 9 run (Swanson kick)
Fourth quarter
S — Jerid Secor 9 pass from Jake Kennedy (pass failed)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Skyview — Trey Jacob 12-52, Gavin Packer 1-2, Jake Kennedy 6-39, Riley Artis 2-11; Camas — Titan Brody 23-105, Beau Harlan 9-59, Jake Davidson 5-(minus-10), Alex Hroza 1-4.
PASSING: Skyview — Kennedy 10-16-1-142; Camas — Davidson 10-15-0-132
RECEIVING: Skyview — Gavin Poffenroth 2-18, Packer 4-105, Jerid Secor 3-19; Camas — Brody 1-5, Trenton Swanson 2-40, Anthony Forner 3-39, Jack Macdonald 1-7, Chase McGee 2-31, Harlan 1-10.
