Years ago, when their father, Wade Forner, coached his sons in youth football, Anthony Forner played left guard on the offensive line for his quarterbacking brother.
That taught the brothers from an early age, it doesn’t matter where someone plays on the field because everyone matters.
“Every time I saw him do big, powerful throws and all these things,” Anthony said of Jared, “I was sitting there blocking. It humbled me to know that it doesn’t matter who gets the ball, seeing my brother succeed is huge.”
That’s extended to high school football, and in particular, big senior seasons for each Forner. If it feels like the Forners are everywhere on the field for Camas, it’s because they are.
Anthony starts at receiver and cornerback, and Jared leads the secondary at safety, and is a return specialist and holder. Both were two-way all-league honorees who made big plays in Saturday’s 28-20 semifinal win over Gonzaga Prep in a game Camas trailed by 13 twice.
Anthony’s 51-yard touchdown reception down the left sideline gave the Papermakers the lead for good with 7:39 left in the game.
He also made a pass breakup with 1:40 to go on Gonzaga Prep’s final offensive snap on fourth and long from the Camas 43.
Jared had a season-high eight tackles on defense, and big return yards after Camas’ defense forced Gonzaga Prep to punt on three of its final four drives.
Naturally, the brothers are complementary to one another.
Anthony highlights Jared’s leadership of what was a young safety unit at the start of the season and how he’s a key communicator of the defense. Jared is in awe of Anthony’s flip-of-a-switch efforts on offense one series, and defense the next. Especially in early September when Anthony played with a club while recovering from a broken wrist.
One of the first teammates to greet Anthony after his go-ahead 51-yard touchdown Saturday? Jared, as he raced out for the hold on Jackson Tyler’s point-after try.
“It’s a big deal to watch him ball out,” Jared Forner said. … “When you see each other do something great on the field, you want to be the first one there to pick him up. … and you’re there when he’s struggling.”
When Camas won the 2019 state championship, the Forners were seventh graders who saw their older brother, Tyler, end his high school career winning a state title.
Two other current Papermakers had brothers on that 2019 team: starting center Ryan Criddle (Nathan and Tyler) and wideout Jack Macdonald (Tristan Souza).
The Forners note some similarities between the 2019 team, and this year’s undefeated team through 13 weeks. And they’re ready to write their final chapter Saturday just like it began: together.
“God blessed me with a twin brother like this,” Anthony Forner said, “To have him through this whole journey … it’s so important to have someone right there next to me.”
Said Jared Forner: “We have to make sure we take this week literally like it’s our last week and give it our all.”
