Smashing good time

The Camas football team had a smashing good time during its first league game of the season.

Blake Roy, Hunter Bruno, Jared Bentley and Drake Owen caught touchdown passes from Liam Fitzgerald in a 62-21 victory for the Papermakers against the Evergreen Plainsmen Friday, at McKenzie Stadium. Jordan Del Moral added three touchdown runs, Manase Nguamo made a 51-yard dash into the end zone and Will Schultz crossed the goal line on a 2-yard sprint.

Fitzgerald finished the game with 244 passing yards and four touchdowns. Del Moral and Nguamo combined for 214 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Bentley made four catches for 89 yards and a touchdown, Bruno snagged six catches for 70 yards and a touchdown, and Roy had four catches for 57 yards and a touchdown.

“I’ve got to give credit to the offensive line. They have been lights out this whole season,” Del Moral said. “We’re a team full of champions willing to do whatever it takes to get a win. It’s also cool seeing the young guys get in and score their touchdowns. It shows we’re building for the future too.”

Roy and Bruno capped off the first two drives for Camas with 23-yard touchdown receptions. Del Moral utilized three runs from the 9-yard line to cross the goal line and put the Papermakers up 20-0 before the end of the first quarter.

Evergreen then started breaking tackles, gaining first downs and scored a touchdown, but the Mean Machine was too powerful for the Plainsmen to stop. Bentley made a diving catch on the 1-yard line to set up Del Moral for his second touchdown of the game. Roy recovered a fumble for Camas. On the next play, Fitzgerald hit Bentley on a 44-yard strike in the end zone to put the Papermakers up 34-7 before halftime.

“Offensively, we had a good ball game. We have a lot of kids who can do something with the ball,” said head coach Jon Eagle. “We need to block better and tackle better. I think Evergreen has a pretty good offense. The status quo doesn’t always stay the same.”

Camas also has some heavy hitters on defense. Michael Matthews hit a Plainsman hard on the last play of the first half. The crack of the pads sounded like a tree snapping from its roots. Several Papermakers keyed in on group tackles. They also blocked a field goal.

“If somebody gets to the guy with the ball, you know the other dudes are going to fly right in there,” Matthews said. “I love those gang tackles. It’s good to know your brothers have your back like that.”

The Papermakers stopped three runs by Evergreen and forced a punt to begin the second half. Owen then snagged a 24-yard touchdown pass from Fitzgerald to give Camas a 41-7 lead.

Evergreen scored a touchdown in the third and fourth quarters. Del Moral reached the end zone for the third time on four runs for a total of 45 yards. Nguamo and Schultz delivered their touchdown runs for Camas in the fourth quarter.

The Papermakers (4-0) play Skyview Friday, at Kiggins Bowl. Kickoff is at 8 p.m.

“The first league game of senior year is always something to remember,” Roy said. “I give it all to the community of Camas. It’s amazing to see so much support for an away game. It’s a great community to be in.”