Lions handle Rebels 49-18

Stewart County only had one loss the 2008 as they prepared to play the CHS Lions in a big Region 7AA game at Dover. The Lions knew that they had to beat the Rebels if they wanted to win a Region Championship. The rain cleared out in time for the road trip to Dover, and the Lions were ready to clear the air on top of the Region standings...

Their pregame ceremony was held to recognize the Stewart County's seniors & there wasn't any rain falling on the already damp field. A mix up at the coin flip allowed Stewart County (SC) to defer until the 2nd half AND get the ball to start! Danny Kim booted a short spinner down the left sideline & Ross Dudley was able to get him on the ground at their 43. The Rebs came out throwing with a no-huddle offense and completed two screens & a toss sweep around left end quickly to get a first down at OUR 43. Another screen goes down the right sideline to the 32 before Ross gets him on the ground, and it's another 1st. Dive up the middle, 1st down at the 22. Screen pass left goes for a 1st & goal at the five...and Coach Ward calls a time out to get everyone on the same sheet. Time in, better now! The runner tries left end, but Ross rolls him down for no gain. QB keeper, but Ross & Dakota Summers drop him for a loss of 2. QB rushes in behind left guard, but LJ & Jordan Murphy combine for no gain, 4th down. The Reb kicker finishes the 10-play drive off with a boot thru the sticks & with 8:50 left in the 1st, Stewart County is up 3-zip.

The low bouncing kick is handled by Patrick Hassell & he runs up the middle to the CHS 34 where the Lions offense will start. Michael Gaskin gives to Andy Travis around right end for a gain of 3. Devon White carries behind Will Latendresse & Thomas Pierpoint for a gain of 2. Michael gives to Ross, he picks his way along left end, then dives in behind Elias Nazi & Davie Miller, adds a move outside & has a first down at our 46! Seven minutes left in the 1st, Ross again round left end, knocks a Rebel down & drives to the SC 41, another 1st! Andy Travis carries around left end, has the corner (thanks to a block from Dakota) & rips down the left side line. Andy drags one Rebel with him to the 9, 1st & goal Camden, time out SC! Devon dives into the line, but no gain. Andy runs down the right side looking for a seam & dives thru to the 1! Gaskin keeps behind Nazi, Latendresse, Pierpoint...and has the endzone! Thomas snaps, Michael holds, and Danny Kim drills the kick thru the uprights to make it Camden 7, SC 3.

Kim's kick is down the left sideline, on the ground long enough for Chris Pagal & Sean Flores to drop him at the 30. The Lions defense is on the field & ready to make a statement! Dive up the middle, but LJ & Tyler Plant stand him up, no gain. The Rebel QB tries a pass to the right...RIGHT thru Brandon Shannon's hands, incomplete! A short pass is complete along the right sideline, and they try the "hook & ladder" backwards pitch, but it all adds up to 4th & 3 when Jeremy Crawley combines with Ross Dudley to drop him at their 37...and their punter is on the field. It's a fake punt, but the attempted pass is a one hop incomplete, Camden ball on downs at the SC 37!

3:40 showing on the clock as Gaskin's pass to Summers just missed, 2nd & 10. Devon carries over right guard, gain of one. Ross runs around left end, but the deep, wet turf grabs a toe & it's a 4th & 4 at the SC 33. We are going for it with Andy looking along the right side of the line, spots a gap & slides for a 1st down at their 25. Three runs have us at 4th & 16 after a Rebel jail break smothers Michael for a big loss to tend the 1st quarter.

It's time for another big decision...let's just score!

Gaskin rolls out & give Travis time to get behind all of the defenders! The throw is just long enough so that when the Rebel defender tips it, Andy hauls it in past the pylon for the score! Danny Kim's kick is perfect & with 11:52 on the 2nd quarter clock, Lions lead 14-3!

Danny's kick just rolls out of bounds, 2nd kick is fielded & the returner sprints all the way across the field, where Andy Travis has stayed at home & drops him at the 35. The Reb's string together a 1st down between a couple flags & their 8th play of the drive is a punt that takes a home-town roll all the way to our 10 yard line.

The Lions put together their own 8-play drive with two first downs that stalls at our 42. Michael Gaskin takes the snap from Thomas Pierpoint & bangs a high end-over-end punt that stops on a dime at the 10, where Jordan Murphy downs it!

The Rebels mount a 6-play drive that absorbs an "unsportsmanlike conduct" call on their bench and an incomplete pass before they have the punter on the field, 4th & 7 at their own 23. Nick Ibarra lays out & almost has the block, it's high, short, left & lands with a Camden bounce, Lions ball at the SC 26!

Christmas.

Devon White drives in behind Davie Miller, punishes two Reb's & gains 5. Michael Gaskin rolls right, looks, tucks the ball away, thanks Dakota Summers for a great downfield block, & scores! Danny Kim hammers the kick thru & with 37.9 seconds left before the break; Camden is up 21-3!

