Camas is the No. 1 seed in 4A, Skyview is at No. 7, and Trico League rivals Seton Catholic (No. 2) and La Center (No. 3) might meet again … in the state semifinals

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

The seeds were named.

The brackets were set.

And Clark County high school football won — big time.

The region is guaranteed to have home playoff football games in the next two weeks of the state football playoffs, and there is a possibility of having not one, but two semifinal games, played in Clark County on Nov. 30.

As expected, the Camas Papermakers earned the No. 1 seed for the Class 4A state playoffs. Skyview, meanwhile, also got a home game for the first round when it received a 7-seed. The Storm were beneficiaries when two league champions in the state lost in the Week 10 state preliminary round.

In Class 1A, no surprise: The 10-0 Seton Catholic Cougars, are the No. 2 seed in state. La Center, at 9-1, is No. 3. That, right there, is a potential collision course in the semifinals. Oh, and because 1A is a 12-team bracket, both of those teams receive first-round byes. They will “host” state quarterfinal games in Southwest Washington, Nov. 22 or 23.

Camas improved to 10-0 and qualified for the WIAA state playoffs with a 56-3 win over Stadium in the Week 10 playoff. The Papermakers will host Curtis, the 16-seed, at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15.

“We are excited and laser focused on the challenge that has been laid out before us and look forward to a packed Doc Harris Stadium this Friday night,” Camas coach Adam Mathieson said.

While the Papermakers are grateful for the top seed — it is a culmination of all that winning and the respect the program has around the state from those on the selection committee — there are no easy games remaining in this bracket. Class 4A football is full of teams that have lost a few games, but those were close games against quality opponents. In theory, every team in the tournament could win a game at this stage.

“Seed and everything that accompanies it is irrelevant at this point, especially after putting on the Curtis tape,” Mathieson said. “They are a super long, athletic bunch and have played in numerous close games in what is a very deep and competitive league.”

Curtis, for example, lost by two points to Sumner, the No. 2 team in the bracket. The Vikings are 6-4, and all four of the losses came against teams that made it to state.

Skyview is one of those teams with multiple losses that still impressed the seeding committee. The Storm are 7-3, and that includes a loss to No. 1 Camas in the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League, a game that came down to the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

“We thought we would be the six, but seven was very cool,” Skyview coach Steve Kizer said. “Let’s go!”

At first, one might think Kizer was just joking about being No. 6. Three-loss teams don’t normally get a 6-seed. But it turns out, the 6-seed this year, Lake Stevens, is also 7-3. The seeding committee clearly was impressed with the tough schedules Lake Stevens and Skyview played this season.

Kizer did say that going into Week 10, the Storm figured they would be in line for an 8- or a 9-seed if all things went as expected. But, again, two league champions lost, and that moved up the Storm in the seeding.

Skyview will 

In 1A, as expected, the Week 9 showdown between Seton Catholic and La Center determined the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds. Seton Catholic won that matchup, then had no trouble in Week 10 to get to 10-0. The selection committee made it official on Sunday: The Cougars are the 2-seed behind state power Royal.

“We feel blessed to get the 2-seed,” Seton Catholic coach Dan Chase said. “We are looking forward to staying in town after being on the road for six regular-season games this year.”

Seton Catholic won its first postseason game last year, then won two state playoff games en route to the semifinals. Now, the Cougars received the 2-seed.

“After last year’s long list of ‘firsts’ for the Seton Catholic program, we are still striving to accomplish a few more ‘firsts” this year,” Chase said.

La Center coach John Lambert, who has been the team’s coach since before the turn of the century, has seen a lot in his years in the Trico League.

“I think the Trico has got a lot more respect than maybe it’s ever had,” Lambert said. “Seton Catholic getting a 2, us at 3, that really shows how much our league has improved. A rising tide lifts all boats.”

Seton Catholic (10-0), La Center (9-1) led the Trico League that also featured six-win teams Kalama, King’s Way Christian, and Castle Rock. 

“Probably the strongest league we’ve had in many, many years,” Lambert said.

Again, with first-round byes for the top Class 1A teams, we do not know the date, time, nor place for the Seton Catholic and La Center games. Keep in mind that both teams played at nearby sites in Week 10 instead of their home fields. La Center has a natural grass field, so expect the Wildcats to play on a turf field. Seton Catholic’s home stadium might not be up to WIAA standards as far as seating and other factors. The Cougars played their Week 10 game in Camas. Clark County Today will keep readers posted next week.

As far as 4A, Camas will face Curtis at 7 p.m. Friday at Doc Harris Stadium in Camas. That is confirmed. Should Camas win Friday, they will host a quarterfinal game Nov. 22 or 23. 

Skyview confirmed Monday morning that the Storm will host No. 10 Bothell at 2 p.m. Saturday at Kiggins Bowl. Should Skyview win this week, the Storm will be on the road for the quarterfinals Nov. 22 or 23.

Now for the real fun part for Clark County high school football fans. If Camas makes it to a 4A semifinal, that game will be played in Clark County, with McKenzie Stadium in Vancouver being the likely location. If Seton Catholic and/or La Center make it to the 1A semis, that game will be in Clark County, as well. Yes, Seton Catholic and La Center are on a collision course for a semifinal battle.

Week 10 results left four Clark County teams remaining in the postseason.

Evergreen, the 3A Greater St. Helens League champion, lost Friday night. 

The Class 2A Greater St. Helens League struggled in Week 10, including losses by league champion Woodland as well as Clark County playoff qualifiers Ridgefield, Washougal, and Columbia River all fell. 

In 1A, King’s Way Christian lost its Week 10 game.