Sumner kicks a field goal to beat Camas 27-24 Saturday night at Husky Stadium in the Class 4A state championship game
Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com
Many of the seniors took their time leaving the locker room at Husky Stadium late Saturday night.
They just wanted to be together, as teammates, wearing those Camas uniforms for just a few more minutes.
They needed each other to overcome the sudden end to their championship dreams.
Then, they stood tall and proud, discussing how grateful they were for being Camas Papermaker football players.
It was an imperfect ending for the Papermakers, who were looking for a perfect season.
Instead, Sumner walked off the field as champions with a walk-off field goal.
Austin Ferencz kicked a 21-yard FG on the final play of the game, lifting Sumner to a 27-24 victory over Camas in the Class 4A state championship game in Seattle. It is Sumner’s first state title in football in 47 years.
The finale of the Gridiron Classic — six title games for the state’s six classifications — capped two days of championship football at Husky Stadium in Seattle. The 4A title game featured ties at 7, 14, and 24 before Sumner got the final score.
“It’s a huge honor to play for this team,” Camas quarterback Jake Davidson said. “I’ve been wanting this since I was 5. We just came up short.”
“It just means everything to me,” said Camas tight end/linebacker Nikko Speer of being part of this team. “I”ve been in this program forever. These guys are my family. We came really far. We didn’t get what we wanted, but it was still an amazing season with my family. I’m really proud of everyone.”
Linebacker Beau Harlan said the Camas culture made him a better person.
“It’s completely shaped who I am today. I’m thankful for it,” Harlan said. “I’m thankful for the community we have. It’s sad to let them down, but I’m super proud with how we played.”
As he was leaving, he looked over the Husky Stadium field one last time, hardly anyone left in the stadium, and said: “I’ll be a Papermaker for life. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
Saturday’s game was unforgettable, as each team answered each other’s challenge.
Sumner would get the ball with 5:50 to play in the fourth quarter, and with the help of a gutsy decision and two Sumner bounces, never gave the ball back to the Papermakers.
The Spartans converted a fake punt on a fourth-and-4 play from their own 37-yard line early in the drive. They were then fortunate with two fumbles. The first went out of bounds for a first down. The second fumble was recovered by the offense at the Camas 4-yard line.
From there, Sumner ran down the clock, called a timeout with 4 seconds remaining, and sent out its kicking team for the win.
Camas had tied the game at 24 earlier in the quarter on a 32-yard field goal from Jackson Tyler.
After a defensive battle in the first half, both teams got it going on offense in the second half.
Sumner took advantage of the only turnover of the game, recovering a Camas fumble and getting in the end zone a few plays later on a Steele Isaacs touchdown run for a 14-7 lead.
Camas responded moments later with a 39-yard touchdown pass from Davidson to Chase McGee.
Sumner bounced back with a 28-yard field goal by Ferencz with 6:21 to play in the third quarter.
Less than two minutes later, Camas had its first — and only — lead of the game when Davidson threw a swing pass to McGee, who broke a tackle and took off on a 61-yard touchdown play.
What came next could have turned into the greatest goal-line stand in Camas history, only it just delayed an eventual Sumner touchdown.
A long pass led to a first-and-goal situation for Sumner at the Camas 1-yard line. Four plays later, the Camas defense was celebrating a turnover on downs. The great Sumner rushing attack went backward, and Camas kept the lead.
The Sumner defense, though, was up to the task. The Spartans got a three-and-out, Camas punted, and Sumner took advantage of the field position to score on a short touchdown pass from Nate Donovan to Carter Cocke for a 24-21 advantage with 9:12 to play.
Defenses ruled most of the first half. Isaacs scored on a touchdown run late in the first quarter for Sumner. Speer made another sensational catch — he is famous for those grabs in Camas — to tie the game on a TD pass from Davidson midway through the second quarter.
Isaacs rushed for 170 yards and two touchdowns for Sumner. Donovan threw for 254 yards and a score.
Davidson, the Gatorade state player of the year, was 22 of 31 for 271 yards and three touchdown passes for the Papermakers.
Still, he struggled with the plays he believed he did not make.
“It was a game of possessions, and I didn’t capitalize on some opportunities,” Davidson said. “We came up short.”
McGee finished with nine catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns.
Camas coach Adam Mathieson said his discussion with his team after the game was brief.
“I’m proud of them. I love them. I wish we could have done more to help their dream come true. We’re in the kid business, trying to turn dreams into reality,” Mathieson said. “The kids played tremendously hard.”
He said it might take some time, but the Papermakers will appreciate all that they accomplished this season.
“We’ll have a chance to reflect on the journey, and they’ll be proud of the journey,” Mathieson said. “In the moment, it stings.”
The emotions from the players led to emotions from the coaches.
“We’re in the kid business, and it’s hard to see kids feel disappointed and hurt when things don’t go their way,” the coach said.
Mathieson also gave a salute to the new champions, noting it had been 47 years since the Spartans won it all.
“Coach (Keith) Ross is a wonderful coach,” Mathieson said. “God bless him and God bless Sumner.”
Harlan brought up last week’s win over Gonzaga Prep, when Camas trailed by 13 points in the fourth quarter.
“I’m really happy with how we fought,” Harlan said. “Both games, we played the best we could. Today just didn’t fall in our favor.”
Speer echoed those thoughts.
“We left no regrets on the field. I’m proud of that. The game did not turn out how we wanted, but we played our hearts out, and that’s what matters,” Speer said.
Touchdown Camas!
— Paul Valencia (@ValenciaCCT) December 8, 2024
Incredible TD catch by Nikko Speer.
Sumner 7, Camas 7
6:13 2nd Q pic.twitter.com/QT5nGqokYc
Big play Camas defense pic.twitter.com/s1bGnD20i8
— Paul Valencia (@ValenciaCCT) December 8, 2024
Big play Camas defense pic.twitter.com/s1bGnD20i8
— Paul Valencia (@ValenciaCCT) December 8, 2024
Here is the big second-down play on that Camas defensive stand. pic.twitter.com/s5UdoL5GYQ
— Paul Valencia (@ValenciaCCT) December 8, 2024
FINAL:
— Paul Valencia (@ValenciaCCT) December 8, 2024
Sumner 27, Camas 24 pic.twitter.com/FjPmk7iE2D
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