23 Oct 09
The build up for Camden's last regular season game included references to the 1965 Lions undefeated regular season record, as well as the chance to beat a larger 4A school that Camden has never played and a chance to win the 11AA District Championship. It was billed as the well-disciplined huge horde veer offense of the Red Hawks v/s the speedy and stingy Lions defensive unit in a Senior night battle. It turned into a track meet...
Coach Ward was quoted in the pregame radio show saying: "...we will be undersized, but our speed will neutralize..." as the Senior members of the band, cheerleaders, managers, trainers and team were on Wright Field with their parents and family as escorts. Special congratulations to all of the members of this class for their contribution to Lions football! The Senior Night ceremony went off without a hitch and the team captains were on the field backed by all the Senior members of the team: Maurice Whitfield, Shane Wood, Larry Jamison, Sean Flores, Cody Beal, Jackson Davidson, Michael Heck, Brian Haggard and Jacob Sharum.
The 2009 Senior team captains, Dakota Summers, Michael Gaskin, Patrick Hassell and Dee Dunlap met the Creek Wood (CW) captains and the refs; they declined and we took the football. The clock was at 12:00 and a stiff breeze blowing from the west toppled the ball off the tee twice before the CW kicker sent it spinning high, short and left where Kyle Blackburn came out of the pile with it at the CHS 32 and the District Championship game was on! Michael Gaskin gives the ball to Maurice Whitfield against the motion, and he jumps over a Red Bird for a gain of 6. Michael takes the snap from Trevor Latendresse, fakes the give to Devon slanting right and keeps to the 35, gain of 3. Maurice is caught in the backfield for a loss and with 9:50 on the Wright Field clock, Gaskin's punt is away. It's fielded at their 40 and Tyler Plant leads the stop at the CW44.
The Camden defense blows up the first play with huge pressure from Trevor Latendresse all over the CW QB plus Patrick Hassell almost has the pass interception at the sideline, incomplete, 2nd and 10. Tyler Plant bowls over the runner on the pitch to the left, they screw his helmet back on in time to call it 3rd and 7. The quick dive up the middle nets a 1st down at our 44, and a 4th and inches attempt gives them the 1st down at our 32. Their drive continues despite a false start penalty and an incompletion; 12-plays finishing with a toss sweep around left end for the TD. The kick is thru the sticks, over the net and with 4:09 left in the first quarter, Creek Wood leads 7-0.
Their kicker goes with the high left spinning kick that Derek Easley is able to field at the sideline, cuts inside and is down at the Lions 38. Motion left, Michael to Devon, White rams two ‘birds backwards for a gain of 7. Dose-o-Devon #2 behind Ethan Melton, Trevor, and Jacob Sharum and it's a 1st down at midfield! Michael rolls right, looks downfield and only sees some excellent blocking! Walks the tight rope down the sideline for a 1st down at their 38! Devon lays down a pancake lead block, Maurice cuts around right end, GO! 1st down at the 19! Devon for a short gain, then Maurice slides in behind Jordan Murphy and Blake Riley around the left side, spins off a ‘bird and has the 12 yard line. Gaskin fakes it to Devon headed left, keeps it slanting inside, big hole and has the score! The refs hear/see something at the snap, flag for defensive offsides moves us up a bit and with 45.7 seconds showing, Dee has the snap, Michael props it up just right and Tanner Hudson sends a hard spinner into the net to tie it up at 7!
Dakota Summers sticks the ball on the tee and sends a low shot bouncing over an up back so that Kyle Blackburn can team up with Kendrick Hudson at the CW34 to drop the returner. The CW back starts left, but Tyler and Blake smother him for a loss of 4. They complete a pass at the left sideline, but Blake and Derek nail him after only 3 and it's the end of the first all tied at 7. The Red Bird center is hearing voices too (like maybe, "Hike"?) and snaps the ball to no one and they cover it ‘way back at the 16-yard line, 4th and 29! The Black and Gold fix is in as the punt snap is fumbled, Tyler and Larry jump on him and the Lions will start with a 1st and goal at the 9!
Maurice runs left behind Jordan and Ethan's blocks, but he is caught by one foot at the 2! Devon slants in behind Jacob Sharum and Dakota Summers, jumps over a Red Bird, looks like he is in...waiting...waiting, finally a signal, Touchdown! The kick misses, but with 10:34 on the clock, Lions are up 13-7!
