Camas rolls to victory Friday and is expected to get the No. 1 seed for the state playoffs, which would mean the possibility of two more home games this season at the iconic Doc Harris Stadium

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

For some, it is one of the greatest traditions in Washington high school sports, certainly one of the grandest gestures.

For every high school football game at the legendary Doc Harris Stadium, the Camas High School Marching Band begins its game-night performance by marching to the visitor’s side. The muscians stop, turn toward the other team’s fans, and they begin to play. 

They play the other team’s fight song.

The band does this for every game, every season.

“That’s ‘Camas Class.’ That’s a saying we have in the band, ‘Camas Class,’” said senior Henry Gilbert, the band’s drum major. “We’re going to make you feel welcome. If the visiting team has to travel three hours to get here, we can take 30 seconds to play their fight song.”

Gilbert said the band thrives on Camas Class.

The city of Camas thrives on embracing Doc Harris Stadium, and the Doc Harris Stadium experience.

Friday night, the top-ranked Camas Papermakers had no trouble on the football field, defeating Stadium of Tacoma 56-3 to advance to the Class 4A state playoffs. 

The team is expected to receive the No. 1 seed to the playoffs. That would assure the Papermakers are home at Doc Harris Stadium next week and if they win that game, they would be back at Doc for the state quarterfinals.

That would give the community two more special outings at Doc Harris Stadium this season.

“It’s nice when the whole town comes out and shows their support for not only the football team, but us, too, the cheerleaders,” said Presley Morgan, a senior who has been a varsity cheerleader for three years. “They’re here for the band, too. The band comes and supports us. We’re all just supporting each other. It’s a really big family.”

“It’s unreal. It’s crazy what we get to be a part of,” said football player Beau Harlan, a standout athletic talent and also one of the team’s emotional leaders. “All the love and support we get … the band, the cheerleaders. It’s amazing. I feel so grateful to be part of a great community and program.”

The Papermakers have played road games this year in Idaho, Oregon, north of Seattle, and in Tacoma. Harlan said there is no place like Doc Harris Stadium.

“Not even close,” Harlan said. “What band that you know learns, every week, the away team’s anthem? I can’t give the band enough credit. They make these games twice as good. There really isn’t anything like this in our state.”

One of the reasons for this is so many of the big schools in Washington — Class 4A and 3A programs — share stadiums, or there are multiple high schools in a school district, dividing a community’s allegiance. Camas remains a one-school city (for sports, anyway), which gives the whole town “ownership” of one football team.

“They’re knowledgeable football people. They’re passionate football people. And they love their kids,” said Camas coach Adam Mathieson, who has been part of the program for two years and is in his first season as the head coach of the Papermakers. 

“You’ve got the family part of it, people who come out and support their kids. And you’ve got the community part, with generations sitting up there,” Mathieson said. “They are here generation after generation. It’s a unique environment in the state of Washington.”

Super fan Parker Castellani was in his usual spot, the first row in the middle of the student section. 

“To have this many people behind me, it just feels great. I just love the atmosphere,” he said.

A senior, Castellani has earned a couple of other descriptions, too. He is the Cheer Manager, and someone noted he is also the Vice President in Charge of Cheer.

“I’ve been trying to lead, trying to be loud, pretty much since freshman year,” Castellani said. “I try to get everyone involved.”

There is usually a theme for every home game. On Friday, the students dressed in camoflauge.

“Not only do we have kids who love to show out, but also the parents,” Castellani said. “The band is one of the best bands in the state. Obviously, we have one of the best football teams in the state. The atmosphere that we have around here is awesome. I love it.”

Morgan has been a team captain for cheerleading for two years. She and her teammates are down on the track, always looking up at the packed grandstands.

“See how many parents are here supporting their kids? Even parents of kids who don’t go here anymore,” Morgan said. “They still come out and show up because Doc Harris is home. This is where everyone comes and supports each other.”

Harlan and the football players get to experience all of this from the field. They have a job to do, but Harlan said there are times he catches himself looking up into the stands. He takes it all in.

“I know I’m going to be really sad the last time I play in this stadium. It means a lot to be here. It’s special,” he said. “It’s a surreal experience to play here.”

Or to perform here.

This is Gilbert’s second year as drum major. He grew up in Camas, and he remembered how great it was when the football team won a state championship when he was in elementary school. Now he is a key member of the football experience.

He said he is inspired by just how many great plays have been made on the field and how so many talented musicians have helped create the Doc Harris Stadium experience.

“I think about that so much. I think about how special it is that now I get to be here, and I get to play a part on this field,” Gilbert said. “It’s the greatest place in the whole world.”

The band is part of the soul of the stadium.

More than that, while football is the reason for the gathering, all who participate in the making of the experience are appreciated.

“This is the thing I enjoy most in the whole world. When people love you for doing something that you love, it’s just the best feeling,” Gilbert said. “Especially when it’s in front of my friends and all my friends’ parents, and all the football players. It’s just the coolest thing to be a part of it.”

The Camas football team improved to 10-0 this season with its win Friday night. That’s a perfect record.

Fitting, because the team plays in a perfect setting for high school football, courtesy of Camas Class.

Playoff notes: The La Center Wildcats won their Week 10 playoff game to advance to the Class 1A state playoffs. They expect a top-4 seed, which would give them a bye in the first round. … Evergreen, the 3A Greater St. Helens League champion, lost Friday night. Its season ended with an 8-2 record. … Woodland, the 2A GSHL champion, lost Friday and finished its season at 7-3. … Washougal’s season came to an end Friday with a 6-4 record. … Skyview (Class 4A), Ridgefield (2A), Columbia River (2A), Seton Catholic (1A), and King’s Way Christian (1A) all play Saturday in winner-to-state games.