Cascade can’t slow down Camas

CAMAS — Nate Beasley scored five first-half touchdowns Saturday afternoon, leading the Papermakers to a 63-28 victory over Cascade in the opening round of the Class 4A state football playoffs.

Camas is 11-0, winning by an average score of 57-15, and next is a road trip to Sammamish to take on Eastlake in the quarterfinals. The game likely will be played Saturday, time to be determined.

When this week’s game was over, the Camas players didn’t want to leave the field.

“There’s always some reason we have to find to play our best,” said Beasley, a nod to all the blowouts this season. “For us seniors, this was our last home game. No one wanted to lose their last home game at Doc Harris Stadium, and we didn’t let it happen.”

Goodbye Doc Harris, hello quarters. Then, if all goes to Camas’ plan, the Tacoma Dome.

The Papermakers looked Dome-worthy Saturday.

Beasley scored on runs of 34, 33, and 40 yards in the first quarter to open up a 21-0 lead not eight minutes into the game.

The Bruins would score on a Josh Smith TD pass to K.J. Brady. The Papermakers quickly responded, going 56 yards on three plays in 35 seconds, with Zach Eagle catching an 18-yard touchdown pass from Reilly Hennessey.

Beasley would add a 48-yard touchdown run to make it 35-7.

Smith scored for the Bruins again with 52 seconds left in the half, but that proved to be plenty of time for the Papermakers.

Hennessey found Beasley for a 54-yard touchdown pass on the next play from scrimmage. Just like that, it was 42-14 at the half. Beasley had 217 yards rushing on 10 carries with four touchdowns and a TD reception.

“I don’t like to keep track of my touchdowns. My goal is not to score that many touchdowns,” he said. “When it does happen, it’s rewarding.”

He credited the big guys for his big outing.

“I’m really proud the boys showed up and I could even do that,” Beasley said.

“It feels like I accomplished something,” right guard Chris Durrett said. “That is my goal, to get Nate yards and to protect Reilly. It just makes me feel great.”

The Papermakers scored six touchdowns on seven first-half possessions.

“Speechless is what I am,” Durrett said. “It’s unbelievable, it really is.”

Hennessey finished with 171 yards passing with three touchdowns. He found Michael DiGenova for a 45-yard TD on the first play of the second half. Hennessey said he tried not to think of this as his Doc Harris finale, until after the game.

“It’s definitely setting in right now,” he said. “It’s pretty special, and I’m going to miss it.

Not to be overlooked, the Camas defense was solid for most of the night, too. Zach Eagle got his second touchdown of the night with a 42-yard interception return to make it 56-14.

Linebacker Adam Dawson was in on a sack and also had a tackle for loss after returning to the game moments after suffering a stinger.

“Everybody in the state sees our offense. We still remember the Battle Ground game and how that went,” Dawson said, referring to the 38 points the Tigers scored on Camas in Week 9. “Our goal is to win a state title. If we want to do that, our defense has to come out and set the tone right away.”

Cole Zarcone would cap the scoring for Camas with a 22-yard touchdown run five minutes into the third quarter. He finished with 107 yards on 12 carries.

In all, the Papermakers put up 617 yards of offense, 446 on the ground.

Next is Eastlake.

“I’m ready to go watch tape tonight,” Camas coach Jon Eagle said, a big smile on his face after witnessing another strong performance from his team.

“We’re ready to go,” Durrett said.

Camas 63, Cascade 28

At Doc Harris Stadium

Cascade 0 14 0 14 —28

Camas 21 21 21 0 —63

Cam—Nate Beasley 34 run (Michael Boyle kick)

Cam—Beasley 33 run (Boyle kick)

Cam—Beasley 40 run (Boyle kick)

Cas—K.J. Brady 6 pass from Josh Smith (Spencer Bowlden kick)