A tradition continued Friday night.
The salute to the visitors was appreciated by those who drove more than 200 miles to see their team.
Another tradition continued Friday night.
Kong rose high into the sky to welcome the home team.
Plus, there was something new Friday night.
The new home football field at Doc Harris Stadium in Camas shined.
Friday Night Lights has returned. And not just in Camas, but all over the state as fans celebrated high school football.
The home fans in Camas on Friday were disappointed in the result. Chiawana, traveling from Pasco, stunned the Papermakers 28-7 in the season opener.
But all fans can find joy in the return of football.
“It’s freakin’ awesome,” Camas coach Adam Mathieson said an hour or so before kickoff. “We’re in Camas. We’ve got a top-10 opponent here in early September, two name-brand programs. To have two teams put a game together like this, it’s a big deal.”
He looked as the stadium was filling up. He watched the huge band get ready for the pregame, too. The cheerleaders were warming up, as well.
“How cool is it for Southwest Washington to showcase a game like this?” he asked.
He also thanked the Camas voters for supporting schools. Those voter-approved funds paid for the new field. Red end zones, plus a huge red C at midfield. The hashmarks on the 16- and 19-yard lines are red, a salute to the 2016 and 2019 state champions. (The school, by the way, recognized the 10-year anniversary of the program’s first state champion team at halftime.)
And then a special look, as well.
“Doesn’t the alternating green look cool?” Mathieson asked
Indeed. The field has two shades of green, alternating every five yards. Easy on the eyes for fans, media, and the public address announcer.
The field at Doc Harris Stadium has changed, but the welcoming atmosphere remains unchanged.
The Camas band marched to the visitor’s side, then played the Chiawana fight song to welcome the Riverhawks to town.
Chiawana senior Cooper Cissen was impressed.
“Their community is amazing. Packed stands. That’s amazing,” Cissen said. “The football community is just awesome.”
As far as the game, it was a bit of a stunner for Camas fans. Well, the Riverhawks were a bit surprised, too. Don’t take that wrong. They believed they could win. But the way they handled this Week 1 game was an eye-opener.
“I did not expect that,” Cissen said, referring to the 28-0 lead at the half and a game that the Riverhawks pretty much dominated from start to finish.
“Everybody doubted us coming into the game. We made a statement,” Cissen said. “That was a big game, a lot of momentum for the rest of the season.”
Back to the stadium vibes, one Camas senior had an impressive debut to the season. It was also his debut with the Papermakers. Braydon Cook, one of the best players in the state, moved to Camas after playing in Olympia. He made plays all night from the defensive line.
“The atmosphere was great. I’ve never played with a band like this, a crowd like this. Even when we were at our lows, we were staying hyped on the sideline. It’s such a great fanbase. I’m proud to be part of this program.”
Cook and the rest of the Papermakers were introduced to the crowd after entering underneath Kong, the large, inflatable Camas football player. A smoke machine made for an even cooler effect.
By the end of the night, Chiawana headed home with a big win, a statement victory.
The Papermakers will go back to work, hoping for improvement from Week 1 to Week 2.
And even in defeat, Camas fans swarmed the field to greet the 2026 Papermakers, to embrace the return of football.
