CAMAS — In the two weeks since Camas’ 27-24 state championship game loss to Sumner in one of the few state playoff games to ever end on a game-winning, time-expiring field goal, the loss is still hard on Jake Davidson. He’s watched the championship game film a few times — at first, he said, “I didn’t want to. … Too many ‘what-ifs.’ ” But Camas’ football season as a whole is what brings a smile to the senior quarterback’s face. “It was the most fun 14 weeks of my life,” Davidson said. “Just playing with all my buddies I’ve known since I was 5. It was just something special.”

In that same two-week span since the state championship game at the University of Washington’s Husky Stadium, awards going to Davidson continue to rack up. He was named state player of the year by Gatorade and MaxPreps. The Columbian’s All-Region football player of the year is the latest. Davidson left his mark as one of the best to ever do it at Camas. He set single-season school records for passing yards (3,711) and touchdowns (53) to lead the Papermakers to a 13-1 record and its fourth appearance in a state title game. Davidson joins Reilly Hennessey (2013) and Jack Colletto (2016) as Camas quarterbacks who also led their team to the final game of the season, and who also won Gatorade state player of the year. A banner soon will bear Davidson’s name. The senior is humbled to be mentioned alongside some of the best quarterbacks to come out of Southwest Washington. As a youngster, Davidson watched in awe how Colletto led Camas to an undefeated state championship in 2016.

“I always wanted to be him,” Davidson said of Colletto, “and to have the impact of the whole community.” What is Davidson’s future in football? Surprisingly, given the quarterback’s standout senior season, college recruitment has, in his words, been slow. It also disappoints Camas head coach Adam Mathieson and what the coach is hearing from college coaches only furthers his frustration of college football’s current landscape. Mathieson believes the game’s transfer portal — an online database where players can enter their name if they want to transfer schools — hurts high school athletes. Earlier this week, the portal hit 6,000 names across all NCAA divisions, according to 247Sports.

Uncommitted senior athletes, like Davidson, are left waiting and wondering. “In the college football landscape, everyone has forgotten about the high school kids,” Mathieson said. “The only people that can recruit and develop high school kids are the people at a program that are so stable that they can afford to actually look to the future.” Just this week, Mathieson and his coaching staff spent hours scouring NCAA Division II programs nationally to make connections and send out Davidson’s game film. Mathieson, a high school coach for 25 years, believes Davidson’s recruiting would have jumped off the charts 8-10 years ago. “Nowadays,” the coach said, “you’re trying to find the right spot because there aren’t many spots out there.”

As for Davidson, he remains patient and optimistic that the perfect spot will come. Without question, he wants to play college football. All Davidson needs is an opportunity. “I’m really hoping a team sees what I did this year,” he said, “and how much I want to win and help their program.” Rest of the All-Region football team OFFENSE QB: Kolten Gesser, Seton Catholic Junior completed 62.8 percent of passes for 2,541 yards and 43 touchdowns. Led an offense that averaged an area-best 45 points per game to lead Seton to the 1A state title game. RB: Jacob Williams, Seton Catholic Bruising back powered the Cougars’ run game behind school records for rushing (1,889) and rushing TDs (22) in a season. Graduates with more than 4,000 career rushing yards.

RB: Aden Mintonye, Kelso 3A GSHL’s co-offensive MVP averaged 196 yards rushing per game, including two 300-plus-yard games, to help the Hilanders to a 12th consecutive playoff-bound season. WR: Gavin Packer, Skyview Few impact the game in all three phases like the three-time All-Region pick. Boise State commit earned 4A GSHL’s co-offensive MVP to help Storm back to state quarterfinals. WR: Chase McGee, Camas Slant or go route? Comeback or post? No matter the route, count on the reigning state champion pole vaulter to make the play. Finished with 1,445 yards and 24 touchdowns. WR: Terrance Saryon, Evergreen UW commit knows how to get open behind a burst of speed. Tallied 1,055 yards and 10 touchdowns in the Plainsmen’s first league title-winning season since 2007.