Sean and Maurice cover the return of Dakota's kick at the CW45. Blake, Sean and Tyler stop the pitch around left end after a gain of 3. The delayed dive up the middle adds four before Tyler and Blake get him stopped, 3rd and 3. Dakota has the pass play all smoked out and the QB in his sights, they complete the screen, but Patrick Hassell is there to stop that noise, 4th and 1, their punter is on the field. At the snap, a referee hears a phantom call for a timeout and charges Camden with one, even though Coach Ward never made a sound! Time out, after which the Red Birds decide to go for it on 4th. The QB sneaks and with the first at our 44, the 7-play drive cashes in with a QB keeper inside to add 6-points. Kick is good and with 7:20 left in the half, Birds lead 14-13.
Their kicker sends another high short kick on an angle, the fair catch is...well, caught and the Lions set up the offense at their 40. Devon thru the left side, bowls over a ‘bird and is down at the 46. Michael keeps around left end, is down at the sideline and a Red Bird gets there just a little TOO late, flags in the air (personal + late) and Camden has a 1st at their 40. Trae gains two before Michael fakes the inside handoff, the sweep pitch and then spots Patrick in the endzone. Pass is complete, give ‘em Six! CHS on the 2-point conversion pass, this time Blake has the left corner spotted; Michael has the ball there, complete and Blake slides in safe for two points! 5:40 left in the half and the Lions are up 21-14!
Creek Wood assembles an 11-play scoring drive that ends with a pitch around left end and cut-back to score. Kick is good and only 45.9 seconds left before the break with a tied game.
Patrick fields the kick at the 20 and drives it on out to the 34. Devon has some great blocks up the middle and blasts out for almost ten. No wait, refs measure it, 1st down! 18 seconds left, pitch is to Maurice and he is gone down the left sideline and out of bounds at the CW47. 8.5 seconds showing, Michael makes a ‘bird miss in the backfield and fires it to Trae at the 5 yard line. Ref signals complete, then everybody walks off the field for half time as the clock ticks to 3-naughts, it's 21-all in the District 11AA Championship.
The Camden band follows the visitors and under the field direction of Michaela Gibbons presented their complete 2009 Marching Show "Our Space". Starting with The Theme to 2001 Space Odyssey, rolling thru "Mars", "Jupiter", and "Reflections of Earth" rocked the home stands for their best performance of the year! Congratulations to Mr. Michael Nelson, all of the members of the Camden Central High School Marching Band for their hard work this year and great show!
The rain peppered down just a little harder than comfortable as Dakota kicked it with the steady breeze behind him, its shoe top high, deep and they return it to the CS42 before we get him on the ground. The Lions defense blinks and after a QB keeper for five, a run up the middle goes the distance. Kick is good and with 10:47 on the clock, Creek Wood leads 28-21.
Patrick Hassell answers with a kick return from the 15 all the way over to the CW47, great blocking, big run! The Red Bird defense grabs another gear and our drive grinds to a halt, 4th and 11. Michael's booming punt is away, but the CW returner blinks...and Cody Beal comes out of the stack with the football! Lions offense is alive at the 13 yard line! Official time out to let the injured returner get off the field before Michael keeps around left end, cuts inside and is down...add a flag for another late hit and the Lions are in business with a first down at the 2-yard line! Line it up, time out CHS. Go again, Trae in motion, but Devon bangs into the endzone off of Trevor's left hip! Tanner Hudson splits the stix and with 7:55 left in the 3rd, it's tied at 28!
CW starts at midfield and mounts an 11-play score ending with a sweep around left end. Kick is a ‘tweener and 2:27 on the 3rd quarter clock has them up 35-28.
Their kick just barely rolls into the endzone and the Lions are starting at the 20. A holding flag starts this series off wrong and the drive stalls with 1:20 left in the 3rd, Michael sends the kick to no one deep and CW will start at their 40. Dakota knifes thru and just misses in the backfield, but Blake and Kyle finish outside at the 38, gain of 2. Delay over right tackle is met by Dakota, Tyler and Blake, 3rd and 3. End of the quarter and the Lions have 12 minutes left to play. Their QB rolls right looking downfield, but Dakota has him sacked, 4th and 3. They line it up, look it over, time out CW. They are going for it, the slant pattern is there and they have a 1st at our 23. Their drive has new life and the 11th play scores in spite of a holding call and a fumbled snap! The CW QB keeps and scores with 8:25 left in the game. Kick is good and the Wright Field scoreboard is spinning up to show a 42-28 score.
They are kicking into the wind and Cody Beal has the fair catch at our 30. Gaskin keeps around right end, makes one CW tackler miss and he dives forward for the 1st at our 43! The double handoff works with Trae tacking on 9 at the CW48! Gaskin starts right, nope, try left, cuts down the left side line and is tripped up at the 2! Great run! Gaskin gives to Devon, he stands up one ‘bird and pushes him back for the score! 6:41 left to play and the Lions are down by 7, 42-35.
