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“They play without fear,” Schultz said of the brothers. “They have the heart and intensity. That’s how they’re able to play with the size they’re at.”
The Camacho brothers – Jeremy, a 5-foot-7 senior receiver and defensive back, and Elijah, a 5-5 sophomore linebacker and fullback – are a pair whose playmaking effectiveness is not significantly curtailed by their lack of size.
“I feel like everyone is the same size as me,” Elijah said. “Going all out makes me just as big as them.”
“I’m not intimidated at all,” Jeremy added.
Going into tonight’s 2A Evergreen Conference game against Chehalis at South Sound Stadium, the Hawks (2-2 overall, 0-1 EvCo) are looking to get more big plays from two of their smaller players so they can grab their first league victory against the Bearcats (3-1, 1-1).
Schultz who refered to the Camachos as the team’s “spitfire guys,” spoke about their burning desire to succeed.
“They do a lot for us out there,” Schultz said.
The Camachos aren’t the first – and likely not the last – smallish two-way starters to play for Schultz at River Ridge. Schultz knows the challenges – and advantages – of being one of the smaller players on the field.
In his collegiate playing days at Whitworth, Schultz – at 5-6 and 185 pounds – was a standout cornerback.
Growing up, the Camachos said they were always among the smallest players on their teams (both play baseball and Elijah also wrestles). Not playing football because they were too small was never an option. When they moved to Lacey from Colorado in 2006, they soon joined the Thurston County Youth Football League.
Elijah impressed Schultz right away, earning a starting position on defense last year as a freshman. As a starting outside linebacker, he recorded 58 tackles, including three for loss.
“I just come out and show it on the field,” Elijah said.
This year, Elijah, at 165 pounds, has already racked up 38 tackles through four games, including 12 in last week’s 28-13 loss to Black Hills. As the starting fullback he has gained 215 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns.
Jeremy, who weighs 150 pounds, has registered 21 tackles and two interceptions on defense, and he has six catches for 107 yards and a touchdown on offense.
Both brothers said their size has never been an issue. Instead, they said, it has made them work harder.
Two years ago, when River Ridge won the tiebreaker after the historic five-way tie with Aberdeen, Centralia, Elma and Hoquiam for one playoff spot, Jeremy’s assignment on defense was to cover an Elma receiver who towered over him by eight inches.
Jeremy took on the task with pride, and the Hawks eventually won the mini-playoff, 14-6.
“Even if (my height) is a disadvantage,” Jeremy said, “I use it to my advantage to work harder and harder every day. I’m not the fastest guy … but the way I play the game gives me the extra step.”
The Hawks look to bounce back tonight after dropping the Black Hills contest last week, when River Ridge was missing a handful of starters because of various injuries.
Whether or not River Ridge can return to the playoffs – as it did after winning the 2009 five-way tiebreaker – one thing will remain remain undeniable.
The Camachos bring big contributions to the team’s effort.
“They play like you should on a Friday night,” Schultz said.
Meg Wochnick: 360-754-5473 mwochnick@theolympian.com
