THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 11, 1994 TAG: 9409090215
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 55 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: CAMDEN LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
As Camden County High School settled down to football practice in a typically picturesque rural scene this past week, two atypical running backs toiled and sweated knowing their work was paying off.
At the same time, two football fans stood at the fence watching the players practice. One leaned against the chain link and said, ``I think they're gonna do all right this year.''
He was right.
The Bruins, practicing behind a backdrop of grain silos and freight trains, were 3-0, and much of the credit belonged to senior Eric Chamblee and sophomore Joel Taylor.
Chamblee rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown and Taylor ran for 98 yards and a score in Camden's most recent victory, 26-12 over Creswell.
Chamblee, a slashing type runner with quick fakes, has been over 100 yards for all of Camden's first three games, while Taylor, a bulldozer over the middle, has amassed over 200 yards in the three games. Each has scored three touchdowns.
After winning just one game in three years, Camden has suddenly gained respectability. The team was just tired of losing; tired of hearing about it from fans and schoolmates. It used to be that Bruins supporters hoped for a win. This year, they're talking about the playoffs.
``It really feels good,'' Chamblee said. ``We've been losing for so long. This really means a lot to the school. We always hear someone complimenting the team. It seems like they're on our side. It hurt a lot when the fans were on your back all the time.''
The confidence of winning has affected the whole team as can be heard in Taylor's description of the win over Creswell. ``Creswell took us too lightly. They thought we were the same team as in years past,'' he said.
Chamblee, who played in his sophomore year but did not play last year, said the differences in Camden this year is the team's attitude and togetherness.
``Most of us have been playing varsity since we were freshmen and sophomores,'' Chamblee said. ``We're together now. We can fill every position on the field. There are no weak links.''
Taylor, who went through last year's 1-9 season, also sees changes.
``We're not playing around as much in practice,'' he said. ``Everybody is working hard. We've got a better line and the blocking is better this year.''
Both Chamblee and Taylor said they are most happy to win for head coach Scott Jones who has suffered through two tough seasons trying to build the program back to the point where it could compete.
``He (Jones) knew we could win a lot of games this year,'' Chamblee said. ``It was just up to us to get out and win.''
``He told us we had a better team this year; if we could just get our heads together and give each other confidence,'' Taylor said. ``We don't want to let him down.'' by CNB