Camden County Wildcats

A New Era

By: Jason Bishop

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

A new era of football has arrived for the Camden County Wildcats.

On February 28th the Camden County school system announced the hire of Travis Roland to become the next head football coach.

Legendary coach, Jeff Herron retired after three seasons with Camden. Herron took the Wildcats to the GHSA 7A Final Four this past season.

Travis Roland will come in with success of his own. Roland spent three seasons as the Mainland Buccaneers Head Coach and went 30-10 in that span. Mainland High School is in Daytona, FL.

Roland’s Buccaneers made a state title game appearance in 2022 but came up a little short. However, the Buccaneers returned to the title game in 2023 and this time walked away State Champions under Travis Roland’s leadership, beating powerhouse St. Augustine 21-19.

It was reported that over 30 applicants applied for the opening. The Camden County School System announced a meeting on Friday February 16th where they intended to announce a new football coach on that date.

However, Tracolya Green, Camden County Superintendent, announced at that meeting that no hire would be made as not enough time was given to properly vet references for the final 2 candidates for the position.

Coach Roland played high school football at Mainland High School and then went on to play at Bethune-Cookman. He played Arena Football after his college playing days ended.

Roland began coaching in 2009 at Mainland High School as an assistant. He spent three seasons with the Buccaneers before transitioning to Seabreeze High School, also in Daytona, as an assistant.

In 2012 Roland returned to Mainland High School’s coaching staff and remained until 2016. In 2017 Roland was named Head Coach at Flagler Palm Coast. He remained head coach there until 2020, when he once again returned to Mainland High School, this time as the Head Coach.

Coach Roland is the reigning Florida Coach of the Year.

He will take the reins of the Camden program, which is saturated with rich and proud history. Camden County Wildcat Football has been synonymous with tough, hard-nosed football and the Wing-T offense.

The Wildcats ran that Wing-T offense from 2000-2016 under former coaches Jeff Herron and Welton Coffey. The Wildcats won 3 state titles under Jeff Herron in 2003, 2008 and 2009.

Camden ran a spread from 2017-2020 under former coach Bob Sphire. The Wildcat offense went back to the Wing-T when Jeff Herron re-assumed the position as head coach.

It is expected Coach Roland will bring in a brand new system.

A new era has dawned in Kingsland.

Farewell

By: Jason Bishop

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Legendary Camden County Wildcats Coach Jeff Herron recently announced his retirement.

Throughout the early 2000’s the Camden County Wildcats Football Program was a juggernaut under Jeff Herron. During his first tenure with the Wildcats, he won 12 straight region titles and 3 state championships.

Herron left the Camden County Wildcat football program after the 2012 season to pursue other coaching opportunities.

In 2021, it was announced that Camden was going to welcome Jeff Herron back home and offered him a second stint as Wildcats’ Head Coach, which Herron accepted.

In Herron’s second year he took the Wildcats to the second round of the GHSA playoffs, a feat that had not been accomplished since 2015.

This past season, Herron led the Wildcats to the Final Four of the GHSA playoffs, eventually losing to powerhouse Walton. The Wildcats were the only team from their region to advance that far in the playoffs.

The legendary coach retires with a career record of 335-69.

Before the second go around with Camden, Herron’s last head coaching job was at T.L. Hanna High School in South Carolina and in 2 years there he amassed a 25-2 record. A year before that he won his 5th state championship with Grayson in Atlanta going 14-1.

Herron was the Head Coach at Oconee High School from 1997 to 1999 and won his first state title there. He went 33-6 at Oconee. When Herron took over the Oconee program the school had won a total of 8 games in 4 years.

During Herron’s first stay in Kingsland, he had a record 154-18. At one point the Wildcats won 58 straight regular season games under Herron, which is a Georgia record.

Herron had the Wildcats ranked inside the top 25 nationally six different seasons and the Camden program was named the program of the decade in the state of Georgia in the 2000’s.

The Wildcat program is looking to become a consistent state power once again and have returned to their roots to do so.

When the Camden administration hired Jeff Herron they asked him to get the football program moving in the right direction again. As always, Jeff Herron over-delivered. He amassed a 23-15 record in his second stint as Wildcats coach.

In his illustrious coaching career Herron only suffered one losing season ever, that was 2021, his first season back as head coach. The Wildcats still made the playoffs that season, finishing 4-7.

Herron leaves the program in far better shape than he found it.

