Parsons beats Camden 30-13 at Wright Field
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The Camden Lions met the Parsons Panthers at Wright Field Friday night for a game against a regional opponent. Both teams had identical overall and regional records, but the Panthers won, 30-13 in a hard hitting game on both sides of the ball. It was Senior Night for the Lions, and the Camden High School Student Council was on the field for a pre-game ceremony that honored the senior football players, managers, cheerleaders, and band members as well as their parents. Click HERE for a link to more pictures of the event.

The Lions kicked off to Parsons, and Jeremy Harris’ kick caused the returner to step out at the 20. The Lions defense started with a big hit on the running back by Jeremy Harris and Tim Moss after a pick up of 3. The second down play went to the left, and Tim and Jack Leonard, met it, 3rd and 1. The Panther hard count pulled us off sides, and that gave them a new set of downs at the 35. On the next 3rd and 1, the ball was pitched left, but Jason Kennon slowed him so that Nathan Leonard and Jeremy Harris could finish him off right at the first down marker. The measurement said first down by ½”, and on the next play Parsons scored. The kick was no good, and with 8:40 left in the quarter, it was Panthers 6, Lions 0.

Ryne Haynie took the Parsons kickoff at the 20 and slammed the ball down at the 28, where Camden would start, 1st and 10. Jeremy Harris ran the first two plays thru the middle to make it 3rd and 4. Nathan Leonard went in motion, and Ross Lumpkin hit Ryne Haynie on the right sideline for a first down at the 44! Two running plays and an incomplete pass later, Ben Tinkle turned the field around with a punt that rolled out of bounds at their 26.

The Panthers back ran thru the right side for a big gain before Ben Tinkle and Daniel Woodall stopped him. Jonathan Holland and Jeremy Harris stopped a running play thru the middle to make it 2nd and 5. The next Panther play started with a fake to the left, and then a hand off right…but Jonathan and Jason Kennon were not amused and dropped the runner for a loss of 4. The middle screen was complete, but way too short, and the Panthers punted. WE are still looking for the ball! One hop & over the fence!

Camden’s offensive series stalled, and Parsons started at their 47. They threw the deep out left, and after an interference call it was Panthers first down at our 16. Nathan Leonard rode the ball carrier down as he made the cut at right end for 2nd and 4. Will Prince led the charge to tackle the runner as he started over the middle, and it was first down at the 2. The Panthers scored over their left tackle, and the two-point conversion failed on a fumbled pitch. With 16.3 seconds showing in the first, it was Parsons 12, Camden 0.

Ryne Haynie grabbed the kickoff and sprinted to our 32. Camden was then penalized 5 yards due to a disappearing mark on the football. The Zebra’s said that the ball we had put into play was not one of the “pre-approved” balls that bears a red mark the refs put on them before the game. But, they couldn’t take the penalty back later, when Jimmy Lumpkin showed the ref the mark on the sideline…Ryne carried the ball around right end for a pickup of 2, and the quarter was over.

Ross Lumpkin took the snap from Jonathan Holland & faked the hand off to Ryne Haynie that had started in motion. A look to the left, then Ross thew to Ryne who crashed the right sideline for a first down at the 44! Jeremy Harris busted the middle for a pick up of 4 tough yards. Nathan Leonard sprinted around left end & was finally stopped at mid field. The Panthers intercepted Ross’s attempted pass to Ryne Haynie, which stopped a Lion drive. The Panthers took the ball on a nine play scoring drive. They missed the extra point by a mile, and with 5:35 showing, it was Panthers 18, Lions 0.

Nathan Leonard scooped a low skipping kick, and floored it as he ran by a bunch of Panthers before stopping at their 40 yard line. Ross Lumpkin threw a fade that just missed to Will Prince. Jeremy Harris busted left tackle for a pick up of 3. Ross rolled right and threw a strike to Ryne Haynie, and Ryne did a flip just as he was hit in front of the Lions bench…all for a first down! Nathan Leonard took the hand off, cut left, ran hard and picked up 5 before he was stopped at their 36. Ryne Haynie carried around right end, was hit and sitting on the ground before the ball came out…but the ref’s saw it different & gave the Panthers the ball at their 31. This started a five play Parsons scoring drive that made it 24-0 after the two-point conversion attempt fell incomplete.

With 1:34 left in the half, Ryne Haynie took the kick at the 20 and was dropped at the 28, where Camden started the series. Nathan Leonard took the hand off and sprinted around left end for a pick up of 5. A pass intended for Jeremy Harris fell incomplete, but a face mask penalty by Parson’s made it first down Lions at our 39. A long pass was intercepted by the Panthers, and it was first down at their 31 with 52.3 seconds left in the half. It’s said that a Panther can’t change her spots…and they ran & passed their way to score with 2.1 seconds left in the half. After missing another ugly kick, it was Panthers up 30 - 0 at the half.