Danny's kick is down the left sideline & SC is all about some razzle-in-their dazzle, pitch to another back & he tries to get to the center of the field with the return. Andy Travis drops him with a bang at the 37 & the Black & Gold defense has yet another stop all cranked up...

The Rebel QB rolls left, passes down the left sideline...but Andy has it in HIS sights & intercepts! Two flags are dropped & it all adds up the Lions ball at our 28 with 24 seconds left. Devon thru the left side, Go! 2nd & a foot, Camden time out. Michael just misses Patrick Hassell all alone down the right side line, incomplete. Michael keeps thru the right side of the line, dodges one Reb before he is stopped at the 48, and it's halftime with Camden up 21-3.

The SC band performs at half along with s'more special last regular season home game awards & Danny Kim sends the kick down the left side line. No razzlin' this time; Dudley & Shannon make the stop at the SC35. The Rebels mount eight plays to get the ball to our 33 & a halfback pass completion to score with 9 minutes showing. Their kick is good & it's a 21-10 game.

Hmmmm... what'cha' got to say, Lions?

Their low squib kick is handled by Ross on the short hop & he drives over midfield to their 49! Michael fakes the give going right & gives to Andy going left. He is thru the line right now & gone! Touchdown Lions, kick is good & with 8:26 showing Camden's lead is 28-10, listen up!

The SC coaches call a time out just as Danny sends it, go again, and Tyler Plant combines with Blake Riley for the stop at the SC 34. The Lions defense is led by two huge stops by Jordan Murphy, add in one incompletion AND a declined holding penalty & the SC punter is back at work. Patrick Hassell sprints up to the CHS 37 & the Lions offense is on the field with 7 minutes left in the 3rd.

Dudley slants thru the line left to right, follows Miller & Summers for a gain of 6. Ross again with the ball headed right, but someone has adjourned a Rebel Convention over there! He reverses his field to get back to the line, a very exciting carry for no gain! Travis slanting toward left end, but he is stopped just short of the stick, 4th & 1. Gaskin barks the hard count & tries to get them to jump, the refs don't see it & it's a CHS time out. So we can punt, right? We STILL go for it, Travis around right end, dives close, they measure, but it's SC ball at our 46.

No problem.

They try another long pass down the left side line & Jeremy Crawley is all over it for the interception at our 19! The offense is fired up & Devon hammers the middle for a gain of 3. Andy is surrounded & loses a yard. 3:37 on the clock after the refs get it all straightened out & Gaskin drops back looking downfield. Travis is behind his man on the deep slant, the pass is on target & he scores! Danny Kim drills another one & 3:17 is on the 3rd quarter clock with the score Camden 35, Stewart County 10.

Danny drills it deep left & the returner slides in to stop the carnage, SC ball at their 36. The Rebels put together a 6-play scoring drive that ends with a completed pass at the right pylon. The 2-point play is a completed pass over the middle & with 1:50 left in the 3rd, the score is 35-18.

The Rebels try to hammer a low driving kick that might bounce off of someone, but Devon is up front on the good hands team & handles it to perfection, bang, catch, Lions ball at our 49! Three plays later, a rare fumble is recovered by SC at their 49 ending the drive. Dakota Summers pressures their QB to make a move & Tyler Plant drops him for the sack, loss of 7 & it's the end of the 3rd quarter.

The Rebels 8-play offensive series includes one run and all passes that move the ball all the way to the Camden 6. They finish with a pass into the right flat...RIGHT were Nick Ibarra grabs the interception & runs the left sideline all the way to the SC one! Gaskin lines them up, waits, takes the snap from Will & drives thru for the score! Danny Kim is perfect & the Lions are up 42-18!

The SC returner fakes the handoff on the kick, but it really doesn't affect Nazi, Shannon, or Pierpoint & they drop him at the SC 36. The Rebels are still trying to pass it, and 3-plays later Andy Travis stretches out full length & grabs the pass out of the air with one hand for the interception! He has some blocks along the right sideline & gets to the 10 yard line before a flag brings it back to the 45 for a block in the back, somewhere. Still Camden ball...!

Three runs into the line result in 3rd & 10, Lions time out. Gaskin fakes the big pitch right & gives to Devon White around left end, CHS first down at the SC 33! Jeremy Crawley slants right, gain of 5. Gaskin give on the delay to Crawley, he dives close to the first down. Measure, 2nd & a foot! Gaskin waits for the clock to tick on down, keeps up the middle, Lions first down at the 20! White for a gain of 3. Michael holds them at the line again, Devon on the dive, 3rd & 2 with 2:35 left in the game. Devon hits the gap by Davie Miller...and there isn't a Rebel in sight, no one home, touchdown Camden! Danny Kim drills yet another perfect kick thru to make it 48 in a row & the final score is posted, Camden 49, SC 18.

The Rebels start at their 41 & run 10 plays that end with a tipped pass by Maurice Whitfield, incomplete, game over, Lions win 49-18.