WR: Ryker Ruelas, Seton Catholic At 6-foot-3, wideout was a vertical threat and a sure-handed target in the Cougars’ high-powered offense. Had an area-best 18 receiving TDs and 949 yards. OL: Juan Pasillas-Stanton, Mountain View Nobody has dominated at center like the Thunder’s four-year starter. The success of the team’s run game started with the Portland State-bound senior. OL: Austin St. Amour, Seton Catholic Play guard? Standout at center? At 6-foot-8 and 345 pounds, St. Amour could do both with ease as a massive physical presence for the 1A state runner’s up. OL: Jaxon Goode, Camas Left guard brought consistency to a unit that allowed the Papermakers’ run game to flourish in the postseason while blocking all season for the state’s leading passer.

OL: Noah Thomas, Skyview Little got past the Oregon State commit at left tackle. Strong enough to handle other teams’ best defensive lineman and agile enough to lead running backs through holes. OL: Jason Sloan, Kelso Another year, another dominant offensive lineman for Kelso. Right guard paved the way for an always-tough Hilander ground game and was equally a standout presence on defense. DEFENSE AND SPECIALISTS DL: Luke Webb, Camas Became a nightmare for QBs and opposing offensive coordinators behind his speed and physicality off the edge. WSU commit finished with eight sacks, and 35 QB hurries. DL: Makhi Miller, Evergreen 3A GSHL defensive MVP had a motor that never quit. Anchored a front-7 behind double-digit tackles-per-game average and helped Evergreen to its first playoff berth since 2019.

DL: Riah Tua, Skyview Little got past the Storm’s multi-year starter at defensive end. Powerful and physical off the edge, Tua racked up a defensive line-best in tackles (59) and tackles for loss (15). DL: Grayson Bagley, King’s Way Christian One-third of the two-way starter’s total tackles were tackles for losses (18 of 52). Also had eight sacks to pave the way for the defense on the playoff-bound Knights. LB: Nikko Speer, Camas Two-time 4A GSHL defensive MVP controlled the interior (area-best 161 tackles, eight sacks) while becoming known for one-handed TD grabs as a pass-catching tight end. LB: Kaden Hamlin, Skyview A staple in the Storm’s defense for three years, senior was the heart and sole of a young linebacking corps. Recorded his first 100-tackle season (107) in Storm’s run to 4A quarterfinals.

LB: Beau Harlan, Camas Constant noise-maker at outside backer on the across-the-line all-league linebacking corps for the 4A state runner’s up. Racked up 18 tackles for loss and caused three fumbles. LB: Wyatt Eiesland, La Center Wildcats’ quarterback set a school record for tackles (109, including 74 solo; also 2 defensive TDs) in a dominant season at middle linebacker to lead La Center to the 1A quarterfinals. DB: Elijah Franco, Washougal 2A GSHL’s defensive MVP flashed versatility between safety and outside linebacker. Of his nine interceptions, three were returned for touchdowns for the playoff-bound Panthers. DB: Joe Callerame, Seton Catholic Army commit was the Cougars’ Swiss Army knife. 1A Trico’s MVP made a habit of making big plays — on offense, defense and special teams — in a game’s most pivotal moments.

DB: Josiah Alanis, Evergreen Boise State-bound safety displayed overall athleticism (reigning 3A long jump champion) by catching the ball or making plays around it in an experienced Evergreen secondary. DB: Jared Forner, Camas Few teams tested the Papermakers’ secondary and Forner was a big reason why at safety (71 tackles, five interceptions). Also showed off versatility as a return specialist and holder on kicks. AP: Isaac Chromey, La Center The two-way all-Trico player was as physical as he was finesse. Zero fumbles on 145 carries (1,357 yards, 20 TDs) at running back, and two touchdowns and three interceptions at safety. AP: Elijah Andersen, Woodland Idaho State commit repeated as 2A GSHL MVP and powered the Beavers to another league title as QB, leading rusher, free safety, return specialist and averaged 43 yards per punt.

K/P: Canaan Moore, Union A reliable leg no matter on point-after tries, field goals or punts. Connected 100 percent on PATs, hit four field goals (long of 47 yards) and an 80 percent touchback rate on kickoffs.