High School Sports
Camas stuns 4A Mead; Olympia beats Walla Walla

By Matt Massey
Special to The Seattle Times

JAMES BRANAMAN / THE SEATTLE TIMES Mead quarterback Andrew DeFelice releases a pass despite pressure from two Camas defenders. Mead, a Spokane school, lost despite outgaining Camas 337 yards to 198.

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Camas came into yesterday's Emerald City Kickoff Classic matchup against Spokane's Mead High School without seven of last season's starters — two academic casualties and five players who didn't turn out this season.

No problem.

In the season opener for both schools, the Class 3A Papermakers used big plays to shock the Panthers, ranked eighth in Class 4A, 27-14 at Qwest Field.

Camas took control on Marcus Springs' 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter. The Papermakers scored three opening-quarter TDs in a span of 5:08, with Springs' return giving them two within 34 seconds.

"We wanted to come here and prove we are a powerhouse football team," said Camas running back Nikko Listek. "We don't need those (seven) guys. We're a strong team. We're better without those guys."

The Papermakers recovered a high, floating onside kick down the sideline on the opening kickoff and Justin Bacon scored eight plays later on a 6-yard run around left end for a 6-0 lead.

"That was a huge boost for us," the Papermakers' Rick Copsey said. "That was an accident, but it worked. I'd like to say it was planned, but it wasn't."

Camas took a 14-0 lead on its next possession, recovering a Mead fumble at the Panthers' 47-yard line and driving seven plays for another Bacon touchdown. Bacon scored again on a 13-yard pitch around left end with 2:24 to go in the first quarter.

Mead's Skylar Jessen returned the ensuing kickoff 82 yards and Paul Senescall cut the Camas lead to 14-7 with a 5-yard TD run with 2:04 left in the first quarter.

Camas answered immediately as Springs burst up the middle on a 91-yard kickoff return for a score at the 1:50 mark of the first quarter.
 
Camas coach Bob Holman was worried his team might get embarrassed against the defending champions of the Greater Spokane League (GSL).

"I was very concerned with only two offensive and three defensive starters back," Holman said. "I was starting guys who hadn't even started on JV the year before. I couldn't be prouder of our kids.

"I had a lot of respect for (Mead), maybe more than for our own kids, unfortunately."

Jessen stretched across the goal line for a 1-yard score 4:27 before halftime as the Panthers trimmed Camas' lead to 20-14. Jessen's run capped a 10-play, 59-yard drive that took 5:36.

Copsey hauled in a 30-yard TD pass in the right corner of the end zone from Scott Hagenson for a 27-14 Camas lead with 11:51 to go.

Jessen finished with 116 yards rushing and a touchdown on 15 carries as Mead outgained Camas 337-198 in total offense.

Olympia 20, Walla Walla 13 — The Bears, ranked 15th in 4A, overcame six scoreless trips inside the red zone, including two inside the Blue Devils' 10-yard line, and were buoyed by two long touchdown passes from Sam Dinsmore to Kyle Richardson.

Olympia (1-0) held Walla Walla (0-1) scoreless over the final three quarters and limited the Blue Devils to 50 yards total offense in the second half.

"It's fun to play defense, but we'd rather have the offense on the field," said Olympia senior defensive end Tyrone Davis, who had seven tackles, seven assists and one sack. "We got down there so easy and then stopped. We're inexperienced, so this helps us learn quickly."

Olympia finally cashed in on a trip to the red zone to take a 20-14 advantage on Jason Kirk's 16-yard touchdown run around left end with six seconds left in the third quarter.

Richardson caught touchdown passes of 69 and 63 yards from Dinsmore as Olympia led 14-13 at halftime. The first was an acrobatic, one-handed grab down the sideline. Richardson, a junior, made three catches for 160 yards.

Dinsmore went out with 7:44 left in the third quarter with a right-ankle injury and was replaced by sophomore Ryan Harlan, who finished 3 of 6 for 73 yards in relief.

On defense, senior linebacker Chris Croyle led the Bears with 14 tackles, four assists and two sacks.

Walla Walla's Jake Klingenberg piled up a game-high 120 yards rushing on 23 carries.