We tell you everything you need to know about the 2022 Camden County football team in this preview. We take a look at roster changes and what fans can expect from the team this season.
2021 Stats
- Overall Record: 4-7
- Points Scored: 316
- Points Against: 307
Key Losses
The Wildcats will lose the heartbeat of their team in RB Jamie Felix, who was hampered by injury two seasons ago but came back last season to lead the Wildcats offense with 869 yards rushing and 13 TDs on the ground. He also ended up with a respectable 111 yards receiving with a TD.
Felix showed his talent on special teams too, returning 11 kicks for 217 yards and a TD. That’s a total of 15 TDs for Felix. He even saw time on defense, making 15 tackles and causing a fumble. Felix starred on the Camden County baseball team too, so Georgia Tech offered the two-sport standout a chance to play both baseball and football collegiately.
Also graduated is QB Gray Loden, who ended his Camden County career with 905 yards passing and 10 TDs. He had just one INT in his entire career as the team’s starting signal caller. He did add one rushing TD while at Camden.
Offensive tackle Noah DeMeritt has graduated, along with reliable kicker Adonis Coyle. During his time as the Wildcats’ kicker, he converted on 13 of 21 FG attempts, including a career long of 46 yards on his final attempt as a high school kicker.
Coyle also converted an incredible 94 EXP out of 99 attempts. He also handled the punting chores for Camden County, finishing his career with a 35.2 yards per punt average. This is outstanding for a high school punter.
Who’s Back
Returning for veteran head coach Jeff Herron’s Wildcats this season will be big-time offensive weapon Deonte Cole. Technically listed as a RB, the senior can get it done by running the ball on the ground and receiving it through the air. He finished last season with 565 rushing yards and 230 yards receiving. He had five rushing TDs and three receiving TDs.
He is also a weapon on special teams, as he showed last season. In 2021, Cole returned 15 kickoffs for an average of right at 18 yards per return. He will no doubt be expected to fill Felix’s shoes in Herron’s run-heavy offense.
Look for him to have some company in the backfield with emerging RB Brayden Ritz expected to see plenty of action this season. In limited playing time last season, Ritz finished with 241 yards rushing on just 29 carries, a healthy 8.3 yards per carry. Ritz also averaged 14 yards per catch out of the backfield last season.
TE Ian Pederson also returns. The team’s QB on defense, safety Jake Lindsey will be back to provide rock solid ability and leadership for Camden County this season. He will be joined by fellow DBs Quan Floyd and Tyre Young.
What to Expect
Last season was the worst for Herron in what has been a long and successful coaching career. To be fair, he took over a Camden County program that had switched from the wing-T offense he built there years ago.
That offense made Camden County (and Herron) a perennial winner, but trying to reinstate that same system in one season was a tough task. Camden County fans knew it would take time, which could mean another year of teaching and learning.
“We had over 40 seniors last season, but this year, we have only 20,” said Herron. “We are still in a rebuilding phase. We are young, but talented and improving rapidly in the weight room and on the field.”
Will that improvement equal more wins this season? If you have followed Herron over his career, you know this much: The man knows how to coach young players and make them believe in what he wants to do. That said, don’t expect the Wildcats to be down for long. It’s just not in his DNA.
Prediction
Camden County may not win a state championship, but Herron makes them better in 2022. Look for double the wins this year: an 8-4 season with a playoff win.
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