THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 1995 TAG: 9509220234
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 35 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: CAMDEN LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Respect is something you earn and Camden County's football program earned it in a big way last Friday night.
Playing perhaps their best game since Scott Jones took over as head coach, the Bruins dominated Chocowinity 35-14. The Indians are known in the eastern part of the state as having a strong football program.
When the Bruins needed a key play, they got it, whether it was on the ground or through the air. Quarterback Dougie Leary showed maturity and leadership, throwing for two touchdowns and running for another. Leary, who was 8-for-12 for 186 yards passing, threaded the needle several times for Camden, a team not accustomed to the air attack.
Camden capitalized on a Chocowinity turnover to open the scoring. Ronrico Jones, playing with a severely sprained wrist, fumbled on the second play of the game. Ryan Allen recovered for Camden on the Indians 40. Four plays later, Leary ran six yards for the touchdown. Kevin Dodson booted the extra point for a 7-0 lead with 9:13 to play in the first quarter.
The Bruins blew a scoring opportunity when the normally sure-footed Dodson missed a 23-yard field goal attempt on Camden's second possession.
Chocowinity took advantage of a Camden error to put its first points on the board. On Camden's third possession, Dodson, in the punting role, received a bad snap and ended up kicking for minus six yards. The Indians took over on the Camden 44. Four plays later, Jones tore 23 yards up the middle for a touchdown with five seconds to play in the first quarter. Benny Mackey's extra point run was short, allowing Camden to maintain a 7-6 lead.
Camden missed another golden opportunity in the second quarter. Punting from his own one, Chocowinity punter Garrett Denny shanked a ball which was downed at the Indians 23. Camden could move the ball just one yard in three plays and Dodson's field goal attempt was partially blocked.
The Bruins put together an eight-play 64-yard drive to end the scoring in the first half. On a second and 15 play from the Chocowinity 26, Leary was sacked for a five-yard loss. After a timeout, Leary hit Dodson with a 31-yard touchdown strike down the left sideline. Dodson booted the extra point to give Camden a 14-6 halftime lead.
``In the first half, Dougie missed a lot of option plays,'' Jones said. ``We told him to sit in there as long as he could and read the option. He did a better job of that in the second half.''
Camden blew the game open at the beginning of the second half. On the second play from scrimmage in the half, Leary and Dodson struck again, this time for 63 yards. Dodson's extra point boot made it 21-6 with 10:52 to play in the third quarter.
The Bruins, moving the ball at will, scored on their next two possessions. With 1:53 to play in the third quarter, Joel Taylor punched it over from three yards out. With 9:51 to play in the game, David Clark scored on a five-yard run for the Bruins (3-1).
Chocowinity added a late touchdown when Denny outran the defense for a 37-yard touchdown with 5:32 to play.
Jones said Camden's offense had to go with what Chocowinity was giving it.
``They put eight men in the box and dared us to throw the ball. They were moving the secondary up. They were in our receivers' faces.'' Jones said. ``We had them in a bind and we could do anything we wanted to tonight.''
Jones said his team had just two days to prepare for the game because of a Monday tilt with Currituck. Despite the short preparation time, he said his team did what it was supposed to.
``We went at it with the idea of stopping the trap. They (Camden) did exactly what they were taught during the week,'' he said. ``They were determined that Chocowinity was not going to run on us.''
Jones hopes the win over Chocowinity gives the Bruins confidence for the Albemarle Conference schedule which began this weekend.
``They've got to be confident going into the conference,'' he said. ``Nobody's given us a chance so far. Everything we do this year is bonus.'' by CNB