Camas topples Skyview

CAMAS — The game was still a game.

Until the ball came Addison Owen’s way.

Owen intercepted a pass and returned it 63 yards to the end zone, and all the momentum was back on Camas’ side Friday night at Doc Harris Stadium.

Logan Grindy threw three touchdown passes, and the Camas defense used a bend-but-not-break strategy to beat Skyview 28-12 in a game between two state-ranked teams — the only teams from Clark County in the rankings.

“We gotta run Clark County this year,” Owen said. “That’s the goal.”

So far, so good. The Papermakers improved to 4-0 — including three wins against county schools — and they should solidify their No. 3 ranking in Class 3A by The Associated Press after beating the No. 8 team in the 4A poll.

The Papermakers did it with a mix of offense in the first half, and an opportunistic defense throughout the game.

Owen’s pick-six turned a nine-point lead into 16 early in the fourth quarter, and the Skyview offense never mounted another serious threat.

“It was almost too good to be true,” Owen said. “I got one block and all I had to do was beat the quarterback. It was like it all happened in two seconds. It was quick. It was fast. I read my block, and it was a touchdown.”

Skyview (2-2) amassed 306 yards of offense but could only manage one touchdown.

“Once they get near the goal line, our intensity goes up,” said Owen, a defensive back. “We just get fired up.”

“You get that heart pumping, and you’re enthusiastic, and it’s like an adrenaline pump,” said linebacker Kyle Goodnow, who was involved in many of his team’s stuffs.

Defensive back Brent Hill had an interception in the end zone just before the half to kill one Skyview opportunity. He also knocked away two passes that could have gone for long gains or even scores.

“That’s a sign of a really mature teams,” Camas coach Jon Eagle said of Skyview’s ability to get close, but come away empty handed.

Eagle also did not deflect the importance of this game. Sure, it was a non-league game, but it was two quality teams on the field.

“Our approach was this is a playoff game. This is a practice for a playoff game,” Eagle said. “We beat a good team, no doubt about it.”After a scoreless first quarter, Grindy was on the mark for three touchdown passes in the second quarter, leading his team to a 21-3 lead.

“A lot of it was the receivers were getting really open, and I was getting good time,” Grindy said, sharing the spotlight with all of his teammates.

Grindy found Owen, who made a leaping catch with a defender on him in the back of the end zone, for an 8-yard scoring toss and a 7-0 lead.

Skyview came back with a long drive that resulted in a 28-yard field goal from Nick Phillips with 8:08 in the period.

Camas was in the end zone just a little more than a minute later when Grindy spotted Hill behind the defense for a 39-yard score.

“I knew before the play he was going to be open because the safety was cheating,” Grindy said. “He’s just so fast. He can get behind a lot of people.”

After Skyview went three-and-out for the first time, Camas’ offense went back to work. This time, Grindy spotted Ikaika Gunderson for an 11-yard touchdown and a 21-3 lead. Hill’s interception in the end zone kept the score there at halftime.

Skyview took advantage of a turnover to make it an 11-point game early in the third quarter when Parker Henry scored on a 7-yard run. Henry rushed for 150 yards on 19 carries to lead the Storm attack.

The Storm defense then put Camas in a tough spot, fourth-and-long from its own 2-yard line. The Papermakers elected to give Skyview a safety, making it 21-12, then kicked off to the Storm.

Once again, the Camas defense was up to the challenge, forcing a quick punt.

Camas’ offense gained just 60 yards in the second half, but talent on defense made that lead stand.

“In the second half, we slowed down a little bit but that’s going to happen,” Grindy said. “At least we got the win.”

CAMAS 28, SKYVIEW 12

Skyview 0 3 9 0—12

Camas 0 21 0 7—28

Second quarter

Cam — Addison Owen 8 pass from Logan Grindy (Dylan Stoller kick)

Sky — Nick Phillips 28 FG

Cam — Brent Hill 39 pass from Grindy (Stoller kick)

Cam — Ikaika Gunderson 11 pass from Grindy (Stoller kick)

Third quarter

Sky — Henry 7 run (Phillips kick)

Sky — Safety, Camas punter steps out of end zone

Fourth quarter

Cam — Owen 63 interception return (Stoller kick)

Leaders

Rushing — Skyview: Parker Henry 19-150; Camas: Zack Marshall 17-70.

Passing — Skyview: Kieran McDonagh 7-14-1-78, Kody Watts 5-16-1-52; Camas: Grindy 15-24-1-172.

Receiving — Skyview: Karl Graves 4-73, Reiley Henderson 3-38, Forrest Russell 3-13, Zack Brady 1-7, Henry 1-0; Camas: Kyle Ervin 3-51, Hill 2-41, Miguel Salamanca 3-28, Marshall 4-26, Gunderson 1-11, Owen 1-8, Jeremy Faulkner 1-7.