A goal-line stand, a clutch field goal, plus some individuals honors
Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com
Here are some notes from Camas’ second-place finish at state football, as well as some season accomplishments.
Sumner got a field goal on the final play of the game to defeat the Papermakers 27-24 at Husky Stadium. Camas finished the year 13-1.
Making a stand
It had the makings of one of the greatest finishes to a story.
Only the story was too far from finished.
The Camas Papermakers were up 21-17 late in the third quarter of the Class 4A state championship game.
Sumner, though, had just completed a long pass and set up shop, first-and-goal from the Camas 1-yard line.
Time for some Camas defense.
Steele Isaacs got a carry for Sumner and was stuffed for no gain. Camas’ Joshua Webb was credited with the tackle.
The next play, Beau Harlan avoided all would-be blockers and took down Isaacs for a 2-yard loss. Harlan screamed in celebration.
On third down, Harlan and Alexander Hroza got Isaacs for another loss of two yards.
Sumner opted to go for it on fourth down. Quarterback Nate Donovan was hurried by Camas defensive end Luke Webb. The ball was caught at the 5-yard line, but Jared Forner was there for the Camas defense to make the tackle.
Four plays, minus-4 yards, and the Camas defense had a memory.
“It was super special,” Harlan said.
It turned out, Sumner was able to take advantage of the supreme field position. After a Camas punt, the Spartans did score on a short field to take a 24-21 lead.
Still, the Camas defense, playing in quite the setting at Husky Stadium in Seattle, had a goal-line stand in a championship game.
“I’m just really happy I could make a difference on my last football game as a Papermaker,” Harlan said. “I’ll never forget that.”
Special Special Teams
Jackson Tyler was true on a 32-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 24 for the Papermakers.
After the game, he wanted to make sure that his long snapper and holder got the credit, too. He said he has relied on them to do their jobs all season.
Unfortunately for the Papermakers, long snapper Liam Wakimoto suffered an injury on the field goal in the championship game. Holder Jared Forner made a great play to get the ball down for Tyler to connect.
Gatorade Player of the Year; Seahawks Coach of the Year
Jake Davidson would trade in the individual award for the team victory any day, but still, he said it was quite a thrill to be named the Gatorade State Player of the Year.
Davidson learned of the honor on Friday, the day before Camas took on Sumner for the Class 4A state title.
Through 13 games, Davidson had thrown for 3,440 yards with 50 touchdown passes when Gatorade named Davidson as the state player of the year.
Davidson added another 271 yards and three touchdown passes in Saturday’s championship game.
“It’s a great feeling,” he said of the recognition.
Davidson is a late-bloomer in the recruiting world, overlooked by many colleges.
He said Saturday that things are “looking promising right now” and he has had a lot of help from his coaches in trying to find a college.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks held their inaugural Seahawks Community Awards show this week. Camas coach Adam Mathieson was named the tackle football coach of the year.
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