Jack Colletto the quarterback had one season at Camas High School.
He had one season as the starter. One season to show that he had mastered the offense. One season to prove his talent.
And in that season, he had one of the best performances in Southwest Washington football history.
He threw for 2,846 yards and 27 touchdowns. He rushed for 1,253 yards and 21 touchdowns. And, as you all know by now, he went 14-0 as the starting quarterback, leading Camas to a Class 4A state football championship.
Just because he could, he also was a first-team, all-league defensive back.
Jack Colletto is The Choice for The Columbian’s All-Region football player of the year.
Colletto probably never envisioned any of this his sophomore season, when he was the starting quarterback at Kingston High School, a 2A school in Kitsap County.
That year, Kingston lost a lot of games but still managed to make some noise in the playoffs. There was a glimpse into his potential.
Then things changed really quickly for Colletto when his mother got a new job and the family moved to Camas during his sophomore year. Colletto went from being somebody to not knowing anybody.
Of course Colletto wanted to be the starting quarterback his junior season, but that was not going to happen. Coach Jon Eagle already knew about the talents of Liam Fitzgerald, a year older than Colletto, and the starter.
“He was the established guy. He knew the system. He had chemistry with all the seniors,” Colletto said of Fitzgerald. “Coach Eagle played it great. I don’t think I should have started my junior season.”
So Colletto embraced the role of back-up quarterback and also became a safety on defense.
He had one goal his junior season:
“Go under Eagle’s wing for a year to make sure I have the most productive senior year I could have and win the state championship,” Colletto said.
Colletto and the Papermakers did just that.
Interestingly, once Colletto became the starting quarterback, he did not back off from his responsibilities on defense.
“Would you rather be standing on the sideline watching the game or on the field playing the game? Put me in there,” Colletto said. “If we want to win state, gotta put your best guys out there. If coaches feel I’m the best guy, why not be on the field?”
So, yeah, Colletto did a lot of everything this season. And in the championship game, he threw a touchdown pass, he rushed for a touchdown, and got an interception.
At 6-3, 220 pounds, Colletto has what Division I coaches are looking for as they recruit for their college programs. Idaho State has made an offer. Colletto is keeping his options open, but he is clear about his preference.
“At the end of the day, when I look at myself in the mirror, I see myself as a quarterback,” he said. “I don’t see myself as anyone else.”
Folks in Camas just see Colletto and the Papermakers as winners. After years of being among the best programs in the state, as being contenders, Camas football has its first state championship.
Colletto had at least one touchdown run and one touchdown pass in all five playoff games. He rushed for a career-high 205 yard in the quarterfinals, and on that same day he threw three touchdown passes.
“As soon as the playoffs started, that’s when we wanted to kick it into our next gear,” Colletto said. “We were fortunate enough that our best games were in the playoffs against the best teams. That shows you the leadership we have, the players we have.”
Rest of All-Region Team
Offense
Jeffrey Mayolo, La Center
Running back: Led entire region in rushing with more than 1,500 yards, helping La Center to state semifinals.
Marcus Cadiz, Hudson’s Bay
Running back: Averaged better than 6 yards per carry, leading Eagles to first winning season since 2002.
Cooper McNatt, Camas
Receiver: Led a trio of talented Camas receivers and scored 10 TDs, including one in state championship game.
Max Randle, Battle Ground
Receiver: Top target for one of top offenses in the state finished with 13 TDs and 1,025 yards in nine games.
Darien Chase, Mountain View
Receiver: Has scored at least one TD either on offense, defense, or special teams in his last 11 games played
Marcus Gray, Camas
Lineman: The Papermakers averaged 44.2 points per game. Only way to do that: Dominate line of scrimmage.
Dakota Napierkowski, Camas
Lineman: Coach sums it up best: “Exceptionally skilled. Very smart. Very rarely has an assignment error, if ever.”
Brady Brick, Battle Ground
Lineman: So much more than a passing attack. Tigers rushed for more than 1,500 yards. That starts up front.
Isaiah Carbajal, Mountain View
Lineman: Helped team average 33.5 points per game, including 43 in five-game win streak to win 3A GSHL title.
Jack Hiller, La Center
Lineman: His coach, who has been with La Center since 1997: “He’s the best we’ve ever had.”
Michael Boyle, Camas
Kicker: Great season, a touchback machine, and a field goal in state title game to exorcise some demons.
Tyler Flanagan, Woodland
Return specialist: Exceptional athlete who is a threat to score any time he touches the ball.
Defense
Dylan Ingram, Camas
Lineman: “If you really want to be good, you have to go hard every day, in every drill,” said the state champion.
Marshall McIvor, Camas
Lineman: Camas trailed only three times in second half, never in fourth quarter. That’s domination up front.
White Sosene, Heritage
Lineman: Named the co-defensive MVP in one of the toughest leagues in all of Washington.
Jayden Chatman, Skyview
Lineman: Storm held a high-scoring team to 14 points to make the playoffs, then made run to state semifinals.
Michael Matthews, Camas
Linebacker: Two-time defensive POY for 4A GSHL. Simply put, one of best to ever play defense in Clark County.
Tanner Howington, Camas
Linebacker: “Usually the offense is putting up big numbers. If they can’t, though, we have to have their back.”
Mitchell Delmage, Mountain View
Linebacker: Thunder won the Class 3A GSHL title by holding league opponents to 10 points per game.
Curtis Stradley, Battle Ground
Linebacker: A dominant presence up the middle, he helped shut down opponents’ running game.
Dustin Nettles, Evergreen
Defensive back: Great athlete who excels on boths sides of ball, he helped Evergreen make it to postseason.
Angelo Sarchi, Skyview
Defensive back: Storm went up against best of the best in Washington and ended up a final four team.
Devan Riggs, Hockinson
Defensive back: A senior leader for a team that did not rebuild, it reloaded. Another 2A GSHL championship.
Evan Honore, La Center
Defensive back: “Work hard and we’ll get to where we want to be,” Honore said. Wildcats reached semifinals.
