Sumner beats Camas 27-24 on last-second field goal for 4A state championship

SEATTLE — As first-year Camas head football coach Adam Mathieson filed out of the locker room — the last of any Papermaker player or coach to do so —  his thoughts on a season-ending defeat on the season’s biggest stage went right to how it impacts everyone else. 

“I wish I could have done more to help their dream come true,” the coach said of his players. “We’re in the kid business and trying to turn dreams into a reality, and I’ve got to be better at that.”

The reality hit the Papermakers hard in Saturday’s Class 4A state championship game, seeing a sea of purple from Sumner celebrate a 27-24 victory after kicker Austin Ferencz knocked through a 21-yard field goal as time expired. 

It came on a memorable 69-yard drive over the final 5 minutes, 56 seconds at the University of Washington’s Husky Stadium that had a bit of everything for Sumner — a fake punt to move the chains, a fumble that rolled forward 4 yards for a first down before going out of bounds, and a second fumble recovered by the Spartans set up first and goal at the 4.

Before that, the two juggernauts traded big defensive stops, highlight-worthy offensive plays and several lead changes in a matchup of the top-two playoff seeds. After a 7-7 tie at halftime in a half dominated by defense, the final two quarters featured five lead changes. 

Like so many times this season, a number of Camas seniors stepped up to make pivotal plays.

One of them, senior receiver Chase McGee, had a pair of touchdowns on pass plays that went for long scores of 39 and 62 yards as Sumner’s front-7 limited Camas’ run game. The latter gave Camas its first lead at 21-17 with 4:46 left in the third. 

For center Ryan Criddle, watching the skill-position players shine under the lights put smiles on the offensive lineman’s face.

“Being able to block for him and then seeing him run down the sideline,” he said of McGee, “it’s really special to have big players step up in big moments.” 

In the fourth, Camas tied the game at 24-24 on Jackson Tyler’s 32-yard field goal with 6:07 left, which set in motion Sumner’s game-winning drive over the final 5:56. 

First, a call by Sumner coach Keith Ross to go for a fake punt on fourth and 4 from the 37. The punter, backup quarterback Aaron Black, raced for 6 yards to move the chains. 

Then, two plays later, a catch and fumble by Sumner that rolled 4 yards out of bounds stayed Sumner ball. Two plays after that, on third and 2 from the 9-yard line, a fumble by Sumner at the 5 was recovered by the Spartans. The clock ticked inside 30 seconds, however. 

Sumner called timeout with 4 seconds to go, and sent Ferencz out to kick. He was 2 of 4 Saturday on field goals on the narrower college uprights. 

As elated Sumner players celebrated with the sea of thousands of fans on the south grandstand, different emotions varied among the Camas players. Nikko Speer, Camas’ senior linebacker and tight end, left the field with no regrets.

“We left it out on the field,” Speer said. “It was a battle. I’m proud of everyone and I’m happy with how we played. How it turned out wasn’t great, but there’s no regrets.”

The loss gave the Papermakers (13-1) their second state runner-up trophy (2013). 

How the Papermakers rolled into the program’s fourth state title game appearance in 11 seasons came by answering the call all season against tough opponents and tougher challenges. They controlled September, dominated October and owned November’s postseason.

By Saturday’s state championship game to conclude the first week of December, the Papermakers went toe-to-toe against a Sumner (13-1) team with its only loss of the season against the eventual Oregon 6A champion West Linn.

Without question, a memorable season was made — on and off the field, said McGee, who finished with 144 yards on nine catches. 

“We built a brotherhood,” he said, “and nobody can take that away from me.”

SUMNER 27, CAMAS 24

Sumner         7         0         10      10—27

Camas           0         7         14      3—24

First quarter

S—Steele Isaacs 25 run (Austin Ferencz kick), 6:51

Second quarter

C—Nikko Speer 8 pass from Jake Davidson (Jackson Tyler kick), 6:13

Third quarter

S—Isaac 16 run (Ferencz kick), 10:54

C—Chase McGee 39 pass from Davidson (Jackson Tyler kick), 8:52

S—Ferencz FG 26, 6:21

C—McGee 62 pass from Davidson (Tyler kick), 4:46

Fourth quarter

S—Carter Cocke 13 pass from Donavan (Ferencz kick), 9:12

C—Tyler FG 32, 6:07

S—Ferencz FG 21, 0:00

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Sumner: Steele Isaacs 35-170, Aaron Black 6, Che Molina 2-5, Israel Nabors 1-2, Jayden Benson 1-1, Nate Donavan 2-(-12). Camas: Titan Brody 2-29, Jake Davidson 9-27, Chase McGee 1-2, team 2-(-3).

PASSING — Sumner: Donavan 18-29-0-254. Camas: Jake Davidson 22-31-0-271.

RECEIVING — Sumner: Braylon Pope 8-43, Kainoa Grounds 4-148, Pono Borden 3-37, Carter Cocke 3-26. Camas: Chase McGee 9-144, Jack Macdonald 7-87, Anthony Forner 4-18, Nikko Speer 2-22.