Like so many times this season after a Camas football victory — 13 now, to be exact — the Papermakers can’t wait to hear the same three words from their first-year head coach to kick off the postgame speech.  “It’s now become a thing,” Adam Mathieson said.  Saturday, behind the players’ chants in unison for Mathieson, the coach walked up to his team after its 28-20 come-from-behind semifinal win over Gonzaga Prep, leaned in and proudly shouted, “Winning isn’t easy!” Celebratory cheers erupted.  Winning may not be easy, but it sure is fun. For the Papermakers (13-0), it’s not just the semifinal victory that makes them proud to be playing in the program’s fourth state championship game, but it’s how they did it that makes the win the most rewarding through their 13 undefeated weeks. “I’ve been dreaming about this,” defensive end Zuko Lopez said. “… it doesn’t feel real.”

But real, it is. Camas will face Sumner (12-1) for the Class 4A state title at 7 p.m. next Saturday at Husky Stadium. The Spartans topped Chiawana in triple overtime in their semifinal Saturday in Pierce County.  The two previous Camas state title victories in 2016 and 2019 also came on undefeated seasons. Early-round playoff exits the past two seasons were on players’ minds all year, said senior running back Titan Brody.  “We talked about how we were going to be back,” said Brody, who had 15 carries for 102 yards and a 20-yard touchdown reception, “and guess what? We’re back and better than ever.” Saturday’s celebratory ending at McKenzie Stadium was far different from how things began. Gonzaga Prep (12-1) raced out to two 13-point leads powered by its triple-option offense that racked up 130 passing yards by halftime. When Noah Holman scored his second rushing touchdown with 8:47 left in the third, that pinned Camas back 13 points again at 20-7.

Soon, that was in the rear-view mirror. The Papermakers played like a state championship-caliber squad in the second half. Prior to their final possession that ended in quarterback Jake Davidson’s victory formation, Camas scored touchdowns on its three previous drives. That, Mathieson said, is when Camas began controlling the line of scrimmage.  First, it began on the ground. Camas ran the ball 11 consecutive times — nine rushes by Brody — before Chase McGee’s 22-yard touchdown reception for the possession’s only pass attempt to cut the deficit to one score. The senior had the team’s first five receptions of the game, and finished with a game-high seven catches for 170 yards.  Then, Camas needed just six plays to score 14 points to take the lead for good. In fact, the possessions were near-identical images of one another that ended in touchdowns by Anthony Forner (51 yards) and McGee (68): Two short run plays, followed by one explosive touchdown reception.  In all, Camas scored 21 straight points off 18 plays and covered 210 yards. The defense followed up by stopping Gonzaga Prep on fourth-and-19 when Forner’s pass breakup intended for 6-foot-4 wideout Isaiah Docken with 1:40 to go. The three prior Bullpup drives resulted in punts. 

Mathieson commended the team’s defensive efforts, and the offensive line’s play in the second half that resulted in 22 second-half rushes. A week ago in its state quarterfinal win over Arlington, the offensive line paved the way for a season-best 223 rushing yards. “Now, we’re showing we can run the rock and pass the rock,” Brody said. “That gives a lot of trust in our O-line. We can lean on them a lot more.” Clark County will have two teams at Husky Stadium playing for state championships. Saturday’s McKenzie Stadium nightcap ended with the Class 1A Seton Catholic topping Montesano, 35-14, in their 1A semifinal. It marks the first time since 2018 when Hockinson and Union won state titles on the same day that the region will have two teams at Gridiron Classic.  — CLASS 4A STATE SEMIFINAL At McKenzie Stadium CAMAS 28, GONZAGA PREP 20 Gon. Prep 6 7 7 0 – 20

Camas 0 7 7 14 – 28 First quarter GP – Noah Holman 3 run (kick failed) Second quarter GP – Jimmy Grainger 55 pass from Sam Kincaid (kick good) C – Titan Brody 20 pass from Jake Davidson (kick good) Third quarter GP – Holman 5 run (kick good) C – Chase McGee 22 pass from Davidson (kick good) Fourth quarter C – Anthony Forner 51 pass from Davidson (kick good) C – McGee 68 pass from Davidson (kick good) INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING — Gonzaga Prep: Noah Holman 18-38, Sam Kincaid 12-42, Jonah Keller 4-26, Team 1-(minus-6); Camas: Titan Brody 15-102, Jake Davidson 11-51, Thor Brody 1-(minus-2). PASSING — Gonzaga Prep: Sam Kincaid 9-15-0-184; Camas: Jake Davidson 12-22-1-278, Zuko Lopez 0-1-0-0. RECEIVING — Gonzaga Prep: Isaiah Docken 5-43, Jonah Keller 3-86, Jimmy Grainger 1-55; Camas: Chase McGee 7-170, Anthony Forner 2-61, Nikko Speer 2-18, Titan Brody 3-29.