On Parallel Courses, Bend and Camas Seek Oregon Title

05.16.2026HS Boys

Bend was just one point different from Camas through the entire league season.

Author: Alex Goff

It seemed like these two teams were destined to play for the Rugby Oregon boys HS championship.

Camas, back into Oregon after a short foray into competing in Washington (which is the state where the town of Camas is located), played the Bend Blues in the opening weekend of the season and the two teams tied 20-20.

Bend ran out to a 20-7 lead in that game, and Camas had to come back. They did, playing what Head Coach Richard McLeod called 20 minutes of decent rugby, and that was enough for a tie. But both teams feel like they can bring something better on Saturday.

"We weren't really surprised that Bend was a challenge," McLeod told GRR. "We feel that we're in a bit of a rebuilding phase as we've had some strong classes but overall we're quite an inexperienced side."

After the game, McLeod told Bend head coach Jason Gillam, "we'll see each other again in May," and he was right.

After that game, Camas outscored opponents 273-116 (game winning margins are capped at 35) in winning out in league play and taking their semifinal 54-40 over Beaverton. Bend outscored teams 243-94, including a tough 24-17 semifinal against Bend-area rivals Summit HS.

"We have a lot of kids that are extremely good tacklers," said Gillam. "The best attribute we have is team defense. We don’t always make every tackle but we make the last tackle—the kids are willing to chase the ball and make that tackle."

It's not just that tie that keeps the teams close. Going into the final league match either team could have been #1 or #2. In the end, Camas finished with a +143 and Bend a +142. So, no, there's not much between them.

And the competition is bringing players in.

"When we started out we had 14 or 15 kids," said Gillam. "Last year we had 23, and this year we have 40. With the success we've had and the players going on to play in college, we're growing. And we have good players top to bottom."

For Camas, playing in Washington was good for them competitively, but the travel (their closest opponent was 90 minutes away and Chuckanut was more than four hours away) was a killer. The top side could handle it, but it was tough on the younger sides.

"We've come back to Oregon just as the competition is getting stronger. So it was a good thing to move to Washington and it's good to move back," said McLeod. "What we do is we get some good athletes and we want those guys to be athletic, running well and being physical. Then we teach them rugby."

Add to that a successful winter flag program and they, too, are growing.

So this might be a battle of programs, but just one 15 against another.

Of course, there are star players.

"This is a very big day for those kids," said Gillam. Nichols College commits Braven Peiler and Cody Cavert, scrumhalf and prop, respectively, have been outstanding. Jettson Gillam, who is a 6-4 forward who is very quick over the ball, and Miles Schuller, who is taller and bigger and quite imposing, are part of a team that defends until the end and never gives up on a play.

"Last year lost by two points and we learned a tremendous amount about competing for the entire match," said Gillam. "We know we’ve got to play for 70 minutes, and maybe 90 minutes, and we’re ready to do that."

For Camas, Carlos del Puerto has become a leader with his voice and by example. No. 8 Caden Reinebach, who helped EIRA win at the Vancouver 7s, is hugely difficult to contain. He's complemented by Akex Hroza, a talented football player who is a hard hitter and tackler.

"It should," said McLeod, "be a great match."

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