There’s One More Check on the Camas Football Revenge Tour: Bothell

Following the Camas High School Football 35-14 victory over Mount Si in Saturday’s 4A Semi-finals, I made the interview rounds making sure to spotlight the O-line for their efforts then — and all season. During that interview a few comments struck me, especially about the Revenge Tour.

The first was from Offensive Linesman, Tai Tumanuvao, who has been an incredible Papermaker leader all season.

“It’s one game, you play where you are,” said Tumanuvao. “Focus on where your feet are, that’s what coach says.”

Tumanuvao has not just physical athletic talent, he’s been blessed with many other gifts including leadership and a commanding, yet humble voice that demands respect and attention. He leads the post-game team rallies, and it’s been reported he motivates during half-time locker room talks.

The other comment that stood out came from Tight End, Kenny Wright, who said:

“And guess what? Bothell is the last check on the Revenge Tour.”

Yes, the Revenge Tour.

I’ve had dozens of people ask me what that’s all about. We’ve addressed it with the Papermaker Talk interviews that Camas City Council member Deanna Rusch conducted, but it’s worth explaining again.

“We didn’t really do good last season, not as good as we wanted, and we were coming back this year saying we want to bring it, we want to show people what we the Class of 2020 is, so our theme was the Revenge Tour,” said Camas Linebacker, Jack Gibson. “We were in the weight room talking about different things, and we decided that we should make a T-shirt like a concert T-shirt …”

So, it’s not about revenge against another team, it’s about revenge against a less-than-stellar 2018 season. It’s revenge against past CHS Football performance. It’s been argued that perhaps a better name would be the Redemption Tour, but it wouldn’t have the same ring.

So, T-shirts were designed by Papermaker Pride, and produced through a generous donation by Stainless Cable and Railing (SC&R). And, after each game players and coaches simply say: “CHECK!”

Revenge Tour represents the determined mental and physical fortitude of a team of young men, trained by committed and focused coaches who are determined to win — on AND off the field. Character matters.

“These players have heart,” said Camas Head Coach, Jon Eagle. “We can coach you if you have heart.”

They travel in packs, as brothers, looking out for each other. On game days, they fuel up at Natalia’s Cafe. After games they head to Don Pedro’s, or as they call it “Donny P’s.” When one brother goes down, they take care of him. They high five Freshmen in the hallways, and most help out in the community at various service projects. There’s an Eagle Scout, and a few more getting ready to make that mark. And, they get good grades.

This Class of 2020, and their underclassmen, are laser focused and have been treating every game like a state championship.

“That’s how we have to do it — treat every game like a state championship,” said Dante Humble, WR/C. “We’re focused.”

They’ve been hit with a string of injuries that cast doubt on future performance from fans and outside observers, but each time a teammate rises to the occasion and fills the deficit. The Papermakers are 13-0 heading into next week’s State Championship against Bothell.

“Our quarterback, Blake Asciutto doesn’t get shaken up,” said Jordan Geigenmiller, WR. “He’s very calm under pressure, and when mistakes are made he rolls them off his back. Plus, we have a chemistry because we’ve all been playing sports together since we were five years old — in Little League, football, rugby, soccer — we connect.”

Geigenmiller realized this was his final week practicing with his brothers as an official team, and the reality started to sink in.

One more check on the Revenge Tour. One more stop.

Some numbers from the Semi-finals: CAMAS 35, MOUNT SI 14

Mount Si 7 7 0 0 — 14

Camas 14 7 7 7 — 35

First quarter

Mount Si — Cole Norah TD run (Colby Ramsey XP)

Camas — Jackson Clemmer runs 80 yards on pass from Blake Asciutto (Bryce Leighton XP)

Camas — Jacques Badolato-Birdsell TD run (Leighton XP)

Second quarter

Camas — Badolato-Birdsell TD run (Leighton XP)

Mount Si — Brayden Holt 25 yard pass from Clay Millen (Ramsey XP)

Third quarter

C — Badolato-Birdsell 5-yard TD run (Leighton XP)

Fourth quarter

C — Badolato-Birdsell 2-yard run (Leighton XP)