A look at 2012 GSHL football schedule
The Greater St. Helens League has released its 2012 football schedule, and here are some highlights.
McKenzie Stadium, which will have a new FieldTurf surface installed this summer, will host nine doubleheaders. There are no weeks in which three games are scheduled at McKenzie, so it would appear there is a need for Thursday or Saturday games.
But it’s possible some games could be moved to Thursday, particularly on weeks when schools have homecoming nights. Those night tend to be longer nights.
Kiggins Bowl only has doubleheader nights on Sept. 7, Oct. 12, 19 and 26.
The opening night doubleheader is scheduled for Aug. 31 with Evergreen faces Fort Vancouver in a meeting of teams that went winless in 2011. Union faces Mountain View in the second Week 1 game at McKenzie. Game times have not been released, but we’ll assume Union-Mountain View would be the nightcap.
With each Greater St. Helens League consisting of six teams, weeks 1-4 are non-league week for all teams. League play for all leagues will be in weeks 5-9.
Camas will make its 4A GSHL debut in Week 5 (Sept. 28) with a home game against Skyview in a matchup of teams that reached the state semifinals last season. Skyview went on to play in the 4A state title game in 2011.
After a couple years off, Camas and Union will renew their rivalry on Oct. 12 at McKenzie Stadium.
The 4A GSHL schedule will conclude with Union vs. Skyview at Kiggins Bowl on Oct. 26.
With Camas moving to 4A, the 3A GSHL race could be an interesting battle. Columbia River and Mountain View face off in the regular-season finale on Oct. 26 at McKenzie Stadium. Hopefully, this year the lights will stay on at McKenzie.
Kelso, looking to rebound into a playoff contender, catches a bit of a break by drawing home games against River (Oct. 5) and Mountain View (Oct. 19).
In the 2A GSHL, Washougal and Hockinson get the pleasure of drawing the long road trips for league games at Aberdeen.
Looking at other non-league dates of note:
Aug. 31: Once again, Skyview goes on the road for a tough out-of-state matchup, opening up at Central Catholic of Portland. The Rams reached the Oregon 6A state semifinals last season.
Sept. 7: Union travels to Jesuit of Portland. Jesuit reached the Oregon 6A state semifinals in 2011.
Sept. 14: Skyview hosts Lakes at Kiggins Bowl. Lakes was a highly ranked 3A team last season that lost to Bellevue in the state playoffs.
Sept. 21: Camas travels to play at Lakes in a rematch of a 2010 state quarterfinal game.
Other scheduling quirks of note
Camas is the only Clark County team that does not play a non-league game against another GSHL team. The Papermakers play at Oregon City, Canby (Ore.), Auburn MountainView and at Lakes.
Conversely, Evergreen, after playing tough non-league slates in the past with games in the Tri-Cities or Yakima, will play an all-GSHL schedule in 2012, with road games vs. Fort, Mountain View, Prairie and Kelso.
Fort Vancouver will play all nine of its games in Clark County. The Trappers’ longest bus trip of the season will be to Washougal.
Battle Ground only plays three home games. Although one of the Tigers’ road games is against Prairie, which will be played at Battle Ground’s District Stadium.
Washougal is not as lucky as the Battle Ground. The Panthers only play three games at their home stadium, Fishback Stadium.
We’re working on each team’s 2012 schedule, and hope to have those posted soon. Stay tuned.
