Camden County’s football team goes for the three-peat in Georgia’s largest classification
(This is part of the AJC’s “30 in 30″ series — with quick hits on top high school football teams across the metro area and state during spring football practice. We’re doing 30 football teams in 30 days. Click here for a master list. Hey AJC, what about spring sports? You know, the non-football sports? Go here)
The eyes of the nation will be on Camden County again this year.
Loading ...Can the Wildcats win the state championship for the third year in a row in Georgia’s largest classification?
Georgia’s high school football gets a lot of respect around the country, with the biggest props always going to the best teams in Class AAAAA. Will Camden County be among them again this year? Yes, they will, at least in the beginning, as most defending state champions usually start out the following season No. 1 in the rankings. I’m sure Camden will appear in some national polls, too.
The better question is this: How long will they be able to hold onto No. 1? All the way to the end? I think not. Not after losing 19 of 22 starters to graduation off last year’s reigning champs. That’s the bad news, the massive losses to graduation. What’s the good news? Camden County had plenty of young talent on the sidelines during the championships runs, waiting patiently for their turn. The time has come.
The veterans are a pair of seniors, QB Joel Ruiz (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) and kicker Matt Ehasz. Another team leader is sophomore sensation J.J. Green (5-9, 165), who started 15 games at offensive center last year as a freshman — which was a first for any Jeff Herron-coached teams.
What about the team’s projected impact players? You’ve got RB Kenny Hutchinson (blazing speed), WR Jalen Simmons (6-foot-3), DB Vishawn Williams (healthy again after missing last season with injury), QB Brice Ramsey (potential superstar in the wings), and LB Quan Brock.
More trophy kissing for Camden @ Dome in 2010? (AJC)
Herron said spring goals are “definitely fundamentals, but primarily trying to get kids that were in backup roles last year to step forward into starting rolls.”
This Camden County team reminds a lot of people of the 2008 team that was considered “too young” and “maybe a year away.” The Wildcats got a big break that year with Lowndes’ collapse in the playoffs, but they took advantage of it to win it all.
Camden County will likely take a lump or two in at least one of the non-region showdowns against pair of Florida powerhouses — Miami Central and St. Thomas Aquinas. The Wildcats, with so many new starters, will likely be underdogs in one or both. And if the Wildcats win one or both, then it will be mission accomplished. (Herron would never admit it publicly, but he’d be satisfied if they put themselves in a position to win both games late, regardless of the final outcome).
After all, Camden County’s fortunes turned last year after they dropped two out its first three games. It was time to put up or shut up, and the Wildcats — out of the spotlight and pressure of the rankings — turned it around in dominating fashion.
Herron, like almost all coaches, only cares about the ranking at the completion of the season. Will Camden County win it all? Let’s put it this way: Until another team takes it away from the Wildcats, don’t bet against them.
YOUR TURN: Which team will win it all in the Georgia’s biggest and baddest division and why? Please state your case below.
Team: Camden County Wildcats
Spring Game:
Spring practice dates: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
Last year’s record: 13-2
Starters lost: 19
Head coach: Jeff Herron
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66 comments Add your comment
observer
May 21st, 2010
9:17 pm
unbalanced playing field where have you been check Camdens schedule and then type your facts then bring on your team and let the Cats claw their butts too
topper
May 22nd, 2010
8:07 am
Unbalanced Playing Field – All I ever used to hear before Camden won a championnship was how they could never win one because the competition they played was no good, they would fold during the playoffs…….. Now that same copetition is there advantage? So tired of hearing that crap they beat everybody put in front of them plain and simple…….They schedule the toughest out of state competiton they can find and beat the other Ga powerhouses in the playoffs……….GHSA sets up the region they play, do have any suggestions? If not shut it and watch what a well coached team can do.
SportsFan31313
May 22nd, 2010
12:56 pm
Yo Mama,
When was the last back to backs for Valdosta? Camden?
I am not sure of your question that your are asking? But here is your answer.
Camden won it 08, and 09. It does’nt matter how many points Camden County won by. A win is a win. Camden County beat a “Sloopy”Lowndes last year. Grayson beat a what????? Lowndes the year before. What is your point? Let’s not get into a who beat who especially in yester year. As I said in an earlier post, Lowndes is a great football team and have a great program. No doubt about it. But the fact remains that Camden County is the Defending 2008, 2009, and more than likely will be the 2010 Class State Champions.
SportsFan31313
May 22nd, 2010
1:03 pm
Greetings Unbalanced Playing Field,
“As long as the field is tilted in Camden’s favor, they have a chance to repeat each year. They do not play a serious opponent until the third round of the playoffs. The schools in their region are AA and AAA sized schools playing up”.