The Cats Are Back

By: Jason Bishop

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The 2023 season was a breakout season for the Camden County Wildcats.

The Cats went 8-4, including a trip to the second round of the playoffs. The 2023 season also saw wins over both Valdosta and Lowndes, something that has not been accomplished since 2015.

Thus, to say the expectations are high for 2024 is drastic understatement.

Legendary coach Jeff Herron returns for his third season as the head man in Camden and has rebuilt the identity of the program in two short years. The Wildcats are back to playing ‘tough, grind it out’ football.

Camden will return Mason Robinson at QB for his senior campaign. The Wildcats Wing-T rushing attack will be led by standout running back Jaden Daily.

On defense the 2024 Cats will be very fast and physical. The defense will be led by senior linebacker Cooper Thornhill.

Here is how the schedule pans out for Camden.

Week 1: Columbia Eagles: This is a game Camden has circled on the calendar as the Eagles came to Chris Gilman stadium and stunned the Wildcats in a massive upset.

Week 2: Brunswick High Pirates: Another game that is circled in the schedule after the Pirates won in a nail biter last season at Glynn County Stadium by making a goal line stand at the end to win. This contest will be held at the friendly confines of Chris Gilman Stadium.

Week 3: @ Glynn Academy Red Terrors: The Wildcats blistered the Red Terrors last season, but that was at Chris Gilman Stadium. This game will be at Glynn County Stadium against a hungry Red Terror squad that will be looking to prove its’ metal early.

Week 4: New Hampstead Phoenix: New Hampstead is coming off of a 6-5 campaign and a playoff appearance.  The Phoenix are an underrated team and not your typical Savannah public school push over.

Week 5: Somerset Academy Panthers: The Wildcats made short work of the Panthers last season despite Somerset being a playoff team in their classification last season. The Panthers make a second straight trip to Kingsland.

Week 6: Atlantic Coast Stingrays: The Stingrays also make their second straight trip to Kingsland. Last season the Wildcats won 47-6 in a game that wasn’t even that close. The Stingrays did not win a single game last season.

Week 7: Bye

            Week 8: Richmond Hill Wildcats: Region play begins for Camden against Richmond Hill. Last year Camden County went up to Richmond Hill and escaped with a 21-14 win. Richmond Hill returns the trip to Chris Gilman.

Week 9: Colquitt County Packers: The Colquitt County Packers are the best team in South Georgia. The Packers went up and down the field last season on Camden’s defense in Moultrie. The Packers head to Kingsland this season.

Week 10: @ Valdosta Wildcats: Valdosta will be looking for revenge against Camden. Camden grabbed the attention of the state last season beating ranked Valdosta 17-14 in Camden last season. Camden will take the trip to Title Town this season.

Week 11: @ Lowndes Vikings: The Lowndes Vikings got blown out in Kingsland last season and will be looking to earn some respect back after winning only one region game last year.

Jeff Herron and the coaching staff have things on the right track in Kingsland. Look for the Camden County Wildcats to go 9-1 on the season and make a deep playoff run. I expect Camden to at least be an Elite Eight team come playoff time.

 

 

Running Wild

By: Jason Bishop

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

For the last three years I have had the pleasure of watching Jaden Dailey progress as a player for the Camden County Wildcats.

The Camden running back began getting carries for the Wildcats on the varsity level as only a freshman and has evolved into the main weapon at running back for Camden.

Dailey was born in Camden and then moved to Valdosta shortly after. Fortunately, for Camden fans, he moved back to Camden at the age of six. At age seven Dailey began playing football and immediately was a natural. By the time Dailey was eight years old his father, Michael Dailey, saw his son had a gift as a football player.

His father began working with his son on becoming a better running back and harnessing his talent.

Jaden Dailey was a freshman in Bob Sphires last season as Camden County Head Coach in 2020 and earned the trust of the coaching staff.

Dailey had a great mentor as he often shared the same backfield as Jamie Felix. “Jamie was a great motivator and was like an older brother to me. He would always tell me stay positive and keep my head up.” Jamie Felix is now playing on Saturdays at Georgia Tech.

In 2020 Felix went down for a portion of the season with a hamstring injury and Jaden Dailey was given the opportunity for some carries and he never looked back. By 2022, Dailey was a tough ‘between the tackles’ runner with great vision in Jeff Herron’s Wing-T offense.