A few stats of interest:
First downs: CHS-17, SC-14
Rushing: CHS-45/274, SC 34/119
Passing: CHS-118, SC-196
Receiving: Att/Comp/Int/TD's CHS-6/3/0/2, SC-32/19/2/2
Fumbles: CHS-1/1, SC-0/0
Penalties: CHS-4/30, SC3/25
CHS Leading Rushers
Andy Travis, 12 carries for 111 yards, 1 TD

CHS Leading Receiver
Andy Travis, 2 for 112 yards, 2 TD's

Talking with Head Football Coach Kevin Ward after the Stewart County victory:
"We didn't lose a Region Championship tonight, so far, so good! We did a good job offensively & on special teams. Danny Kim did a good job again tonight on the extra points. We gave him a game ball for 48 consecutive extra point kicks; that ties him for 6th place in the State records. Hope he continues to improve & has a lot more kicks for us this year! At times we were very good on offense, at times we looked like we really weren't sure what we were doing. We have to get those fixed by the time we play Waverly. Tonight we controlled the line of scrimmage, for the most part. I thought the offensive line did a good job of blocking the SC front & our backs did a good job rushing. Michael Gaskin had a great night tonight; he was part of five touchdowns. He made some plays when we needed them. We still have a long way to go; we are giving up too many yards passing. We really wanted to keep everything in front of us & hit them after the catch. We just gave up too many big plays tonight."

On the "nifty" SC QB:
"He has some speed, doesn't panic, real poised in the pocket, and runs the option pretty well. He is a 3-year starter for them & they will miss him next year. We didn't put facemasks on the football very well, but we did put pressure on him & got him hurried in the pocket some."

On the defensive interception by Nick Ibarra as SC was driving in for the score: "As a defense, we were able to bend but not break! We felt like we needed to make them run a lot of plays; they don't like to grind it out like we do! They would rather hit six or so big plays & score, we are happy grinding out four yards! Luckily they made a mistake & Nick was in a good spot to make a play, wish he could have scored, but his play got us into a good position. It was a Senior making a play when we needed it!"

On the many Camden fans making the trip to Dover:
"It was a good crowd! I thought our fans really supported us up there; it DOES make a difference! I hope we have a big crowd that will follow us next week to Waverly! We played sloppy at times, it's one of these games that we can look at defensive & offensive plays & see how we can improve. Hopefully, we will be ready for this spread offense that Waverly has; I am sure it is a different type offense & we will need a weeks worth of work to try to get ready for them."

On Andy Travis' 2nd TD reception from Michael Gaskin:
"Coach Blow saw how they were rolling their defense & we thought the back-side post would be open. We had them in the right set & told Michael to look for the post pattern. Andy ran a good route, Michael looked for him & he was open. It was a good job to make the throw on time & Andy did a good job continuing his route. That is not a route that we throw a lot, but we try to make adjustments during the game like that. Our kids understand what we are trying to do, what we are seeing, & what we are looking for. It was a good pass & catch!"

On the last offensive drive:
"Michael Gaskin did a good job with clock management. We really didn't get to sub as much as we wanted to. We had to keep running plays & run the clock out. We were able to work on some different parts of our offense, trying to get some things in place that we might need later in the year. Jeremy Crawley did a good job at tailback, we felt good about that, the way he is working back thru some injuries. He had an interception, we are very glad for the way he is responding."

On the "personality" the 2008 Lions seem to be developing:
"Our kids know what their role is on this team. We try to put them in the best possible position to make plays, of course, everyone knows who are playmakers are! We try to put the game into players' hands that have gotten the job done for us all year. We are putting some subs in at different times just to see how they perform. Kendrick Hudson was out there playing wide receiver the last drive or two, trying to give some needed rest to some players that had worked all night."

On next week's game against Waverly for the Region Championship:
"We haven't seen them on tape yet, will try to do that this weekend & put a game plan together. We have heard they are running a spread offense, so we will need to get some things done this week. It will be a big night for them, Senior Night and all. We are both playing for a Region Championship, so it really doesn't get any better than this! We have to get ready faster, since it is a Thursday night game. We have prepared on a short week once already this year, so we might have a little edge there. It will give us an extra day to get ready for the playoffs afterwards. We will get to play at home in the first round, so that is a good thing! I am proud for our kids, especially our Seniors, they will get to play another game at home. We will try to get better this week, try to be ready for Waverly's best effort! Coach Graves & his staff do a good job at Waverly, we know that both stands will be packed; it will be a playoff atmosphere. You have to start feeling the "do-or-die" pressure on every play! We will talk about that in practice this week. The mindset has to be: If you lose, it's over."

Let's all make the short drive to Waverly for the Region 7AA Championship game AND the Annual ‘Battle for the Bridge'. The 2008 Lions need your support as they take on Waverly to try to make it "Back-to-Back" Region trophies, something that has never been done at CHS! Thursday night at 7:30 PM! That's right THURSDAY night is Football Night for the Lions and the Tigers!

GO LIONS!