On the sidelines: Giving thanks to Camas

The Papermakers will still be playing football before they carve the turkey Thursday.

Camas hammered Federal Way 65-32 Saturday, at Doc Harris Stadium, to earn a return trip to the Tacoma Dome. The Papermakers will play defending 4A state champion Skyline in the semifinals this weekend.

After the game, head coach Jon Eagle told the boys they have to practice on Thanksgiving for the second year in a row. Then he piled some gravy on top of that turkey and mashed potatoes.

“Camas has been playing football for over 100 years, and this is the first time the team has won 12 games in a season,” Eagle said. “I’m just super proud of our kids for the way they play and prepare every week.”

Camas jumped on Federal Way with a 22-yard touchdown run by Nate Beasley less than four minutes into the game. The Eagles then fumbled the ball on their own 10-yard line and Camas recovered it. Reilly Hennessey followed his steamrolling offensive linemen into the end zone to give the Papermakers an early 14-0 advantage.

Federal Way got on the board with a 35-yard field goal. Camas answered quickly, as Dylan White caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Hennessey. John Norcross delivered two touchdown runs, and the Camas defense forced a snap out of the end zone for a safety. Beasley added two more touchdown runs to put the Papermakers up 51-17 at halftime.

Beasley capped off a five-touchdown performance on a 51-yard run around the defenders and into the end zone to begin the third quarter. He also caught a short pass from Hennessey and ran it into the end zone for 12 yards.

Camas soccer settles for fourth place

The Camas girls soccer team proved it belonged in the Final Four of the 4A state tournament by scoring the first goal in the semifinals against Issaquah Friday, at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup.

Jamie Carter fired a good corner kick, Hailey Rose directed the ball toward the goal and Teylen Sheesley headed it into the net before the opposing goalkeeper could react. The Papermakers took a 1-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Issaquah turned up the heat in the second half and scored the tying goal. Both teams pushed each other into overtime. Camas fought hard to keep the score even, but Issaquah blasted in the winning goal with about six seconds left on the clock.

The Papermakers had a little more than 12 hours to regroup for the third-place match Saturday. Tahoma knocked in the first goal and held on for a 1-0 victory. Camas played an inspiring second half, but couldn’t get a ball into the net to tie it up.

Read more about the Camas football and soccer teams in Tuesday’s print edition of the Post-Record.

See you on the sidelines.