Camas advances to 4A state football playoffs

CAMAS — Officially, the Camas Papermakers are, in fact, still the defending Class 4A state champions.

No playoffs during the spring’s COVID-condensed season means they are in title defense from their undefeated 2019 championship run.

And what better way to get the defense going than a 57-20 home victory over Mount Rainier behind 438 total yards, scoring a season-high in points, and holding the visiting Rams to zero passing yards.

Now winners of six straight since an 0-4 start in September, Camas (6-4 overall) will find out Sunday its first-round opponent for next week’s Class 4A state playoff game. That’s when the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s state seeding committee is expected to announce first-round pairings.

“We just keep coming back every week stronger,” said senior running back Jon Schultz.

Friday, it was all Camas … once it took the lead for good at 7-6.

Officially, it goes down as a come-from-behind win. Mount Rainier had quick-strike magic on the second play from scrimmage when quarterback Dev’-Evon Chaney-Cooper raced 71 yards for the Rams’ 6-0 lead the opening minute of the game.

The lead lasted one possession. And by the time Kona Figueroa’s first rush of the game went for a 31-yard score with 4 minutes, 31 seconds left in the third, Camas scored 50 straight points.

Players and coaches agreed Friday’s 4A state preliminary round game at Doc Harris Stadium was a chance to put in an offensive plan that included a heavy passing attack as it prepares for what it hopes is another deep postseason run.

Mission accomplished: Quarterback Taylor Ioane completed 17 of 23 passes for 126 yards and three touchdowns. By the time the first quarter ended, he hit six different receivers, and at one stretch of the first half, completed nine straight passes.

It was the ground game that’s continued to shine behind the offensive line and Schultz.

Schultz set a career-high in rushing yards for the third straight week, this time with 223 yards on 19 and touchdown runs of 8, 28 and 52 yards. He’s now rushed for 558 yards in three games against Skyview, Union and Mount Rainier, and Friday, had big yardage on several third-down situations.

The passing game can’t be overlooked, Schultz said. It was an offensive focus all week at practice.

“I think we made a pretty big improvement,” he said. “That was big for us.”

So, too, was the defense that limited Mount Rainier (6-4) to 151 total yards — all rushing — on using three ball carriers. Camas tallied three sacks (all credited to Brock Thornburg), two interceptions, a fumble recovery, and a pivotal goal-line stand as the first half expired.

Outside of the 71-yard touchdown allowed early, Mount Rainier’s offense averaged just 2 yards per play.

Special teams plays helped Mount Rainier on its two fourth-quarter touchdowns — an eventual 1-yard touchdown run by Chaney-Cooper and a 13-yard punt block return for a score.

Bradley Prouse, who had one of the two interceptions and had a fumble recovery, said communication was key for Camas.

Just like it has been all season.

“Flying to the ball and making plays,” he said.

CAMAS 57, MOUNT RAINIER 20

MR 6 0 0 14—20

Cam 14 13 23 7—57

First quarter

MR — Dev’-Evon Chaney-Cooper 71 run (kick failed)

C — Jon Schultz 8 run (Ethan Ouchi kick)

C — Zach Blair 3 pass from Taylor Ioane (Ouchi kick)

Second quarter

C — Nathan Criddle 2 pass from Ioane (Ouchi kick)

C — Schultz 12 run (kick failed)

Third quarter

C — Sam Speer 17 pass from Ioane (kick failed)

C — Ouchi 28 FG

C — Schultz 52 run (Ouchi kick)

C — Kona Figueroa 31 run (Ouchi kick)

Fourth quarter

MR — Chaney-Cooper 1 run (run failed)

MR — Madoox Luz 13 punt block return (Chaney-Cooper run)

C — Schultz 28 run (Ouchi kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Camas: Jon Schultz 19-223, Taylor Ioane 7-36, Zach Blair 1-9, Konnor Limneiss 2-18, Kona Figueroa 4-37, Alex Holley 3-7, Kaiden Reis 2-(minus-7); Mount Rainier: Dev’Evon Chaney-Cooper 24-119, Kurt Solano 12-28, Reagan Binganda 1-14.

PASSING — Camas: Taylor Ioane 17-23-0-126; Mount Rainier: Chaney-Cooper 0-6-2-0.

RECEIVING — Camas: Zach Blair 2-16, Brock Thornburg 1-12, Chase Howington 2-19, Nathan Criddle 5-26, Sam Speer 3-31, Ty Strubelle 1-4, Konnor Limeneiss 2-13, Jon Schultz 0-0. Mount Rainier: none.