Herron took over the program in 2021 and installed his signature Wing-T offense.

“My first impression of Jeff Herron was he was tough and serious. As I have gotten to know him I have seen some funny moments out of him too. He wants us to be physical as offense and pound the ball. He sets the tone.”

Jaden is the oldest of three brothers: Julian and Noah. Fourteen-year-old Julian also plays for Camden and plays running back. Noah is 11.

Jaden has some lofty goals for 2023 on the field. “I want to rush for 2,000 yards this coming season. I would also like to have 3,000 all-purpose yards.” If Dailey accomplishes those goals you will probably see the Wildcats in Atlanta in December.

He is a good student as well. He has a 4.0 cumulative grade point average and hopes to graduate with honors.

The plan after high school is to attend college and major in Business Marketing.

He will have a big decision as several schools have shown interest in offering Dailey a football scholarship. Some of those schools include Navy, Stetson, Tennessee Tech, Kennesaw State, UConn and Georgia State.

I expect a ton more offers to follow and for Jaden Dailey to have a monster 2023 season.

The Cats Are Back

By: Jason Bishop

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The 2022 season has come to an end for the Camden County Wildcats.

Camden traveled to Loganville, outside of Atlanta, to play the Grayson Rams in the second round of the GHSA playoffs. The Rams ended the Wildcats season with a 28-10 win.

Camden ended the season with an 8-4 record and the Wildcats accomplished a lot this season.

The Wildcats earned a two seed in Region 1-7A, upset the #3 ranked team in the state in the Valdosta Wildcats, beat the Lowndes Vikings for the first time since 2015, won three region games and won a first-round playoff game for the first time since 2015.

Camden is on the right track to becoming a state title contender again and the future is bright.

The Wildcats will only graduate 22 seniors and will 44 replace them next season. The rising freshmen and sophomore classes are loaded with talent and those will classes will contribute heavily next season as juniors and sophomores.

Expect a deep playoff run in 2023.

Let’s take a look back on the amazing 2022 campaign.

August 19: Columbia @ Camden: The season got off to a rocky start as the AA Columbia Eagles came to Chris Gilman Stadium and stunned the Wildcats, upsetting them 13-10.

August 26: Camden @ Brunswick: The Brunswick High Pirates were expected to compete for a state title in 6A. The Pirates dropped Camden 16-10 on a goal line stand at the end of the game.

This is the game that turned the season around. You could tell the kids in the locker room came together after losing this tough game.

September 2: Glynn Academy @ Camden: The Glynn Academy Red Terrors walked into an ambush that night. They were expecting a struggling Wildcat team ripe for the taking.

Instead, they got a vicious, angry, physical team that sent them home with a 37-7 drubbing.

September 9: B.E.S.T. @ Camden: This would be more of the same. B.E.S.T. Academy, out of Atlanta, came down and were overwhelmed by the Wildcats, 45-0.

September 16: Somerset Academy @ Camden: The Wildcats woodshedded the Somerset Academy Panthers 48-21, but the game wasn’t even that close.

September 23: Atlantic Coast @ Camden: This wrapped up the trio of games against Florida schools and the result was the same as the priors. The Wildcats dominated Atlantic Coast, 47-6.

October 7: Camden @ Richmond Hill: Wildcats v Wildcats. Camden did not play well in this game but found a way to win and earn their first region victory of 2022, 21-14.

October 14: Camden @ Colquitt: The Wildcats headed over to the Hog Pen and found out what Colquitt was for real. The Packers outpaced the Wildcats, 49-21.

Colquitt was ranked #2 in the state at the time and this game was a flag-a-thon by the zebras. Most of the calls going against Camden. It’s tough to win at Colquitt for a reason.

October 21: Valdosta @ Camden: Another Wildcats v Wildcats matchup. Camden kicked a Field goal to take a 17-14 advantage.

Valdosta marched down the field to attempt their own field goal to tie the game, which Camden blocked and then ran out the clock on the folks from Winnersville.

When it was all said and done Camden had knocked off the #3 ranked team in the state, 17-14.

November 4: Lowndes @ Camden: The Lowndes Vikings were hoping take the #2 seed away from Camden by beating them at home. Instead, the Vikings were run out of Chris Gilman, 48-21 and the game was not that close.

November 12: East Coweta @ Camden: The East Coweta Indians made the long drive from Atlanta to Kingsland. The first half ended with East Coweta up 21-14.

