The Camden Lions were eliminated from the TSSAA State 3A Playoffs at Milan dropping a 3rd Round road game 42-7. After a competitive first half, the Bulldogs proved they were worth their #2 seed ranking and closed out the 2009 Black and Gold season.
The Lions spotted the 'dawgs a score on a blocked punt on our first offensive series deep in our end of the field and with 9:57 to play in the first quarter the Lions trailed 7-0. After the touchback on the kickoff, the Lions started at the 20 and put together a 10-play offensive series with first down runs by Derek Easley and Devon White. The Lions punt was downed at the Milan 35.
Milan started with a run around left end, but Blake Riley dropped him, flag, holding on the purple team and it was 1st and 25 at their 27. Trevor Latendresse teams with Jordan Murphy for a stop up the middle after a gain of 2. Tyler Plant leads the stop on the run around left end, 3rd and 12. The Lions front four have huge QB pressure, the flair pass falls incomplete and the Milan punter is at work for the first time in a few ball games! Patrick Hassell fields it, runs left and is down at the 36.
Devon runs the dive left for a short gain. Derek rolls left and spots Blake Riley running free on the slant, complete and Lions first down at the Milan 43. Maurice is surrounded in the backfield and fights back to the line. A fumble gives Milan the ball at their 47 and the Lions defense is back at work.
Kyle Blackburn stops the run around left end after a gain of one. Tyler and Larry Jamison drill the pass receiver at our 45, 3rd and 2, end of the first quarter. Dakota Summers teams with Jordan to stop a run up the middle, 4th and 1 and the 'dawgs are going for it. They run at the right tackle slot, Blake and LJ meet him in the hole, but they get the first. Kyle stretches for the pass breakup, incomplete, 2nd and 10. Their QB keeps on the delay run right, but Blake center punches him after a gain of 2. A long pass down the right sideline is incomplete and the 'dawgs are punting again. It's downed 'way back at our 6 and the offense is starting in a hole.
Runs by Devon and Maurice are stuffed short and our punt is fair caught at our 37 with 7:58 left to play in the half. They jump before the snap, back 'em up 5 to the 42, 1st and 15. They jump again, 5 more the other way. The Camden fans crank up the noise, the 'dawgs move again! A long pass is over the receiver's head down the right sideline, 2nd and 25. Their featured back starts right, but Dakota hammers him back to the 50. A long pass is complete to the 27, 1st down. Jordan stops a run into the right tackle slot after only one. An incomplete pass moves it to 3rd and 9 at our 26. Blake and Trevor apply some huge pressure to the drop-back purple QB, incomplete. Their place kicker misses the left stick and the score remains 7-0 Milan with 5:54 left in the 1st.
The Camden defense starts at the 20 and can't get the first, the punt is downed at our 45, Milan ball. They string together a 8-play scoring drive that takes the clock down to 58.5 seconds; extra point kick is good and Milan leads 14-0.
Kendrick Hudson returns the kick down the left sideline to the 21, first down Lions. Kendrick around right end, adds a cut and a stiff arm, gain of 6. Devon into the left side of the line to the 30+, 3rd and a foot. Maurice slants into the line for a 1st down at the 32, but the clock runs out to end the half with the Lions trailing by two scores.
A revitalized Milan offense comes out in the 2nd half and scores the next four times they have the ball and with 3:30 left in the 3rd quarter, the mercy rule has the clock running and a lot of the Milan starters on the sideline. Maurice scores on a run with 8:30 left in the game; Tanner Hudson's extra point kick is good, but Milan answers with a 5-play score on a run from our 44 to move the clock again and post the final score of 42-7.
Some stats of interest:
Rushing: CHS 42 for 168 yards; M 31 for 196 yards
Passing: CHS 1 compl on 5 att for 21 yards; M 6 compl on 12 att for 107 yards
Penalties: CHS 3 for 20 yards; N 6 for 40
CHS TOP: 29:04
CHS Leading rusher: Maurice Whitfield 16 for 90 yards
CHS Leading tacklers:
Tyler Plant – 11 total
Kyle Blackburn – 9 total, 1 batted pass
Dakota Summers – 8 total, 1 solo
Larry Jamison – 7 total, 1 tackle for loss
Talking with Head Football Coach Kevin Ward after the game:"Great year, 11-2, outstanding really, even though we all feel bad right now. This year is outstanding, especially when we thought this would be a rebuilding year. We ran into a buzz saw tonight, but I wish we hadn't have helped them out as much as we did. I thought we played well defensively, but the offense just kept putting them in a hole, made them play on a short field all night long. The few times we did get the defense in a good position, they made stops. It just seemed like we were out of sync all night. I don't know if the team was big eyed or what, but we just weren't ready for this tonight. I think a lot of it had to do with Michael not being able to play. Wish Milan the best and hope they can win it all. What a super crowd! Just about as good as it gets, I think! I just wish we could have performed a little better and made it an exciting game."
On the halftime:
"Even though we were down 14, I felt like we were in it. We had given up some big field position advantages to them, maybe worth another couple scores and held them out, so I thought maybe our offense could get going. We made some small changes on our blocking schemes to counter some things they were doing on the tight end side, but no major changes. Our lack of blocking didn't really allow the changes to show..."
On the success of the Seniors:"Just can't say enough good about them! Some have been here four years, some just one. Each and every one has been a major part of our program. This group has won a lot of games throughout their playing careers: three region championships, a runner up, that's not too bad. Hopefully, they will get away from the disappointment of this loss and be able to look back and really appreciate all that they accomplished. They have been easy to coach, well behaved, made it important, always on time, just right to the outline that you would draw up for your Senior class to be! Never a problem, always supporting each other, I am just proud to be their coach!"
On the look for the future:
"We have a lot of people coming back next year, we are glad where we ended up. We will assess the year as well as this game and figure out what we have to improve next year. I am very proud of this team and what they were able to accomplish this season. We have a three week dead period, we will then be able to get in the weight room just before Christmas break. We will do some testing, try to get a bench line on where we are at and set some goals for where we want to go. We will probably have spring practice late like we did last year. I think the banquet is set for Monday, December 14th. Michael and Dakota were selected to play in an All-Star game December 12th at Carson-Newman College. I am proud of this coaching staff, how much time and effort they put into it. We all put in a lot of time for it to end like this; this team and my coaches are all hurting right now, but I know we have some good blocks to build on."
Congratulations to the team and staff for an excellent season!
GO LIONS!
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