State first-round prep football preview: Eastmont vs. Camas
Eastmont vs. Camas
4A STATE FIRST ROUND
WHEN: 2 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Doc Harris Stadium, 841 NE 22nd Ave, Camas
BROADCAST: Video webcast, nfhsnetwork ($9.95 monthly subscription required)
SEEDS/RECORDS: No. 15 Eastmont (9-1), No. 2 Camas (10-0)
LAST WEEK: Eastmont beat Wenatchee 28-24; Camas beat Olympia 48-13
LAST YEAR: Did not play
WINNER GETS: Eastlake or Puyallup
ABOUT EASTMONT: The Wildcats are the Big 9 Conference tri-champion, sharing the title with Wenatchee and Sunnyside. Eastmont earned a state berth through a three-team tiebraker last Saturday. Wildcats’ lone loss came to Sunnyside (29-28) on Oct. 18. Eastmont reached state last year, falling to Puyallup (45-10) in the first round. The Wildcats have not won a state game since 1985. The Big 9 Conference has not won a state game since 2015.Carson Talley rushed for 98 yards and one TD vs. Wenatchee. Wesley McIlwaine caught a 24-yard TD pass from Carson Everheart to put the Wildcats ahead with 3:24 left, then Eastmont had to stop Wenatchee on a last-minute drive into Eastmont territory for the win.
ABOUT CAMAS: Camas was the 4A Greater St. Helens League champion. The Papermakers return to state after being eliminated in Week 10 last season. Camas had gone to state the previous eight seasons before that. Camas has one common opponent with Eastmont — West Valley of Yakima. Camas beat West Valley 45-14 in Week 3. Eastmont beat West Valley 23-20 two weeks later. The Papermakers lost their starting quarterback to injury two weeks ago. Senior Blake Ascuitto stepped in and passed for 307 yards and two touchdowns last week. Camas’ big offensive line paved the way for 357 yards rushing led by Randy Yaacoub (172), Gabe Guo (84) and Jacques Badolato-Birdsell (78). Jackson Clemmer caught six passes for 151 yards.
FANS’ PICK: Camas (97 percent)
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