Both bands played at the half, and the CJH Lions were honored. The Camden Junior High football team was undefeated in the regular season and beat Beaver Middle School in the Benton County Sorghum Bowl, 31 - 12. The players, cheerleaders, managers, and ball handlers were all on the field at half time for a standing ovation! Congratulations to Head Coach Tom Cate, Coach Stacey Baker, Coach Marty Young, and all of those that helped make this special season possible.










The Parson’s short kick was recovered by the Panthers for a first down at our 31. The Lions defense turned up the heat on first down, and Ben Tinkle, Jonathan Holland, Nathan Leonard, and Daniel Woodall met the runner as he picked up one. When they tried the left side, Jason Kennon and Brandon Smith lead the charge for a stop after a pickup of 2 to make it 3rd and 7 at the 27. The runner was slowed in the backfield, but still managed to pick up two before Jason Kennon and Daniel Woodall slammed him down. With 4th and 5, the Panther QB was sacked in the backfield by Brandon Smith to make it first down Lions at the 35!

Jeremy Harris picked up one, and Nathan Leonard took the inside hand off for a gain of two. Greg Pierpoint was tackled as he went for Ross’s third down pass, but the ref’s missed it all, no flag. On 4th down, the Lions went for the fake punt, but the Panthers had Ben Tinkle scrambling, and his pass fell incomplete.

Jason Kennon and Jonathan Holland combined for a loss of one on the first down run over the middle. Jason nailed the QB as he threw the 2nd down pass incomplete. A big gain was negated by a holding penalty, and with 4th and 13, the Panthers lined up to punt. The ref felt like a Lion had hit the punter, so the roughing penalty gave them a first down at the 28. A pitch left was all smoked out by the Lions, and the runner was slowed by Jason Kennon and finished by Ryne Haynie for a BIG stop & loss of 10.

The Panthers came right back with a pickup of 28 after being stopped twice and it was first down at the 11. With 5:50 on the third quarter clock, Brandon Smith caused the runner to touch his knee as he cut, and it was second down. Brandon met with Jason Kennon & Jonathan Holland to stop a run over right guard, 3rd & 9. Jason grabbed the runner and Jeremy Harris drilled him after only 3 yards, and the Panthers lined up for a field goal attempt. Hmmm….missed how many kicks already? It was no good, and the Lions started at the 20.

The Lions offense came out determined to score & started a 15-play drive that took over 6½ minutes off the clock. Harris hit a hole over right guard for a pickup of 2. Lumpkin rolled right and threw to Prince, but the pass was incomplete. A late hit on Ross and an EARLY hit on Will gave the Lions a first down at our 37. Jeremy Harris zipped thru the line on the quick hitter for a first down at their 44. Nathan Leonard blasted for one. Harris runs thru a hole in the right side of the line for 6, 3rd & 3. Jeremy took the hand off from Lumpkin and carries two defenders with him for the first down!

The first down play started with motion right, Harris took the ball from Lumpkin and ducked in behind the motion thru left tackle for a pickup of 5. Nathan Leonard ran over right guard for 3, and at the end of the third, the Lions were rolling.

With 3rd & 2 at their 27 Ross’s hard count got ‘em, and the offside penalty made it first down! The double hand off from Haynie to Leonard went for 2. Ross Lumpkin kept on the bootleg, and a personal foul was tacked on to make it first down at the 8. The Lions wishbone went left, and Lumpkin’s pitch to Ryne Haynie was perfectly timed for a pick up of 4. An alleged holding penalty moved the ball back to the 16, where it was first and goal. Ross Lumpkin lined ‘em up, and threw to Ryne Haynie for a short gain, but a late hit on Ross got one Panther sent to the showers, and it was Camden’s ball, first down at the two. The Lions offensive line grunted hard and Nathan Leonard saw a huge hole open, and he scored! The extra point attempt failed on a bad snap, and with 9:39 showing it was Parson’s 30, Camden 6.

The Lions wanted more, and the defense answered the call. The Panthers grabbed the Lions onside kick attempt, and started at their 49. Jason Kennon snagged a runner’s foot and Nathan sat on him at mid field. Andrew Ragsdale and Brandon Smith stopped a runner after enough for a first down at our 40. Andrew led Jack Leonard and a HOST of Lions on a stop after a pick up of 2. A pitch to the tailback was met by Daniel Woodall and Jeremy Harris for a huge hit to make it 3rd and 5 at our 35. A run over left guard resulted in a first down, but when the QB rolled right, Andrew Ragsdale, Will Prince, and Jason Kennon sacked him for a loss of 2. A delay of game penalty made it 2nd and 17. Andrew Ragsdale led Jason Kennon and Tim Moss to the ball carrier after a pick up of 3. A throw into the left flat ended up in Nathan Leonard’s hands, and he carried it back to their 40, where it was Lions first down!