Dakota's kick is a do-over with a offside flag, go again from the 35. It's sent deep, Sean and Devon make him go sideways so that Cody can drop him at the 34. The ‘birds QB keeps around left end, but Kendrick Hudson fights thru a block to tackle him after 8. A horde of Lions stops a run to the right for no gain. Sean and Cody Robin nail the pitch man around left end for a loss of one, time out Lions. The CW punt is away and the refs add a clipping flag to give us the 1st at the 25. Maurice slants left, cuts inside for five. Michael rolls out looking to throw, but runs the right side line for a 1st down at the 40! Devon has the delayed hand off for a short gain, but a delay of game call moves us back 5. The ‘birds surround Gaskin for the sack at the 24 and it's 2nd and 27...or so. An incomplete long pass and an incomplete screen lead to a CHS time out with 2:04 left. We are going for it, Michael keeps and runs up the middle, but is stopped at the 33 yard line and the ball goes over on downs. The Red Birds do the classy thing and take three negative plays to run out the clock and it's all over, Creek Wood 42, Camden 35.
Some stats of interest:
First downs (#): CHS-9, CW-18Rushing (att/yards): CHS-34/188, CW-47/216
Passing (comp/att/yards/int): CHS-2/6/41/0, CW-11/15/107/0
Fumbles (#/lost): CHS-1/0, CW-4/1
Penalties (#/yards): CHS-4/30, CW-5/53
Passing Leader: Michael Gaskin - 2 of 6 for 41 yards
Rushing Leader: Michael Gaskin - 12 carries for 96 yards
Receiving Leader: Patrick Hassell – 1 reception for 38 yards
Leading Tacklers
Tyler Plant – 19 total, 1 solo
Kyle Blackburn – 15 total, 1 solo, 1 fumble recovery
Blake Riley – 11 total, 1 solo, 1 for loss
Larry Jamison – 10 total
Talking with Head Coach Kevin Ward after the game:
"Just not very happy right now, except for the fact that we didn't get anyone hurt, no injuries. We lost to a good football team. Their coaches do a great job with their kids, getting them into positions to make plays, they sure did it better than we did and I take all full responsibilities for that. We will tear this game tape apart, see what we can do different, how we can improve over the next two weeks to get ready for the play offs."
On the "surprise" high scoring-up and down the field-pace of the game:"Coming in, we never thought it would be like this! We thought maybe a 21-14 type game...especially since both defenses were playing well. Talking with their defensive coordinator, of course, he's not happy with his teams effort. Same with Coach McDowell. We have to make sure we fix it. Creek Wood played one of their best games offensively and we did not deliver one of our best defensive games. Creek Wood plays smash-mouth football, likes to be physical, use their speed and tackle pretty well. They are very comparable with McKenzie, Westview, Huntingdon, all of those teams."
On the "phantom" time out call:
"No, I didn't call a time out. One of my coaches was on the sideline and turned to ask another coach if we SHOULD call a time out and the ref thought he said "Time out". Obviously, only I am allowed to call a time out! The ref missed that call and it gave Creek Wood time to think it over and they ended up going for it and going on to score right there. But as I have said many times, that call didn't beat us. Creek Wood made more plays than we did and that's why they won."
On the regular season 9-1 record:"A lot of coaches would love to have it! It's a great year, but I am not satisfied with it! I want a 15-0 year and so do my coaches and these players! I am very proud of our record. But I am upset that we lost this game and didn't win a District Championship...but people remember you by what you do in the playoffs. That season is just starting! Our kids are not going to be satisfied with being one-and-done. They are going to work their tails off the next week and a half to get ready for the next game!"
On the schedule for the next week (open date) and the week before the 1st home playoff game:
"I am not sure what all we will get in to. We will use this 2-week stretch to get over this loss. We hope this game will be a distant memory for the kickoff to the playoff game. Our coaches will scout next Friday night, try to guess who we might be playing and go watch them. Make some phone calls and set up times to swap tape. On Saturday morning we will know who we are playing, we will get a game plan together and do our best to have the team ready to play!"
On the packed stands and playoff atmosphere on Senior Night:"It was super! I am very lucky to coach in a town where people love their football team! For everyone to come out and support these Senior's on their night was amazing! I hope they will come back out for the playoff game."
Let's all mark our calendars for Friday night, November 6th at Wright Field...opponent TO BE DETERMINED! The Lions have fought their way to a home playoff game, it's time for all of the Lions fans to be there early and be loud to support this team in their second season!
GO LIONS!
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