The 2023 Camas High School (CHS) Varsity Football team ended with nine total wins and a league record of 3-0, leaving CHS’s team as one of the top in the state. However, many senior players share their regrets about playoff games as they will not get another chance to compete in a high school competition.
“We could have done better in the playoffs,” senior Trenton Swanson said. “It was a bad day to have a bad game and it cost us.”
Going into the playoffs, the CHS football team looked great. They only had one loss in the season and were ranked No. 3 in the state. However, after losing their first playoff game at home 14-31, their season was sadly over.
“In the beginning of the season, we played Yelm, who may end up winning state in 3a, but somehow we can’t win in the round of 16 for state. We were third, so I expected us to do better,” junior Derebe Smith said.
Although the team lost and the season ended, CHS played great and kept the school’s reputation as one of the top teams in the state. The team defeated every single one of the local teams, and their only loss in the regular season was to the reigning 3A state champs and the current No. 1 ranked 3A team in the state, Yelm High School.
“I feel like the team did a great job at responding to adversity, growing through our mistakes and keeping up the energy,” Swanson said.
Despite the team’s disappointment with the loss to Mount Si, the players are still pleased with the season. The team had many great wins, including a 53-0 win over Kamiak High School and a 52-27 win over Union High School.
“The season went pretty well, and I feel like everybody is pretty happy about it,” Swanson said. “The team next year will be able to do great things. We got some guys that were juniors and sophomores this year that are ready to step up.”
After this season, many key players, including Swanson, will be graduating. Although the team will lose some essential pieces, many players believe they will have a good team next season.
“I feel like we lost several seniors, including four of our starting O line, so [future games] will be tough, but I think we will be able to find our way,” Smith said.
