18 Sept 09
There were undefeated Rebels waiting on undefeated Lions in Dover. Was there a District 11AA bushwhack waiting for the Black & Gold amidst the wild & wooly road construction east of town? Did the Stewart County Confederates have a plan to stop Michael, handcuff Dakota and keep Kyle in chains? Was the 3rd Friday in September going to postpone Coach Kevin Ward's bid to set a new victory record for a Camden Head Football Coach? You've just gotta' read on...
The Camden Lions loaded up their undefeated 2009 record & ran headlong into the 4-0 Stewart County Rebels in Dover. The field looked a bit distressed as the team captains met to flip it, SC won & deferred until the 2nd half. Derek Easley & Patrick Hassell were deep to receive; Derek gets the high spinner & runs it up the middle to the Lions 47, first down Camden! Michael Gaskin starts it out with the home run ball deep downfield for Hassell, just barely drops incomplete. Maurice Whitfield slants inside to the right, but is hit after only one. Gaskin rolls left & spots Derek wide open at the 16, it's a catch & the Lions are knocking on the door, time out Lions! Patrick on the toss sweep around the left corner for 4. Devon White blasts into the line for a gain of one, 3rd & 6. Gaskin rolls left & keeps for a short gain, holding flag is declined, 4th & 6 and the Lions are going for it! Maurice takes the ball around left end, finds a seam & has the first down inside of the one! Gaskin behind Jacob Sharum, Trevor Latendresse, & Marcus Nobles and it's a score! The kick just misses, but with 8:23 left on the 1st quarter clock the Lions lead, 6-0! Great start offense!
Dakota hammers the ball down to the 10 & a Rebel runs to the 30 before Kyle Blackburn & Devon combine to put a squash on him. Run to the right is met by Tyler Plant who spins him down, the ref's add five for a reason unknown to the visiting fans & it's 1st & 5. No huddle offense is the SC plan, and a quick short pass right is met first by Blake Riley with Trae White finishing, 2nd & 4. A quick screen left goes for a 1st down at the SC 44, but a motion flag before the next snap moves them back 5. Kyle, Dakota, & Larry Jamison combine for no gain on the run left, 2nd & 15. Trae has the pass covered, incomplete. Tyler makes a stop at the 33 after a gain of 6. A dive over left tackle gets them the first at the 24 & the defense needs a stop. Blake & Kyle throw a runner down after only 3. The Rebel QB keeps into the left of the line for a 1st before LJ drops him, 1st down at the 10. QB keeps again, the ball is slinging around like a loaf of Bunny's finest & Dakota has the fumble recovery! Lions ball at their own 9!
How 'bout adding a dose of Devon? He slides in behind Dakota, Murphy & Nobles for a gain of 5. A 2nd Devon Dose, same place for a gain of one. Michael sells the fake handoff to Devon, then gives to Maurice around left end & he has the 1st down at the 20, 2:05 left in the 1st. Gaskin uses the 360 spin handoff to Devon as he slants toward right end, adds a cut and is in their backfield down to the CHS 33!
Maurice behind John Yarbro & Michael Heck for a gain of 3. Derek follows the blocks of Maurice and Jacob Sharum, adds some speed & is down at the SC 44...and the Rebs want a time out to think about it. We jump, back it up 5. The 2nd hand off goes to Maurice slanting into the left side, thru the gap, runs over a Stars & Bars guy & has a 1st down at the 27! Michael rolls right, nothing open downfield, gets the sideline & sprints for a gain of 8. Devon behind Michael Heck, punishes the pile & has a 1st down at the 15! Maurice starts the 2nd quarter with a dive inside for a gain of one. Devon has the right corner on the sweep, makes a rebel miss & dives for a 1st down at the 1 yard line! The 12th play of the drive has Gaskin sneaking in for the score behind his lineman, give him six! The Lions go for the two point conversion, but Devon is stuffed & smothered with Rebels and the score is 12-0 with 10:49 left before the break.
Dakota sends a head high spinner down the middle and Devon teams with Maurice to drop the Reb returner at their 37. The Rebels no-huddle includes 14 shifts & 13 repositions before they sweep left end. Blake Riley drops him after a gain of 5. Their drive continues to our 41 where the 7th play has Dakota nailing the QB at the pitch, big pile & a flag for a block in the back moves them back to the 50, 1st down & a mile. They hand it to the runner, he pulls up & throws it deep right...right where Michael is playing center field! Intercepted at the 20!
The Lions offense is cranking & starts with a Devon White Bruiser Special: Slant into left end & run OVER three Rebel would-be-tacklers! First down at the 30. A pass into the right flat just misses incomplete. Derek for a gain of one. Gaskin keeps running around right end, has the corner & finds the right sideline...gone. 68 yards later, he kicks the right pylon as he is tackled at the goal line. The trailing ref marks it at the one foot line...really. Gaskin on the sneak behind his offensive line for his score one play later! Maurice has the sweep headed to the left pylon on the 2-point conversion & with 5:40 left in the 2nd, it's Lions 20, Rebels 0.
