Washougal and La Center are predicted to defend league titles; while Skyview and Evergreen could become champions

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

For many high school football fans, and those in the media, August is about predictions.

Who is going to win the league, or even the state?

Our friends at Scorebook Live Washington, in fact, predicted the order of finish for all leagues throughout Washington.

As far as the 2023 league champions in Clark County, if these predictions hold, we’ll be seeing Skyview, Evergreen, Washougal, and La Center earn titles.

A couple of them are defending league champions.

A couple would become new champs.

All four head coaches appreciate the respect shown to their programs, but they are not exactly celebrating just yet.

It’s Aug. 31, and for one team — Washougal — it is opening day. Most Clark County teams will kick off their seasons Friday night, and two will play Saturday.

Here are the thoughts of the coaches who have their teams in first place, in August, according to Scorebook Live Washington:

Class 4A Greater St. Helens League

The Camas Papermakers have won eight of the last 10 4A GSHL titles. (We are not counting the abbreviated pandemic season.) And Union won the other two.

So, is this really the year for the Skyview Storm? Again, not counting that pandemic season, the Storm have not won the 4A Greater St. Helens League since 2011. 

“I hope they’re right,” Skyview coach Steve Kizer said with a laugh. “We’re flattered they put us first. Hopefully they’re right. Hope it comes true. I think it can.”

But all coaches who are predicted to win league titles always remind their players that August accolades don’t mean anything other than a pat on the back.

“It’s nice to be recognized,” Kizer said. “It’s great, but it’s not going to help us win.”

He and the Storm know that in a four-team league that includes Camas, nobody has the right to celebrate until they beat Camas. The Papermakers won the league and state title in 2019, then returned from the pandemic to win league titles in 2021 and 2022. During that stretch, Camas has won close games against Skyview, including a few incredible comebacks. 

“I’ve got a bitter taste in my mouth,” Kizer said when reminded of all the times Camas has escaped in recent years. 

“We’ve got quite a few returning guys, but Camas has every lineman back, and a good running back and a good receiver. They’re back, too,” Kizer warned. “It was a good game last year. It should be a good game this year. But I hope (Scorebook Live Washington) is right.”

The key to any league title, though, does not come down to rankings and player ratings.

“I’m hoping that the better we prepare and the harder we work, the luckier we get,” Kizer said. “We haven’t had a lot of luck in that (Camas) game. We’re working harder. We’re preparing better. Hopefully it shows in the games.”

Class 3A Greater St. Helens League

Speaking of a program that has gone years without a league title. Gotta go back to 2007 the last time the Evergreen Plainsmen won a league championship.

Is Evergreen going back in time in its quest to become the team of the present?

“I think it’s awesome that people feel that way about the program,” Evergreen coach Christian Swain said. “I don’t pay attention to preseason rankings or predictions. The only ones that matter are the ones at the end of the season.”

Still, it is a mark of progress that the program is being looked at as a potential champion.

“It’s a group of really good kids,” Swain said, including two Division-I commits in Arthur Ban (San Diego State) and Fox Crader (Oregon). “We have a hard working, dedicated coaching staff. The program has really grown. The kids are working hard. I’m super excited about the direction the program is going. It obviously feels good when people see it.”

Swain also noted that in one of Scorebook Live’s stories about the program, it mentioned the Plainsmen appear solid “on paper.” He said that was an interesting description, almost like, yes, the Plainsmen have talent, but are they for real?

“We gotta go out and prove it. That’s kind of the motivation for us, to show up and play well,” Swain said.

“I’m excited for the team. I think we’ve got a really good team,” Swain added. “The league is going to be competitive. We’re just going to do our best and see where we land.”

Class 2A Greater St. Helens League

The Washougal Panthers went undefeated in the 2A GSHL a year ago. They have their Division-I commit quarterback back, Holden Bea (Idaho), and a number of other top-notch players returning.

The league is solid. But this was no surprise that the Panthers were predicted to defend their league title.

There are pros and cons to that ranking, though.

“We’ll be everyone’s Super Bowl this year,” Washougal coach David Hajek said. “Everyone’s season comes down to beating us.”

Washougal has had an interesting ride through the years to get to this place. The 2019 team ended up with five losses but made it to the state quarterfinals. In 2021, the Panthers slipped back and failed to make the playoffs. Now, they are the defending league champions.

“Forever, we had an underdog mentality,” Hajek said. “Now everyone sees us coming. We know we’re going to get everyone’s best game. We have to perform. We can’t take anyone lightly because everyone is gunning for us.” 

Hajek also has some recent history to remind his players that while Washougal did go 9-2 last year, there were a few games that could have gone either way.

Washgoual opens this season with a game against River Ridge. 

“We beat them (last year) because of a stupid penalty. In their mind, they should have beat us,” Hajek said. “If you’re Ridgefield, in their mind, they should have beat us last year. We had some close games. And now everyone is motivated to beat us.”

The reality is Washougal is no longer the up-and-comer in the league. But no shame in trying to get that feeling going into the season.

“We can’t believe our own hype,” Hajek said. “Everyone has us doing really well, but we have to keep everyone grounded and tell them that we’re still underdogs. Whether they believe me, that’s something else, but that’s the mentality I want us to have.”

Class 1A Trico League

It seems like a safe pick, an easy pick to take La Center in any preseason ranking for the Trico League.

Hey, the Wildcats will take it. That means they have been doing a lot of things right through the years. For one, they have won every league title since 2019. 

Still, the program wants more than league titles.

“Last year ended way too early for us,” La Center coach John Lambert said of the team’s loss in the first round of the state playoffs. “We didn’t really accomplish what we wanted to do last year. That was disappointing.”

So the Wildcats start off 2023 with a little added motivation, and an attaboy from the predictions.

“Any time you get positive recognition, the kids like that. The longer I coach, the less I care about that stuff. But it’s nice for the kids,” Lambert said. 

“At the same time, we can’t let stuff go to their head,” the coach warned. “We have not won the league title every single year I’ve been here. There have been some painful losses.”

Simply showing up will not get the job done.

“What we’ve done in the past isn’t an indicator for what we are going to do in the future,” Lambert said. “We have to stay humble. It’s a choice to believe in the hype.”

If anything, he added, these predictions just make Seton Catholic and Castle Rock even more motivated to prove those predictions wrong.

La Center, by the way, only has four seniors this year. Lambert said he does have a very special junior class. And, yes, at a small school, depth is a major factor. He said if the team stays healthy, he is confident that some good things will happen this season for the Wildcats.

Note: Here is the link to Scorebook Live Washington’s page for predicted order of finish for all 4A leagues across the state. In this story are links to predicated order of finish for the other classifications as well. https://highschool.si.com/washington/2023/08/04/predicted-order-of-finishes-for-every-washington-high-school-football-league-in-class-4a