The Camden County Wildcats started the season 0-2 with back-to-back losses on trips to the Sunshine state, losing to Oakleaf 27-13 in the opening week of the 2016 season. Two weeks ago Venice smashed the Wildcats 46-17. Hurricane Hermine forced the cancellation of the final road trip to Florida against Columbia County.
Camden County’s 2016 home opener was against one of their Glynn County rivals, Glynn Academy. Last season was a breakout year for both Glynn and Camden. After a lackluster 2014, the Wildcats rebounded, finishing the regular season 9-1, and ended up losing in the quarterfinals to Roswell. Glynn, who lost to Camden 24-17, ended up making it to the Georgia Dome, losing the AAAAA state championship to Alatoona.
Graduation hit both teams hard, but the Red Terrors used the speed and experience of Dee Jay Dallas, a University of Miami commit, coupled with a tough running and option game from junior running back Randon Jernagin.
On the opening possession of the game, Glynn snapped the ball, and Wildcat pony safety Cole Loden filled the hole, stopping the Glynn Academy ball carrier at the line of scrimmage. Over the next three and a half quarters, a comedy of errors and miscues plagued the Wildcats. Even while the Red Terrors continued to score almost at will, going up 42-0, Camden County head coach Welton Coffey kept coaching and trying to keep the Wildcats disciplined and playing. Towards the end of the fourth quarter, Camden finally hit pay dirt, avoiding a shutout 56-7.
It was the worst loss that the Wildcats have experienced in 20 years, dating back to a road loss to Windsor Forest, 49-0, in 1998.
A week later the Wildcats finished the Glynn County swing by facing the Brunswick Pirates on the road at Glynn County Stadium. Both teams came into the game looking for momentum to get them back on track. What ensued was an absolute defensive battle. As both teams locked horns, neither team could find the end zone through the first two quarters.
Wildcat running back Mickey Packard had a good punt return and scored the Wildcats’ first and only touchdown two plays later. Junior kicker Oliver Kellum’s extra point sailed through the uprights for the point after touchdown. Brunswick scored in the third quarter too, but the extra point sailed outside the uprights, and on a night when the Wildcats were fighting for a win, it was Kellum’s one point that made the difference.
The win certainly gave credibility to the growth that Coffey has been looking for in the Wildcats since the first week of the season. However, Coffey knows that the schedule coming up is just as daunting with metro Atlanta power McEachern coming to Chris Gilman Stadium in the next couple of weeks. Camden County will end up getting to play a full 10-game schedule this season. After losing the Columbia County game to Hurricane Hermine, the Wildcats picked up an open date with their rival across the swamp, Charlton County. The game is scheduled for Oct. 7 at Chris Gilman Stadium in Kingsland.
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Wildcats Rebound, Edge Brunswick for First Win
Written by John Wood
Photo by Michael Brinson