In the second half the Wildcats outscored East Coweta 30-12 and ended their season with a 44-33 win.

November 18: Camden @ Grayson: Jeff Herron returned to place where he won his last state title in 2016. The Rams were a solid team and the Wildcats couldn’t quite find that one big play to get them going.

The Rams eliminated Camden 28-10.

See you next Spring.

Let’s Get It On

By: Kenneth Harrison

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The high school football regular season is over and the playoffs are now here. Let’s take a look at some of the top 7A teams and their road to the state championship.

#1 Buford: The Wolves (10-0) just moved up to 7A this season, but they have not had any trouble adjusting. They have won three consecutive state championships in 6A and 5A.

They have won state championships in every classification prior to moving up to 7A.

They are the number one seed in region 8-7A and they are playing Peachtree Ridge.

The Lions (6-4) are the No. 4 seed from region 7-7A. In their four loses the closest margin of victory was 21 points. I expect Buford to beat them by a large margin.

The second round will be against the winner of South Forsyth/#8 Walton.

#2 Colquitt County: The Packers (10-0) are region 1-7A champs. They are led by senior running back A’Marius Pace, junior quarterback Neko Fann and junior wide receiver Ny’Quavion Carr. They host No. 4 see Pebblebrook (4-6) from region 2-7A.

Colquitt County only has one win by less than 20 points this season. They will beat up on Pebblebrook. The second round they will face the winner of Harrison/Brookwood.

#3 Carrolton: The Trojans (10-0) are not a team we typically see ranked at the end of the season. They have had an impressive season and won region 2-7A. They host Lowndes (5-5) in the first round. This is a down year for the Vikings so I expect Carrolton to beat them. The next round will be against Marietta or Newton.

#4 North Cobb: The Warriors (8-2) had high hopes coming into the season. They played #1 Buford in the second game of the season and lost 21 – 14. Unfortunately, four-star senior quarterback Malachi Singleton played the entire second half with a broken foot. That was his last game of the season and he has had surgery.

Even with their best player sidelined North Cobb has had a good season and they won region 5-7A.

They host Denmark (6-4) from region 6. The Danes have some talented players on their team. This could be a close game. If the Warriors win, they will face the winner of Mill Creek/Meadowcreek.

#5 Mill Creek: The Hawks (9-1) have the top player in the state, five-star safety Caleb Downs. They also have three-star linebacker and Clemson commit, Jamal Anderson Jr. As you can guess, he’s the son of the former Atlanta Falcons running back.

Their only loss was to Buford, 39 – 27.

Mill Creek hosts another Gwinnett County team, Meadowcreek. I think the Hawks are actually the second-best team in 7A and I expect them to make a deep playoff run.

#6 Grayson: The Rams (8-2) were undefeated and won the state championship in 2020. They are trying to get back to that in 2022.

The best player on the team is four-star safety Michael Daugherty. They are the top seed in region 4-7A and host No. 4 seed Hillgrove. If they win that game, they will play the winner of East Coweta and Camden County.

#7 Lambert: The Longhorns (9-1) seem to be flying under the radar despite having a great season. They play 3 seed Wheeler in the first round. If they win, they will face the winner of North Gwinnett/Dacula.

I think Buford will win the championship but I’m ready to see how these teams perform.

 

Camden Resurgence

By: Jason Bishop

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

It has been a tough road for the Camden County Wildcats over the past few years.

The Wildcats have suffered through back-to-back losing seasons in 2020 and 2021. The program has not beaten the “big dogs” in region 1-7A, the Colquitt County Packers and the Lowndes County Vikings, since 2015. The Wildcats knocked off the Vikings that year 38-19 en route to a 10-2 season.

2015 is also the last time Camden won a playoff game. The Wildcats hosted the Hillgrove Hawks and handled them 38-17.

Since 2016 Camden has amassed a record of 29-34.

Here’s my point…last season Camden hired Jeff Herron as their head coach to turn the program around and put the Wildcats back on an elite trajectory.

There has been a change in Kingsland in year two and it has been impressive to this point.

The Wildcats got off to rough start. Camden dropped their opener to the Columbia Eagles. A team most predicted they would have on a running clock by the 4th quarter. Instead, the Eagles shocked the Wildcats and won a 13-10 contest.

The following week the Wildcats went up to Brunswick and lost a hard fought 16-10 contest to the Brunswick High Pirates. That was the turning point.

