Storied rivalry continues

Streaks look good on paper, but they don’t win playoff games.

The Camas High School football players and coaches didn’t waste any more time dwelling on Friday’s 14-13 loss to Union in the 4A Greater St. Helens League championship game at Doc Harris Stadium. All the Papermakers are thinking about is getting back to the state tournament, and making another run for the big golden football trophy.

“I think we’re going to come back stronger because of this,” said CHS senior defensive back Taylor Adams. “We’re just happy to have the opportunity to play at state, represent our community, and maybe just take a little bit different road to the championship.”

Adams intercepted two passes on defense for Camas, but he said those picks wouldn’t have been possible without the other 10 Papermakers on the field making their marks.

Semisi Schultz rushed for two touchdowns to give Camas a 13-0 advantage, but he said those points wouldn’t have been possible without the offensive linemen piercing holes in the Titans’ armor.

After Camas scored its second touchdown, Union blocked the extra-point kick, which turned the game on a dime. Camas faced a fourth-and-one in front of the goal line. Instead of attempting a field goal, the Papermakers elected to go for it and couldn’t get the first down.

Camas needed those three points after the Titans put together two long touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to take the lead with less than four minutes left in the game.

The Papermakers, on the other hand, couldn’t not gain a first down in the fourth quarter. Eventually, time ran out.

An estimated 6,000 football fans filled Doc Harris Stadium for this league championship game.

“There’s something special when an entire community is able to rally around a single thing,” Adams said. “For the entire community to rally behind this team, it creates an experience for us this is indescribable. It’s something we will carry with us and compare to for the rest of our lives.”

This will go down as another unforgettable chapter in the Camas, Union rivalry. And the story is far from over.

Read more in the Thursday, Nov. 2 print edition of the Post-Record.