Dakota's kick bounces off of an up man & they fall on it at the SC46. The Lions defense (plus a penalty and two incompletions) stop the Rebs & with 3:57 on the 2nd quarter clock, Hassell signals for the fair catch at the CHS 38.
Maurice dives in behind Sharum & Heck for a gain of 2. Gaskin takes the snap from Latendresse, spots Easley open at the right sideline & it's complete. Derek makes two Rebs collide & is gone for the score! Lions going for two, Maurice in motion right, has the handoff & scores! 2:58 left in the half Lions 28, Rebels 0.
Dakota has his leg warmed up & kills the kick directly into an SC up man...and we watch as it bounces directly back to Tyler Plant at our 48! Camden ball! The Lions offense can't capitalize with an illegal procedure flag & and incompletion, time out Lions. Michael Gaskin punts it away to the 21 where Dakota Summers makes sure it is a FAIR catch.
Camden's defense mounts a three and out & with 55 seconds on the clock, Patrick watches them down it at our 33. Devon carries for 5 is followed by a timeout and a long incompletion before Maurice runs around right end to the 40 and the halftime horn sounds with the Lions 'way up, 28-0.
The speedy halftime (only one band performed) had Dakota back out on the field & he sends a low knuckle ball deep down the middle of the field. Devon, Tyler, and Cody Beal drop the returner at their 37. Cody Robin stuffs the QB keeper after a gain of 5. Murf & Dakota stomp him down on the next carry after only one. They try a screen to the right, but Blake Riley runs him down short of the first & SC sends a punt short and right, down it at our 29.
The Lions offense can't get its claws into the hard SC turf & three plays later, Gaskin punts it 'way over the returner's head to their 29. The field must be too hard for Rebs as well; 3 plays later with big hits by LJ & Plant PLUS a defensive offsides & a big pass rush by Murf...they are punting it back. SC roll & they down it at our 31.
Derek carries around right end, only one to beat, gain of 2. Devon slanting inside, adds a cut & knocks two Rebels backwards, first down at our 46. Derek runs right & finds it is a Sons of the Confederacy Convention, but a late hit out of bounds at the 42 makes it a Lions first down at the Stewart 44! Derek again, has the right sideline, but a horse collar tackle adds some mileage, Lions first down at the SC14. Trae White starts left, surrounded, loss of 5. Maurice takes the pitch right, no gain. Gaskin rolls left & has Riley slanting into the left corner of the endzone. Small moving target over the defenders shoulder, on the run, but Michael nails the pass, Blake has the catch & the Lions have six! Great pass & grab! Dee Dunlap has the snap, Michael sets it up & Tanner Hudson nails the kick & with 2:42 left in the third, Lions lead 35-0.
Dakota sends a high spinner deep right, but the returner walks the right sideline out to the 34. The Rebels are able to string together a 13-play scoring drive that straddles the 4th quarter start. A roughing the punter flag keeps the drive alive & it ends with a pass completion for the score. Their kick misses & with 6:55 left in the game, the final score of 35-6 is on the board.
Camden has the "Good Hands Team" up front just in case, but the Reb kick goes deep to Travis Capps on one hop & he makes it out to the 27-yard line. The Lions drive is 8-plays with two holding calls added. With 33 seconds left, Lions take a time out. Michael punts it away & Kyle Blackburn drills the returner into the dust at the SC31. The last play of the game is an SC QB keeper with Kyle & Cody stopping him at the line. The three zero's on the board put it into the books, Camden 35, Stewart County 6.
Some stats of interest:
First downs: CHS-16; SC-10
Rushes/Yards: CHS-47 for 309; SC-29 for 154
Passing yards: CHS-117; SC-23
Completions/Attempts/Interceptions: CHS-3/7/0; SC-4/13/0
Fumbles/Lost: CHS-0; SC-1/1
Penalties/Yards: CHS-8/60; SC-8/65
Passing:
Michael Gaskin 3 of 7 for 117 yards, 2TD's
Receiving: Derek Easley 2 catches for 95 yards
Rushing
Maurice Whitfield 17 carries for 97 yards
Michael Gaskin 8 carries for 81 yards, 3 TD's
Leading Tacklers:
Kyle Blackburn 13 total, 1 solo
Tyler Plant 11 total
Larry Jamison 10 total
Talking with Head Football Coach Kevin Ward about the brightest spots in this district win:"Defensively, we played well against their scheme well. They varied their offense tonight from what they have been doing, we knew they would use the no-huddle, but they were using a 1-back I formation that they hadn't really showed anyone and our team reacted & handled it well as an in-game adjustment. I was happy with our kicking game, glad Tanner (Hudson) hit the extra point conversion. We went 3-1/2 quarters with a shut out & would have loved to bring the shut out home, but they scored when we started subbing. But, very proud of the win and glad we were able to execute some things offensively."