It has almost been that the proverbial switch got flipped after that loss.

The next week the Wildcats hosted the Glynn Academy Red Terrors and played with a chip or edge or what ever you’d like to call it. But it felt different. The Wildcats trounced the Red Terrors 37-7.

Since that point the Wildcats have played B.E.S.T. Academy, Somerset Academy and Atlantic Coast. While none of these schools are state powers, the Wildcats did what they were supposed to do in these games, win convincingly and more importantly, get better.

Since the BHS game, Camden’s varsity has outscored their opponents 177 to 7.

The defense is flying around the field making plays, the kids seemed to have gotten comfortable with the Wing-T on offense and things are beginning to feel normal again around Camden County.

Camden has won four in a row entering region play. Richmond Hill is up first. Camden will head up I-95 to take on the other Wildcats in a couple weeks. This may end up being the most important game of the season.

After that the Wildcats travel to Moultrie to take on Colquitt County, then back at home against Valdosta and Lowndes to wrap up the regular season.

Is this team going to win a state title, probably not. Are they going to win the region, they are not expected to.

However, what this team will be is…..the team that turned the program around and got Camden moving back in the right direction and becoming a state force again.

Oh, and as far as beating Lowndes and/or Colquitt and winning a playoff game, those droughts end with this team as well.

The Return Of The Cats

By: Jason Bishop

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The Camden County Wildcats finished last season 4-7 overall. Camden started the year 4-1 and then lost 6 straight games to close the year, including going 0-3 in the region. The Wildcats fell to the North Cobb Warriors in the first round of 7A playoffs to end the year. In fairness, 2021 schedule was extremely tough.

Region 1-7A got a little make over in the offseason. Camden, Lowndes and Colquitt all remained. Tift County dropped to 6A and both Valdosta and Richmond Hill moved up and will play in Camden’s region.

Camden will have new signal caller this season in junior, Mason Robinson. Robinson is a tall, athletic kid with a cannon for an arm. Robinson will be getting his first varsity experience when the season opens, but Coach Herron believes he will turn some heads. “He is a really smart kid that runs well and is a great athlete. He has gotten a good grasp of the offense and I think he will surprise some people.”

The Wildcats will see a new running back rotation out of the Wing-T. Deonte Cole will return at RB for the Cats and Coach Herron plans on using six different backs to run the ball. Quan Floyd will join Cole in the backfield and will play both ways. Brayden Ritz will also see time running the ball and Floyd will also start at corner back for Camden. Jaden Daily will get reps at fullback with Jordan James. A name to remember in this group is JaMarley Riddle according to Coach Herron.

“JaMarley Riddle will play on defense some and will the run the ball for us and is special. I wish I had played him more last season at the varsity level but he is a next level type of kid.”

The offensive line rotation will be Caden Thompson, Zack Owen, Caden Whitfield, Gavin Wright, Caden Copeland. Cameron Chandler will suit up at tight end.

Christian Dallas returns at Nose Guard for Jeff Herron’s group. The defensive end rotation will be Roland Baker, Demeri Thomas, DeNigel Cooper, Dylan Higginbotham and Canaan Graham.

Ian Pederson, Cooper Thornhill, and Nick Petiote will play the new “Cat” position for Herron on defense.

The secondary for the Wildcats will be led by S Jake Lindsey. Coach Herron believes Lindsey will be an anchor for his defense. “Jake is back and will keep everything moving and guys on their assignments.”

Xavier Holzendorf will also be at corner with Tyree Young and Ronald Spradley-Pettus. Riddle will play S along with Jake Lindsey.

Camden’s linebacker core will look drastically different from last season. The rotation will be Logan Hilliard, Christian Gaitlin, EJ Kerbo, Caden Evanson, and Alex Chaney.

“I like this team. I think we are young but will grow and be really good.”

Camden hosts Columbia, Glynn Academy, Dade Christian (Miami, FL), Somerset Academy, First Coast, Valdosta and Lowndes.

The Wildcats will travel to Brunswick High, Richmond Hill and Colquitt County.

I think the Wildcats will post a winning season and the influence of Jeff Herron will become very evident in this group. Camden will be in the mix for a region championship and another playoff berth.

Games that will be key for the Wildcats this season will be Brunswick High, Glynn Academy, Valdosta and Lowndes.

