For the fourth time, McKenzie Stadium would be the web site of highschool soccer state semifinal video games, and for the third time it is going to host a doubleheader.
Prime-seeded Camas (12-0) will meet No. 5 Gonzaga Prep of Spokane (11-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday in a 4A state semifinal.
That sport will probably be adopted by a 1A state semifinal between No. 2 Seton Catholic (11-0) and No. 6 Montesano (9-3) at 4 p.m.
Camas superior to the semifinals with 35-21 win over Arlington on Saturday, whereas Seton Catholic superior with an exhilarating 42-41 win over Life Christian of Tacoma.
McKenzie Stadium was first the host web site of state semifinal video games in 2016 when Camas beat Sumner 45-21 in a 4A state semifinal. The Papermakers would go on to win the state title the subsequent week by beating Richland 24-14.
Additionally in 2016, La Middle fell to Connell 24-7 in a 1A semifinal at McKenzie Stadium.
McKenzie hosted its second semifinal doubleheader in 2018 when Union beat Puyallup 35-28. The Titans would declare the 4A state title that season by beating Lake Stevens 52-20.
Hockinson additionally received a 2A semifinal at McKenzie in 2018, beating Liberty of Sammamish 27-24. The Hawks beat Lynden that season 42-37 for his or her second consecutive 2A state title.
McKenzie additionally hosted the 2019 4A semifinal with Camas beating Mount Si 35-14. The Papermakers would declare their second state title the subsequent week, beating Bothell 35-14.
Camas protection bends, doesn’t break
The Camas Papermakers obtained right into a first-quarter monitor meet with the Arlington Eagles on Saturday afternoon of their Class 4A state semifinal earlier than the sport settled down within the second quarter.
In a span of 15 performs in about 3 minutes of clock time within the first quarter, the 2 groups scored three touchdowns. Camas scored, Arlington answered, after which Camas scored to primarily take the lead for good at 14-7.
Then got here the longer drives that might check each defenses.
“Whether you run or throw 40 times, the game takes shape by what the defense was doing,” Camas coach Adam Mathison mentioned. “The defenses were just settling in. We held (running back Caleb Reed) to minimal yards, getting him out of his comfort zone.”
Reed rushed 15 occasions for simply 41 yards and a landing every week after going for 166 yards and three TDs in opposition to Graham-Kapowsin within the first spherical of state. That was his third straight 100-plus yards speeding sport.
And each side made key defensive performs to cease the opposite within the second half.
Camas opened the third quarter with an 11-play drive that ended with a 30-yard subject objective try that was blocked, preserving the rating 28-14 in favor of the Papermakers.
Arlington’s subsequent two possessions had been three-and-out with quarterback Leyton Martin largely being chased by Camas defenders. Twice on third down the Papermakers pressured Martin into operating for all of 1 yard and the Eagles punted each occasions.
Camas quarterback Jake Davidson was sacked for a 5-yard loss on a third-and-3 play, and on the Papermakers’ subsequent possession, Davidson was stopped for no achieve on a third-and-10 run.
After Arlington obtained to inside 28-21 with 9:39 to play, Camas took over with its back-breaking practically 7-minute drive that Davidson completed with a 12-yard landing run to make it a two-score sport once more.
“We just had to drive and not give the ball back,” Mathison mentioned.
Arlington did get the ball again on final time, but it surely was the Papermakers’ sport. The Eagles made it right down to the 8-yard line for first-and-goal and that might be it.
Alexander Hroza stopped Reed for no achieve on first down and Martin threw three incomplete passes, the final knocked away from the meant receiver ultimately zone by Camas’ Anthony Forner.
“We just need to keep doing what were are doing, but do it harder,” Davidson mentioned because the Papermakers superior to the state semifinals in opposition to Gonzaga Prep.
Late flags assist Seton
Two late penalties and two pivotal choices off these penalties proved pivotal in Seton Catholic’s 42-41 win over Life Christian.
A.T. Nuu scored on a 28-yard landing run with 2:28 left to provide Life Christian a 41-35. On the play, Nuu stopped on the 1-yard line and stared at a Seton Catholic defender earlier than entering into the top zone, drawing a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
In keeping with highschool guidelines, the landing counted and the penalty could possibly be assessed on the conversion strive or the following kickoff.
It initially appeared as if the penalty could be assessed on the kickoff, however at Life Christian lined up for the PAT kick, play was halted as Seton coaches requested officers to evaluate the penalty on the conversion play.
That moved the ball again to 18-yard line, turning a standard 20-yard PAT kick right into a 35-yarder. Missing confidence its kickoff sport, Life Christian opted to go for 2, and the following go was damaged up by Seton, leaving the rating 41-35.
On the kickoff, Life Christian deliberately kicked the ball out of bounds, moderately than give Seton Catholic the prospect at a return.
Usually, following a process penalty, groups decide to take possession of the ball at their 35.
However the Cougars determined to make ship Life Christian again 5 yards and make the Eagles kickoff once more.
The Eagles’ second kickoff went to Joe Callerame, who made a reverse faux to Ryker Ruelas, earlier than returning the kickoff 48 yards to the Life Christian 28.
That arrange Jacob Williams’ 1-yard landing run with 43 seconds to play. Dalton Woods made the PAT kick to place Seton up 42-41.
Skyview’s seniors depart with 34 wins
With their highschool soccer careers over following Saturday’s 41-0 state quarterfinal loss to Sumner, seniors Kaden Hamlin and Riah Tua mirrored on the previous, but in addition seemed to the way forward for Skyview soccer.
“These younger guys,” mentioned Hamlin, Skyview’s center linebacker, “I think they’re going to take over and prove a lot of people wrong next year. This is a special group.”
Skyview’s departing seniors are a particular group, too. Along with 34 wins since 2021, no prior Skyview groups made deeper postseason runs in back-to-back seasons than 2023 and 2024. Solely Skyview’s Class of 2012, which reached the 2011 4A title sport and two years earlier made the semifinals, has extra wins in a four-year stretch (37).
However consecutive final-8 runs are a primary behind what head coach Steve Kizer known as the “hardest schedule we’ve ever had” in 2024.
“No one thought we’d make it this far (this year),” Hamlin mentioned. “We put within the work; we had a whole lot of battle.
“This was a hell of a ride.”
