Friends in the end zone

Jack Colletto delivered the perfect gifts to his friends Friday, at Doc Harris Stadium.

The Camas High School senior quarterback rifled the football for 399 yards and seven touchdowns to lead the Papermakers to a 49-28 victory against Battle Ground in the first league game of the season.

“I had such confidence in my receivers,” Colletto said. “I was not afraid to just go deep and trust them ’cause I knew they would come down with the ball.”

Drake Owen racked up 135 receiving yards and three touchdowns, Michael Matthews finished with four catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns, Cooper McNatt netted three passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns, and Ryan Rushall caught five footballs for 80 yards.

“That’s what we ran all practice, and Jack is a good enough quarterback to get it to us,” Owen said. “Our line tighened it up perfectly for Jack so he had enough time to throw it.”

Battle Ground scored a touchdown right out of the gate, on five plays for 80 yards. Camas responded with 28 straight points. McNatt caught a 9-yard touchdown and Owen snared three touchdowns for a total of 38, 17 and 23 yards.

“There’s no better feeling than that, especially in this stadium,” Owen said. “Jack just put the ball where I needed it.”

The Tigers sustained a drive to the end zone to get back within 14 points of the Papermakers. Colletto let the football fly on the next possession and McNatt came down with it on the other end of the field for a 53-yard touchdown.

Camas closed out the first half on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Colletto to Matthews. Rushall made three first down catches on the drive, including a 47-yarder.

The Papermakers picked up right where they left off in the third quarter. Colletto connected with a wide open Matthews on third down, and Matthews ran the ball all the way to the end zone for a 58-yard touchdown.

“I went under them and everything just seemed to work perfectly,” Matthews said. “Jack rolled out the other way, I just kind of found myself open and Jack found me. I’m just happy he got the ball to me and happy I made the catch.”

Although the Camas defense forced Battle Ground to turn the ball over on downs twice in the second half, the Tigers were relentless and scored two touchdowns.

“It’s good for our guys to stay out there all four quarters and be banging it up,” Matthews said. “That is what we’ve lacked the last couple of years. We haven’t had teams go the distance and play all four quarters. I think it’s going to pay off big time in the long run.”

Battle Ground quarterback Gunner Talkington got away from the Papermakers on fourth down and dove across the goal line for a touchdown. He also threw two touchdown passes in the game to Max Randle.

“There were many plays where we should of had him. He just slipped out of our hands,” said CHS defensive lineman Cody Jackson.

Jackson said Camas will need a better game plan against Skyview. The Storm comes to Doc Harris Stadium Friday. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

“I think it’s going to be a really tough game. We’re going to have to give it all we got,” Jackson said. “Like Coach Eagle said, we can’t get arrogant. We can’t get cocky. We just have to stay focused and keep our eye on the prize.”