Camas has a big welcome to 4A

CAMAS — The Camas Papermakers made their debut in the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League a memorable one, running over the four-time defending league champion Friday night at Doc Harris Stadium.

Nate Beasley rushed for 231 yards, John Norcross scored five touchdowns, and the Papermakers rolled up 424 yards rushing in a 42-17 victory over the Storm. Camas scored the game’s final four touchdowns.

Skyview led 7-0, 10-7, and 17-14 before the Papermakers dominated the rest of the contest.

“The first few drives, it was kind of a fear factor,” Beasley said. “They’re Skyview. We were new to this type of environment. Once we got over that, once we realized we could play with these guys, we started going off on them. And they couldn’t stop that run.”

Beasley carried the ball 24 times for his 231 yards, setting up two of Norcross’ short touchdown runs. Norcross also caught a TD pass from Reilly Hennessey and then Norcross capped the game with a 90-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

“I gotta give it up to the offensive line,” said Norcross, who finished with 108 yards on seven carries. “All night they were pushing Skyview’s defense off the line. Every time, I had a hole to run through. They played great. Not just for me, but for Beasley and (Vincente) Huber.”

Huber rushed for 65 yards and had the other Camas touchdown.

Drew Clarkson was one of the linemen who made room for the backs.

“It just feels good. We don’t get much recognition,” Clarkson said, referring to linemen. “This is how we get it.”

The game featured a Skyview program that reached the 4A state championship game last year against a Camas squad that was a 3A state semifinalist last season. Skyview also beat Camas last year when it was a non-league contest.

Not non-league anymore.

“It’s definitely going to be a statement for us,” Beasley said. “We needed to show people we can play in the 4A league and we belong here.”

The game lived up to its billing in the first half.

Skyview’s Forrest Russell caught a pass from quarterback Jordan Berni and raced 53 yards for the opening touchdown. But Skyview’s next possession ended when Norcross intercepted a tipped ball, setting up Camas at the Skyview 5-yard line. The next play, Norcross scored to tie the game.

After a Skyview field goal, the Papermakers went 74 yards on four plays, capped by Norcross’ 4-yard run for a 14-10 advantage.

Back came Skyview, a 3-yard pass from Berni to Russell on a fourth-down play for a 17-14 lead with 5:35 left in the first half. No one knew then that Skyview would not score again.

Huber responded with a 19-yard touchdown run for a 21-17 Camas lead at the half.

Skyview gained 258 yards in the first half, but the Camas defense limited the Storm to 137 yards in the second half.

“The coaches set us up to make good plays,” said linebacker Michael DiGenova, who had two sacks. “We expected a fight, and that’s what happened. At halftime we made some adjustments and came back strong.”

Norcross’ third TD run of the game, a 2-yarder, gave the Papermakers a 28-17 lead midway through the third. He caught an 11-yard TD pass early in the fourth, then ended things with his 90-yarder, right up the gut of the Skyview defense.

For Skyview, Berni finished with 221 yards passing and his two touchdowns to Russell. Russell had nine catches for 101 yards.

Hennessey threw for 78 yards as the Camas offense opted to exploit the Skyview run defense.

“Our offensive line obviously took control of the game, and our defense applied pressure and kept a very good offense out of the end zone in the second half,” Camas coach Jon Eagle said. “I was proud of the way our kids fought. They played with a lot of confidence.”

CAMAS 42, SKYVIEW 17

Skyview 7 10 0 0–17

Camas 7 14 7 14–42

First quarter

Sky — Forrest Russell 53 pass from Jordan Berni (Carter Johnson kick)

Cam — John Norcross 5 run (Roldan Alcobendas kick)

Second quarter

Sky — Johnson 26 FG

Cam — Norcross 4 run (Alcobendas kick)

Sky — Russell 3 pass from Berni (Johnson kick)

Cam — Vincente Huber 19 run (Alcobendas kick)

Third quarter

Cam — Norcross 2 run (Alcobendas kick)

Fourth quarter

Cam — Norcross 11 pass from Reilly Hennessey (Alcobendas kick)

Cam — Norcross 90 run (Alcobendas kick)

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Skyview — Jabari Marshall 14-71, Berni 18-61, Kalvin Johnson 9-47, Daniel Thompson 1-(minus-5), Russell 1-0. Camas — Nate Beasley 24-231, Reilly Hennessey 5-20, Norcross 7-108, Huber 9-65.

PASSING — Skyview — Berni 21-30-2-221. Camas — Hennessey 8-15-2-78.

RECEIVING — Skyview — Jacob Dennis 4-48, Russell 9-101, Thompson 2-43, Josh Wilkerson 2-8, Kris Quintanilla 2-11, Johnson 1-8, Marshall 1-2. Camas — Jack Beall 1-11, Norcross 2-12, Huber 1-4, Zach Eagle 2-31, Beasley 1-8, Connor Maloney 1-12.