A number of big-name football programs from Clark County started the season 0-1
Two league champions from Clark County face each other Friday in Week 2 of the high school football season, and, surprisingly, one of them is going to be 0-2.
Ridgefield, the defending 2A Greater St. Helens League champion, lost in its home opener last week to W.F. West, another team ranked in the top 10 in Class 2A.
Mountain View, the defending 3A GSHL champion, lost on the road in Week 1 to Class 1A Nooksack Valley. That was a stunning result to those who follow the Thunder.
Both teams are looking for improvement, and some momentum. Because the schedule gets more important real soon for Ridgefield, and the schedule gets a bit more daunting for Mountain View.
The Thunder will be taking on 4A rival Union in Week 3.
For Ridgefield, a bigger deal in Week 3. The Spudders open league play against Hockinson in Week 3.
So, yeah, while this Week 2 matchup might be non-league, both teams are in need of some positive vibes on the scoreboard.
The Spudders and Thunder kick off at 4:30 p.m. at McKenzie Stadium.
In the nightcap at McKenzie Stadium, another Clark County team is looking for a win, and that team is also facing a strong opponent.
Union (0-1) will face Yelm in a game that will give fans and media a little idea of where Union and Camas stand early in the season. Last week, Yelm topped Camas 44-14. That score raised a lot of eyebrows. (It was a close game for three quarters, and then it wasn’t.)
If Union wins Friday, it does not necessarily mean Union is “better than” Camas for the rest of the year. But games with common opponents do give the football community a jumping off point for discussions.
Also, as we head into Week 2, there is an old coaching adage: There is more improvement from Week 1 to Week 2 than in any other one-week period of the season.
There are a number of teams looking to move the needle on that improvement scale.
Camas will hold its home opener at Doc Harris Stadium. The Papermakers, the defending 4A GSHL champions, are facing Glacier Peak, a team that is ranked No.1 in Class 4A by Cascadia Preps and No. 2 in Scorebook Live Washington’s 4A power rankings.
On Saturday, Skyview looks for its first win of the season when the Storm take on in-district rival Columbia River (1-0) at Kiggins Bowl. Kickoff for that matinee is 1 p.m.
Oh, and Trico League champion La Center also fell in Week 1, meaning all four league champions from the county lost last week. La Center takes on 1-0 Woodland in Week 2.
Two Clark County teams are guaranteed to start 2-0. Evergreen (1-0) is at Hockinson (1-0) and Prairie (1-0) is taking on Hudson’s Bay (1-0) at Kiggins Bowl on Friday.
Week 2 opened Thursday night. Hoquiam outlasted Fort Vancouver.
Here is the rest of the schedule involving Clark County high school football teams:
Friday
Battle Ground at Centralia, 7 p.m.
Glacier Peak at Camas, 7 p.m.
Yelm vs. Union at McKenzie Stadium (Around 7 p.m., after first game at the stadium ends)
Evergreen at Hockinson, 7 p.m.
Heritage at Stadium, 7 p.m.
Ridgefield vs. Mountain View, 4:30 p.m. at McKenzie Stadium
Hudson’s Bay vs. Prairie, 7 p.m. at District Stadium
Toppenish at Washougal, 7 p.m.
La Center at Woodland, 7 p.m.
King’s Way Christian at Ilwaco, 7 p.m.
Goldendale at Seton Catholic, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Skyview vs. Columbia River, 1 p.m. at Kiggins Bowl
Also read:
- Vancouver youth now ranked No. 1 in the country by USA BoxingCain Elizondo Jr. of Vancouver has won two national championships this year, and on Friday, the official rankings were released, and he is the No. 1 intermediate (ages 13-14) 125-pound boxer in the country.
- Warm stretch of weather is just what Vancouver, and baseball players, could useCoaches and players cannot recall such a long stretch of warm, sunny days during a high school baseball season this early in the season, as the Vancouver-Portland area braces for potentially a long stretch of 70-degree days.
- Middle school girls have a wrestling tournament of their ownCascade Middle School hosts a girls-only wrestling tournament every year in hopes of mirroring the formats of high school wrestling, where boys and girls have separate state competitions.
- Clark County Today Sports Podcast, March 6, 2024: A salute to the Camas girls basketball team, and a welcome to In n Out BurgerIt is the week after state championship basketball, so we focused on the Camas girls basketball team, a salute to the Papermakers for winning the Class 4A title.
- Homegrown Champions • The 2024 Camas PapermakersClark County Today is proud to present a video showcasing the Camas girls basketball team that won a state championship Saturday night in Tacoma, with game highlights, post-game celebration, player interviews, and a victory dinner.