Papermakers win their 56th consecutive regular-season game by holding off Skyview in a 4A GSHL matchup.
The Camas Papermakers just keep getting it done.
Every week. Every year.
This season, they have been tested more than once. Yet the record remains perfect.
There was no dramatic finish Friday night, not like a couple weeks ago, but Camas did get pressed to the fourth quarter at Kiggins Bowl. The Papermakers took Skyview’s best shot, and the Papermakers won their 56th consecutive regular-season football game.
Trevor Bentley returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown, and Kyle Allen and Drake Owen led the Camas offense as the Papermakers pulled away for a 38-20 victory over the Storm.
Camas, 6-0 overall, improved to 2-0 in Class 4A Greater St. Helens League play. Skyview dropped to 3-3 with this loss in its first league game of the season.
“Getting this win kind of gives us our faith,” Bentley said. “We knew we could do it. But we really had to focus on this win.
“Skyview is great. Their defense is great. Their offense is great. Very tough team.”
Just not as solid as Camas. Of course, no one in Southwest Washington is, or has ever been, this dominant.
Besides 56 regular-season wins in a row, it is now 20 in a row overall after last year’s state championship. And the Papermakers have not lost a league game since 2009. These numbers are mentioned every week because they are simply too impressive to ignore.
“It feels great, especially with all the talk,” said Camas defensive back Isaiah Abdul, who was part of impressive second-half adjustment to slow down the Skyview offense. “People thought Skyview was going to end our streak. It was definitely great to get this win and keep on rolling.”
The Storm scored first in the second half to cut a 14-point deficit to eight.
Camas would respond with a 10-play drive that ended with a 39-yard field goal from Andrew Boyle.
From there, the Camas defense shut down the Storm. There were two punts, two fourth-down stops, and then an interception in the final seconds of the game. Ryan Rushall knocked one fourth-down pass away, giving the ball back to the Camas offense.
Will Schultz scored on a 13-yard touchdown run with 2:33 to play, securing the victory for the Papermakers.
Allen threw for 243 of his 258 yards in the first half, finding Drake Owen nine times for 116 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown pass that gave Camas a 28-14 lead at the break.
Allen also rushed for a touchdown.
The defining play of this game came in the first quarter. Skyview, trying to tie the game, went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Taylor Adams tipped the pass, and Bentley intercepted it and returned it 100 yard for a Camas touchdown.
“Once I caught my feet, I knew I was going to go,” Bentley said. “My head was pounding with all the noise. It was a huge momentum changer. We really needed it.”
Yes, in a game in which Skyview put up more than 500 yards of offense, it was the turning point, a 14-point swing. From a possible 7-7 game to 14-0 just like that.
It would be unfair to say Skyview never recovered, but the Storm never again had the ball on offense in a one-possession game.
Yes, every time Skyview scored to pull within eight or fewer, Camas answered.
Semisi Schultz got the scoring started with a fourth-down touchdown on a 1-yard run for the Papermakers. Then Bentley did his thing.
Jalynnee McGee answered for Skyview with a 67-yard touchdown run. McGee, who rushed for 140 yards in the first half, was injured and did not return in the second half.
Allen countered for Camas on its next possession, keeping it for a 4-yard touchdown run.
Later, it was Cole Grossman getting into the end zone for the Storm on a 14-yard pass from Max Rose to make it 21-14. Both put up huge numbers. Rose threw for 348 yards while Grossman caught eight passes for 189 yards.
Camas went to its top receiver to go back up 28-14. Allen found Owen for a 3-yard TD pass. Owen caught nine passes for 116 yards.
The Camas defense played bend-but-break for much of the second half. The Papermakers held Grossman to one catch in the final two quarters, and again, the Camas defense was never on the field in the second half with Skyview in position to tie or take the lead.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game,” Allen said. “They are one of the best teams in the league. We had to come out focused and with a lot of energy. Our coaches put together a great game plan, offense, defense, and special teams. Then we did a great job of executing that game plan.”
CAMAS 38, SKYVIEW 20
Camas 14 14 3 7-38
Skyview 0 14 6 0-20
First quarter
Cam – Semisi Schultz 1 run (Andrew Boyle kick)
Cam – Trevor Bentley 100 interception return (Boyle kick)
Second quarter
Sky – Jalynnee McGee 67 run (kick good)
Cam – Kyle Allen 4 run (Boyle kick)
Sky – Cole Grossman 14 pass from Max Rose (kick good)
Cam – Drake Owen 3 pass from Allen (Boyle kick)
Third quarter
Sky – Angelo Sarchi 17 run (kick failed)
Cam – Boyle 39 FG
Fourth quarter
Cam – Will Schultz 13 run (Boyle kick)
Individual statistics:
RUSHING: Camas: Will Schultz 10-50, Allen 13-(minus 5), Semsi Schultz 7-18. Skyview: McGee 11-140, Rose 7-22, Sarchi 9-41, Austin Holland 2-1, Tavis Pinkney 1-3.
PASSING: Camas: Kyle Allen 19-35-0-258. Skyview: Rose 26-40-2-348.
RECEIVING: Camas: Shane Jamison 2-12, Owen 9-116, W. Schultz 2-8, Ryan Rushall 4-74, Isaiah Abdul 1-9, Luc Sturbelle 1-8. Skyview: Grossman 8-189, Pinkney 6-31, Sarchi 3-39, Wyatt Stallman 2-23, Jovon Sewell 4-45, Jayden Chatman 2-11, Mason Wheeler 1-10.