The Lions offense never got lined out, and the 4th down pass fell incomplete. The defense came out determined to make a stop, and three plays later, it was 4th and 13 with 2:11 left in the game. Head Coach David Fisher called a time out, and all the senior players were allowed to leave the field as the appreciative audience applauded them & the contribution they had made to the program.

Parson’s decision to go for it on 4th down proved a mistake, and as the QB rolled out, Shane Corbitt sacked him for a big loss. Lion’s ball, first down at their 45!

Nathan Leonard must have rested some, because he found another gear when he took the hand off from Lumpkin. He started right, cut left, and slanted towards the goal to score! Jeremy Harris lined it up, Jonathan Holland snapped it, Ross Lumpkin held it, and the kick was good. The Panthers grabbed the onside kick attempt, and ran over left guard where Blake Carson and Justin Taylor combined for the tackle. Jeremy Stokes and Shane Corbitt met a run around left end as time ran out, and the final score remained Parsons 30, Camden 13.

Talking with Head Coach David Fisher after the game about the loss to the Parson’s Panthers: “ I had a lot of those young men from Riverside in my 7th and 8th grade PE class, and one of the linebacker’s Dad & I played together on the first team to ever make the state playoffs, and the only one to ever make it to the second round, so there are a lot of ties there & I wanted the game as much as anyone. We had some turnovers in the first half that hurt us, but I think we came out a played a great second half, especially on the defensive side of the ball. We have got to come out and put a whole game together.”

On preparing for the Parson’s running back: “I was telling Johnathan Hayes before the game, everybody will have to prepare for him the same way we prepared for Webster. You just have to gear up to play someone like that. He does some things that we don’t get to see in practice, and he definitely is the best running back we have seen all year. That’s why schools like Notre Dame, Michigan, and UT are talking to him about where he will be playing next year.”

On the change in our team after the half: “We challenged them at half time, and asked if they were going to move this program forward or what our direction would be. We challenged the Juniors to step up and show us what they were about. I was proud of their effort, and even though we still have a game next week at Harpeth, I am looking forward to next year.”

About injuries: “Tim Moss has a sprained ankle, and other than a lot of bumps and bruises after a very physical ball game, we will see if any serious injuries are reported at Monday’s practice.”

About the team’s attitude after a tough region loss: “ They seem to be pleased with the second half effort, disappointed with the way they played in the first half. They see the opportunity to improve some things, and hopefully, this is a growing experience. The majority of our team is coming back, and we can learn how to prepare for big games and win them. We’ve got a lot of work to do and more football to play. We have to get a lot stronger and faster to play against some teams, once again, the speed factor was against us.”

On next Friday’s 7 PM state playoff game against Harpeth: “ They are a fine football team, and a lot of people have them predicted to play and win the Blue Cross Bowl. Matthew Tant (running back) has already committed to Vanderbilt, and he is a Mr. Football finalist in Tennessee. They are very big and strong, and get in a smokestack I and run right at you. Their offensive line averages 250, and we went over there last year and just got worn down in the second half. The only win that Camden has had in the playoffs was when we were #4, and beat a #1, so we will change some things up and get some offense generated, and fight to bring back a win. Tickets are $6, and they are available at the gate. It is at the Kingston Springs exit, cross over the Interstate, first red light take a right, and it is about 2 miles. You can actually see it from I-40. We need to have a big crowd to get behind these young men and travel to the game. We are excited about being in the playoffs and finishing with a winning season. We have been beat by some good football teams, but we have also beaten everyone we should have. Maybe we have an upset left in this football season.”

Camden Motor Parts and Bearing Offensive Player of the Game Award Winner: Ryne Haynie

Camden Motor Parts and Bearing Defensive Player of the Game Award Winner: Jonathan Holland

Wendy’s Big Classic Play of the Game Award: Nathan Leonard

Last Monday, Camden Quarterback Club Game Ball was given to Tim Moss for his performance in the Gleason win.

Photos furnished by Tony Dillon


Additional Photo Highlights


VIDEO CLIPS - furnished by Sharon Harris

Clip 1 - Watch the Lions race thru the Spirit Line Banner and out the tunnel onto the field - (file size - 682564)