The son of assistant coach Matt Hamlin, Kaden grew up with the Storm, and now he has helped Skyview to the state quarterfinals; plus quarterfinal matchups for Camas, Skyview, Seton Catholic and La Center 

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

It could have been his last football game as a member of the Skyview Storm.

Heck, it sure looked like it was going to be his last game when Skyview trailed by 10 points Saturday midway through the fourth quarter.

But Kaden Hamlin and the Skyview Storm wanted at least another week together, at least another game.

The Storm got it done, rallying to beat Bothell 17-13 in the opening round of the Class 4A state playoffs at Kiggins Bowl. Skyview has advanced to the quarterfinals, where the Storm will be on the road to face Sumner on Saturday, Nov. 23.

For Hamlin, it means at least another week of Skyview football, adding to the more than 900 weeks he has been part of this team.

Wait? What? How many weeks?

Hamlin, a senior, might have just four years with the program, officially, as a player. 

In reality, he has been with Skyview football since before he was born to proud parents Stephanie and Matt Hamlin.

Kaden has been coming to Kiggins Bowl for Skyview home games since he was an infant. Stephanie would bring Kaden to watch dad. Matt is a longtime assistant coach under head coach Steve Kizer.

Kizer proudly says he was at Matt and Stephanie’s wedding, trying to ensure that any of their future children would eventually play for the Storm.

If it would have been up to Kaden, he would have suited up for the Storm long before he became a high school student.

“Since kindergarten, I was begging my dad to play tackle football,” Kaden said.

He would have to wait a few more years, but eventually, Kaden was able to play youth football. He was solid, and he continued to get better and better. 

And now? That wait paid off for Kaden, the Hamlins, and the Skyview football program.  

“He was literally Storm born,” Matt Hamlin said.

Just recently, the family was looking back at old game footage. 

“You could see me as a little ball boy,” Kaden Hamlin said. “If you look at the old films, I’m on the sidelines as a little kid. To be in this program now is a dream come true.”

Long before he was in high school, though, Kaden experienced the Skyview traditions, and the unity. He remembers as a little one going to the post-game get-togethers with coaches and families. Win or lose, the Storm stuck together, Kaden said.

That philosophy has carried over to the players themselves. Kaden said Skyview’s bond is what helped the players overcome that late, 10-point deficit on Saturday.

“We just don’t give up. Plain and simple,” Hamlin said. “We had the opportunity to train from last winter all the way up until now. We’ve been together in the weight room. Just seeing each other throw up, cry, blood, sweat, tears, everything, we’re really a family. We don’t stop because we know the guy next to us isn’t stopping.”

The Storm got a stop with six minutes to go in the game, then scored a couple minutes later to make it 13-10. Another defensive stop allowed for the Skyview offense to get another shot. The Storm cashed in with 1:57 to play, with a bizarre touchdown. Lineman Max Christiansen fell on a fumble in the end zone for the go-ahead score.

The Storm found a way.

“I needed at least one more week with these guys,” Hamlin said. “I love this group, all the young guys, too. I like to think they look up to me. I want to give my all for them.”

This group is also special in another way. This is Kizer’s 21st and final season as the head coach of the Storm. He announced his retirement earlier this season.

“For years, he told me, ‘Hey Hammy. Your class is when I’m done,’” Hamlin recalled. “Now we’re here. It’s kind of crazy.”

Skyview football is Kizer’s only head coaching position in his long career. 

Skyview football is all Kaden Hamlin has ever known in his whole life. Hamlin expects to play college football, so whenever this season ends, it is not the end of a career. But it is the end of something truly special.

“I know it’s not going to be the same as Skyview football. It will never be the same as this,” Hamlin said. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play for Skyview. I want to cherish every single minute and second of it.”

High school football update

Clark County has four football teams in the state quarterfinals in two classifications.

Camas, the No. 1 seed in 4A, beat Curtis on Friday to advance. The Papermakers will host No. 8 Arlington at 1 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 23) at Doc Harris Stadium. 

Skyview, the No. 7 seed, in 4A, will be on the road to face No. 2 Sumner at 7 p.m. Saturday.

In Class 1A, Seton Catholic is the No. 2 seed and La Center is No. 3. Both teams had first-round byes in the 12-team 1A bracket.

Seton Catholic will “host” No. 7 Life Christian Academy at 7 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 23) at Doc Harris Stadium in Camas. 

La Center will “host” No. 6 Montesano at 1 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 23) at Woodland High School.

Lineman’s dream

Max Christiansen is listed at 6-1, 270 pounds. He wears No. 73.

Those numbers suggest he does not anticipate scoring in a football game.

But he did not just score any points Saturday. He scored the game-winning points for the Skyview Storm.

Skyview was heading toward the end zone but fumbled, and it was Christiansen who fell on the ball in the end zone to give the Storm a 17-13 lead with less than two minutes to play.

“I see the ball come out, and I’m like, ‘Oh crap.’ I got on it, and I almost lost it again,” Christiansen said.

He secured the ball, and then got hit multiple times. First, from being at the bottom of a football pile. Then from teammates celebrating with him.

“I didn’t even think I was ever going to score a touchdown in my life,” Christiansen said. “I’m one of the big fellas. I never thought I would score. I got hit so many times. This is awesome. I love this. I’m going to let everyone know.”

An old friend returns to Vancouver

Mr. Washington High School Football himself returned to Vancouver this week.

OK, that was never his official title. But Ryland Spencer sure knew Washington high school football.

He still does know football, but now he is super focused on Bothell High School football.

Spencer used to cover high school football as a member of new media, back when new media was, you know, new.

His audience grew, with fans enjoying his podcasts, his recruiting insights, and his style. He often traveled to Southwest Washington’s biggest games of the year, and he had a fun rivalry with Camas fans because Spencer opined that Doc Harris Stadium was not the best stadium in 4A football. (Camas fans still liked him, even if he was wrong.)

“I don’t think there is an area in the state that is as passionate as this area,” Spencer said. “Maybe not every team, top to bottom, but there is passion in the stands. I always loved coming down here to Southwest Washington. The fans are awesome. The coaching is awesome. Obviously the athletes are great.”

Last year, he stepped away from Cascadia Preps to join the staff at Bothell High School. He is the director of scouting and creative content.

“I think I got tired. I went to almost 600 high school football games in 10 years,” Spencer said Saturday before his Bothell Cougars took on Skyview in a Class 4A state playoff. “And on average, that was about 5,000 miles.”

Every football season, about 5,000 miles of driving, to some of the biggest stadiums to the smallest schools, in every region of the state.

Now, he is a full-time paraeducator at Bothell and on staff with the football program. Don’t expect Spencer to return to his new media days, covering all of Washington.

“As long as Tom Bainter is here,” Spencer said of Bothell’s head coach, “I’m not going anywhere.”