First half struggles sink Federal Way against top-ranked Camas | Slideshow

Published 5:17 pm Monday, September 14, 2015

Federal Way came up short in a 49-28 loss as they welcomed the Associated Press’s No. 1 ranked team in 4A football to Federal Way Memorial Stadium.

The Camas Papermakers made the two-and-a-half hour trip to Federal Way Saturday to face the Eagles for the second time in two years. Last year, Camas won 49-6 on their home turf.

The 2 p.m. kickoff meant the teams were playing during the hottest part of the day. The heat coupled with a long first half wore down the Eagles right before halftime.

The first quarter alone lasted nearly 50 minutes. After trading possessions to open the game, Camas struck first with a nine-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Liam Fitzgerald to receiver Hunter Bruno.

Federal Way responded quickly with an 85-yard touchdown run by Jovan Vongsaveng on the following drive.

One minute later, the Papermakers found the endzone once again on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Fitzgerald to Jared Bentley. The rest of the first half would belong to Camas from there.

Federal Way had trouble keeping their defense off the field. The offense could not find their rhythm and sustain a drive, while the defense was unable to force many three and outs.

Eagles quarterback D’jimon Jones went down in the second quarter, forcing them to turn to backup quarterback Gabe Togia. Jones returned at both defensive back and wide receiver later in the game.

“Our offense was so discombobulated,” Federal Way head coach John Meagher said. “I don’t know how many first downs we had in the first half, it didn’t feel like many. Our defense was just on the field the entire half. We were playing defense for a general six possession first half, but I think they had 10 or 11 possessions. We just ran out of gas at the end of the half.”

The heat, injuries and hour-and-a-half long first half took their toll at the very end of the second quarter. Camas scored 21 points in the final 4:39 of the first half to take a 35-7 lead.

Fitzgerald finished the half with four touchdowns, finding Bruno and Bentley both once again. Jordan Del Moral also scored on a four-yard touchdown run.

Halftime seemed to rejuvenate the Eagles. The teams once again traded scoreless possessions to open the half.

Federal Way scored first in the third quarter on a 65-yard by their bruising running back Andrzej Hughes-Murray. Hughes-Murray finished with nine carries for 91 yards and a touchdown.

The Papermakers responded with another Fitzgerald-to-Bentley touchdown to push the lead to 42-14.

The Eagles drove back do the field looking confident once again. The drive culminated with Togia finding receiver Brian Parker in the endzone with a perfectly placed ball over two defenders for a 35-yard touchdown pass with 8:57 left in the game.

Trailing 42-21, Togia and the Eagles once again drove down the field on their next possession. This time he would find receiver Bobi Sims streaking down the right side of the field for a 30-yard touchdown pass with 4:41 remaining, cutting Camas’s lead to 14 points.

The Papermakers ended the Eagles comeback hopes with a clock-eating drive and one final rushing touchdown from one yard out by Will Schultz to push the score to 49-28.

“I liked our effort, especially in the second half,” Meagher said. “It’s hot out here today and the first half just seemed like it lasted forever. I think we wore down at the end of the first half. I was proud of the way we came out in the second half and continued to play hard and make it somewhat of a respectable score and football game at the end.”

Camas’s Fitzgerald finished the day 32-44 for 347 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. His favorite target, Bentley, finished with 12 catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns.

Jordan Del Moral led the Papermakers rushing attack with 23 carries for 135 yards and a touchdown.

Togia finished the day 9-17 for 128 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

Parker led Federal Way receivers with five catches for 88 yards and touchdown. Vongasaveng was the leading rusher with five carries for 97 yards and a touchdown.

Last season, the Eagles started 0-2 as well before winning nine straight games and reaching the quarterfinals in the state playoffs.

Federal Way (0-2) travels to face the Tahoma Bears (2-0) at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18.