Not all of it is true. They played, and ran the tables on Bradwell Institute who is a AAAAA School for the past 12 years when Bradwell Institute use to be the Golliath of that Region. They have beaten every team be it first round, second round, third round, for the past two years. Every team placed in front of them that was Ranked not only in the AJC but the State as well were beaten. Please stop the excuses. Camden County has a Hall Of ame Coach (in my opinion) and he is just out coaching their opponents.
CamdenFan10
May 22nd, 2010
5:01 pm
Camden county 3peat is going to happen. they’re offense is ready and there defense is better than ever leading with linebackers Bryan attaway and Shawquand Brock. starting corner JJ Green is back sophmore sensation playing both ways there reloaded not rebuild.
spwhite
May 23rd, 2010
1:16 am
sportsfan31313 Did u get my email?
SportsFan31313
May 24th, 2010
11:31 am
Greetings spwhite,
I will check it today….
SportsFan31313
May 25th, 2010
4:14 pm
SPWHITE,
I sen toy an email, did you get it?
cat 92
May 25th, 2010
10:45 pm
no matter if camden wins a 3 peat or not . im very proud of this program i remember the days when we would give all we had to win one state title in football!!!!!
cat 92
May 26th, 2010
9:16 pm
Enter your comments here
columbia Blue
May 28th, 2010
8:32 pm
All you guys are right–Camden is terrible—Yea right–Camden 35 North Gwinette 0 Camden 31 NS Warner Robbins 3 Heck that 2 blowouts in the 4th round and State Championship game. WE WILL BE READY—YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT
leigh
June 1st, 2010
2:03 pm
My son was fortunate to have played for three years on the Wildcat squad under Coach Herron. Moreso than knowing how to coach, Coach Herron and his staff are a stellar group of men. Most are Christians, and many of the coaches are involved in some way in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes….They are “men’s men….” As a matter of fact, one of their coaches went on to become the Georgia regional leader of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes a few years ago.
So let’s not just focus on talent here….let’s also give the bigger props to decent men who are taking care of their families, are genuinely interested in their players, go the extra mile for them, AND are positive role models…. who just HAPPEN to be great coaches.
The other thing I always loved about that squad is that it’s not political…and they are not so hung up on athlete physical size….with this staff, it’s ability and heart that matter, unlike other programs my children have been part of….ones that are hung up on athlete size and parent pocketbooks. Just because an athlete starts one year doesn’t mean he will automatically start again the next….and their coaching staff IS concerned about grades and off-field behavior.
AND the bigger motivation is that in previous years (we’ve been gone for a few years now, so not sure how they are running their program), Coach Herron WOULDN’T cut any players because he wanted everyone to have the opportunity to be a part of a team, stay off the streets, and experience a solid program. I’m not sure if budget cuts have limited the number of players now, but when my son played a few years back, he took everyone in because he wanted to provide that motivation for students to succeed…through team membership and role modeling.
Perfection is in NONE of us….but it is very difficult to manage the lives of 130+ players. I have so much respect for Coach Herron and his staff for that…and whether they win or lose, Herron is, by far, the best football/role model coach my son ever had.
I believe that God has blessed Coach Herron because he gently exposes to Christ through his life, actions on and off the field, and the way he runs his program. This is the ultimate mission and the only one that matters for eternity, anyway:-)
leigh
June 1st, 2010
2:06 pm
Sorry…Missed a few words in the last paragraph i just posted which should have read:
I believe that God has blessed Coach Herron because he gently exposes HIS PLAYERS to Christ (NEVER being pushy and always respecting all religious beliefs, diversity, etc.) through his life, actions on and off the field, and the way he runs his program. This is the ultimate mission and the only one that matters for eternity, anyway:-)
spwhite
June 6th, 2010
9:55 pm
Leigh- The best post ever on this site. You are correct about coach Herron and his staff. They are men’s men!!!!
Camdencoga
July 9th, 2010
10:21 am
Nice to see (for the most part) thoughtful, intelligent posts. Camden runs a class program and produces class kids, which win or lose, is the best record a fan can ask for. With that said………… I see a 3Peat in our future!!!
chswildcat77
September 4th, 2010
2:10 pm
I gotta go wit da boys in da blue for a 3rd title. This men are leaving everything on the feild every game. i played for coach jeff, and i know that he’s gonaa bring what it takes to win another one. Go hard or go home boys and keep doing it for south Ga. DSGB ain’t bout no games son!!!!