There are three games on the schedule Friday night featuring unbeaten-in-league teams, playing for league championships
Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com
It is one of the greatest days of regular-season football in Clark County history.
Six teams, all undefeated in league play.
Three games.
Different sites.
Same kickoff times.
League championships on the line.
If only one could be cloned to be there live for all three games. Alas, decisions will have to be made.
Of course, if you have vested interest — family, friends, classmates, a sense of community — you already know where you will be Friday night.
But for those of us who just love football, love championship football, there are options.
The Class 4A Greater St. Helens League championship will be decided at Kiggins Bowl where Skyview hosts Camas at 7 p.m.
The Class 2A Greater St. Helens League title will be decided at Woodland High School, where the Beavers will host Ridgefield.
And the Trico League championship will be decided in La Center, where the Wildcats will host Seton Catholic.
All six teams are going to the playoffs. Only three can be league champions, though.
Now in my 24th season covering high school football in Clark County, I had to find out just how many times in recent history have there been three Week 9 games featuring undefeated-in-league matchups.
Thanks to the efforts of GSHL football historian Bryan Levesque, it looks like this has happened twice before this century, and this will be the first time this century that all six teams have a close connection to Clark County. (We’re looking at you Woodland, a Cowlitz County school but with Clark County students)
In 2009, Union beat Camas in a classic, 35-31, to win the 3A GSHL. That same night, Mark Morris beat R.A. Long 21-7 for the 2A GSHL crown. Also on Oct. 30, 2009, Kalama topped La Center 41-40.
In 2013, Mountain View defeated Columbia River 34-28 to win the 3A GSHL title. Mark Morris beat R.A. Long 28-21 for the 2A GSHL crown. And La Center beat Woodland 52-21 for the Trico League crown.
In 2024, the 4A GSHL gets into this three-ring, Week 9 circus.
Camas is 8-0 overall and 2-0 in league play and is the top-ranked Class 4A team in the state. The Papermakers are looking for their fifth consecutive league championship.
Skyview is 6-2 overall and 2-0 in the 4A GSHL. The Storm have had some close games against Camas in recent years but they have not been able to get over the Camas obstacle since beating the Papermakers in 2011. That was the last year Skyview won a league title, as well.
In Class 2A, Ridgefield has moved up to No. 7 in the AP’s state rankings with its 8-0 record, which includes a 6-0 mark in the 2A GSHL. Ridgefield last won the 2A GSHL in 2021.
Woodland is 6-2 overall, including 6-0 in league play with a six-game winning streak. The Beavers are also the defending league champions after beating Ridgefield in Week 9 last year 28-21.
The Trico League game this week is one of the biggest games in the state. It features No. 2 Seton Catholic (8-0 and 6-0) vs. No. 3 La Center (8-0 and 6-0). La Center rallied to defeat Seton Catholic last year to win the league title The winner of this game should get the all important 2-seed going into the Week 10 playoffs, and, presumably, the 2-seed into the 12-team 1A state bracket should they win in Week 10.
La Center is looking for its fifth consecutive full-season league title. Seton Catholic has never won a football league title.
Also read:
- Falcon Baseball Academy to host inaugural Extra-Innings Bazaar & Market at Prairie High School
Prairie High School’s Falcon Baseball Academy will host its first Extra-Innings Bazaar & Market on May 2, inviting local vendors and community members to support the school’s baseball program and student activities. - Trophy games: Columbia River boys finish fifth, Evergreen girls take sixth at state tournaments
Columbia River’s boys and Evergreen’s girls both reached the final day of their state basketball tournaments, returning to Vancouver with fifth- and sixth-place trophies. - High school state basketball: Columbia River suffers heartache in overtime loss in semifinals
Columbia River’s run to the Class 2A semifinals ended on a buzzer-beater in overtime, while Evergreen advanced to a trophy game and several other Clark County teams wrapped up their state tournament seasons. - Pro basketball: Vancouver Bears set to debut new name in new league
Vancouver’s professional basketball franchise has rebranded as the Vancouver Bears and will open its season in a new league March 7 at Hudson’s Bay High School. - State basketball quarterfinals: Columbia River Rapids keep dream alive, advance to final four
Columbia River defeated Pullman in the Class 2A state tournament quarterfinals in Yakima to reach the semifinals, while four other Clark County teams fell in their respective state quarterfinal games.