On the opening drive & the offensive teams start:
"Glad we scored, but we had a lot of mistakes & penalties. Hey, we rushed for over 300 tonight and we still haven't really gotten the best out of the front line! The good news is that if we do, it will be fun to watch! We have to get our blocking assignments correct & finish our blocks to really see how exciting this offense can be."
On the passing game:
"Michael (Gaskin) should have had more yards throwing it tonight...get a sack & we have one wide (receiver) open. It seems like its different every week: It's ball protection or dropped passes or an overthrown pass, always something different. One of these days we are all going to be on the same page...then look out! Michael's TD pass to (Blake) Riley was to a really tight window, good for him to trust his arm & throw it into a tight spot and get a touchdown. I am very proud of that throw & catch."
On Dakota Summers' "pinball" kickoff that Tyler Plant recovered:"We work on our squib kicks with our special teams & a lot of times tell them to kick it right at one of the up players. If they think they want to line up & try to catch it, we might get the ricochet! It worked well tonight, hate we couldn't score. We are just trying to mix up our kicks, some deep & some short. Try to keep them guessing..."
On the condition of the SC field:
"Absolutely the worst field I can remember, even their coaches apologized. Seems they had some serious problems during the summer, plus irrigation problems, they had to resod & it just didn't work out. I'm glad that no one was hurt tonight, it's really dangerous, with hardpan like that it is very easy to twist ankles & could lead to knee injuries."
On the Camden crowd:
"Very vocal, good number, great to see them make the long trip to Dover! I thought the crowd did a good job of staying in the game, you know, 35-0, but they were still there when we needed them to be loud. It is big for the kids to get to play when the crowd is loud cheering them on; I am glad our fans are coming to watch us play. We've been able to give them something to yell about so far!"
On seeing some of the subs in this game:
"Trae White played on offense; we've got to get him into our offense more. He did a good job when he was out there on defense, as well. We played some young kids on the line. We will be able to watch their film & it will allow us to work on some corrections with them this week. All of these younger guys have got to be ready & play hard when they get in the game; they will get a chance to help us this season."
On the record setting 58th victory that made Coach Ward the winningest Camden football coach ever:"Anytime you can be associated with Coach Tommy Richardson's accomplishments it is a big honor. Everything I have ever heard about how he was respected by his players, loved in the community, how he ran his program, he just did everything right. We will try to get a little better every year & work to win a lot more games, but it is good to enjoy a milestone like this. It is a great honor, also for Coach Blow & Coach McDowell; they have been with me ever since I have been here & they are the biggest part of that accomplishment. Without all of the coaches working as hard as they do, making it important to the team, the support I get from the community & the school, none of this is really possible. It really takes all of that to have a good program! I saw it at Westview, but I have talked to some people from other programs...and they DON'T have it...and that's why they don't have the wins we do. Everything plays hand in hand & one missing component is enough to spoil it. All of our coaches really are family. We spend enough time together that we start feeding off each other when we game plan, it really is contagious. It allows us to break up into groups with the team and get a lot of things done in a short time."
Did you ever think when you took the Camden job it would lead to this?
"When I accepted the job, Kim & I were on the way to watch the state championship. After the game, we went out to eat & I took a napkin & started writing down things that I wanted to try to accomplish here during the first two or three years. I drew out what the field house could be, set some goals, different things. She reminded me this week, it all started with a plan on a paper napkin! It is amazing what all we have been able to accomplish since that time. People in the community, the school administration, the Quarterback Club, they have made it happen with their time & donations. Henry County was over here recently after a JV game, some of their coaches saw our facilities & offices...they don't have anything like this over there. Now we have coaches from other schools coming by & wanting to see how our speed & agility program is laid out. Teams we have played wanting to see what we are doing in our summer weight program...they don't have that at their school. It makes me feel good that we are doing things that good programs aren't doing YET. It is neat when people want to do what you are doing. Imitation IS the highest form... It's a testament to a lot of hard work by our kids & that is the bottom line!"
On next week's game against Huntingdon:
"Our kids will be able to watch tape & see how good this Huntingdon team really is. They almost beat Milan in their only loss. They are doing exactly what they are capable of. Obviously (Kennon) Holder is outstanding & he's not the only back they have got! Their quarterback (Bam Melton) is a good runner & the (Brittian) Thompson kid is also a very good player, the fullback (Tyler Simpson). We will have our hands full with all of them. This is what high school football is about. Non-district game, it is a fun game, a pride game, a big crowd will be here for sure - - maybe the biggest crowd this field has seen since I've been here. They are better than they were last year, dropping down into Single A will give them a good shot at going to Murfreesboro & their fans are behind this team, and should be! Hopefully they will have their hands full trying to contain us!"
Mark your calendar Lion fans: Friday night, 7:30, Wright Field! Be there & be loud to cheer our undefeated Lions to a victory over Huntingdon!
GO LIONS!
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lion.news@whitestoneservices.com.