In the end, this team is going to surprise a lot of people. I am predicting the Wildcats to go 8-2 and finish with a #2 seed in the region. I also expect Camden to win at least one playoff game, if not make an Elite 8 appearance.

Cat Prowler

By: Jason Bishop

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Jake Lindsey has been playing organized football since the age of four. You can tell it on the football field. The current Camden County Wildcat star has ability that is instinctual and that cannot be taught.

Lindsey is entering into his senior year and his second year starting at safety for Jeff Herron’s Wildcats. Lindsey also started as a sophomore at safety at Coffee County before transferring to Camden County.

His family moved to Camden County as Lindsey’s father, Jon Lindsey was hired away from Coffee County and joined the Camden staff as the Defensive Coordinator.

Lindsey has had the privilege of playing for 2 high school football coaching legends in Jeff Herron and Robby Pruitt, that is pretty good coaching.

“Learning from both coaches has been great. They are pretty similar as far as they love to coach and are very organized.”

Lindsey was born in Dallas, GA, an Atlanta suburb in Cobb County and moved around a good bit growing up due to his father being a high school football coach.

He is the youngest of 3 and his two older sisters, Caroline and Jenna, have set some lofty expectations for their little brother. Caroline just recently graduated from Georgia and is currently at the University of Pittsburgh attending Law School. Jenna just graduated from Camden County High School and will be attending UGA in the fall.

“I have been blessed with the family I have. They have been so supportive and made sure responsibility was instilled in me. My mom, Melissa, is my biggest fan and my dad and I are very close.”

Lindsey also played QB in middle school and last season stepped in at RB for the Wildcats due to injuries. He rushed for over 200 yards against the Glynn Academy Red Terrors last season, not bad for a guy playing out of position.

“I look forward to playing safety. I love it. I love being out there with my team mates and being trusted by the coaches to be able to make adjustments on the field if necessary. But I would not mind working my way into the RB rotation either.”

Last season the Wildcats finished 4-7. “I felt like we were so close in a so many games. Those experiences will make us better and teach how to win those close games. Our goals for the season are win the region. We know we are good enough. We also want to beat Colquitt and Lowndes. We have not beaten those guys in a long time and the time is now. We just want to win.”

Lindsey has seen interest to play football at the next level from Georgia Southern, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, and Coastal Carolina, just to name a few. Currently, the standout safety has committed to the Army Black Knights.

 

End of the Road

By: Jason Bishop

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The season is over for the Camden County Wildcats.

The Wildcats were eliminated in the first round of the GHSA state 7A playoffs at the hands of the North Cobb Warriors, 44-6.

North Cobb was the winner of region 3-7A and a #1 seed going into the 2021 playoffs. The only loss the Warriors suffered was to the Buford Wolves in the season opener. They are a very good football team and overmatched the Wildcats.

Camden ends the 2021 season with a 4-7 mark. It was a tough second half of the season for the Wildcats.

Camden came in with high expectations entering the 2021 campaign. This was mostly due to the second coming of Jeff Herron as Camden Coach; I like to refer to it as the Jeff Herron era 2.0.

Herron won three state titles in his first go around with the Wildcats and 12 straight region titles.

In fairness to Herron, he was trying to implement to complicated Wing-T offensive system to 17-18 year olds, who had never run it and were used to playing out of a spread offense. It was a tall order.

Not to mention the schedule was brutal. By far the Wildcats had the toughest schedule in the state. The Wildcats played games against Glynn Academy, Marietta, and Oakleaf in the first half season of season. The first half of Camden’s season saw them go 4-1 with blowout wins over both Glynn and Oakleaf.

The schedule in second half of the season got even more difficult. Camden had game @ Coffee County, Warner Robins, Colquitt, @ Tift and then at home against Lowndes.

Coffee made the playoffs, Warner Robins is the favorite to win the 5A state title, Colquitt was ranked 8th in the state, Tift had a new coach and new system and Lowndes was ranked #5 in the state. The second half schedule was brutal.

Despite that the Wildcats played tough in most of those games and had chances to win. Camden lost to Coffee 10-7 on a trick play and a 50-yard field goal. Then lost to Colquitt in over time. After that lost to Tift by a touchdown and then lost to Lowndes on a miracle play right at the end of regulation. The point is Camden could have very easily finished the regular season 8-2 with a region title and a #1 seed in the GHSA playoffs, instead of 4-6.

None the less, the season is over and the record is 4-7. Now the Wildcats look ahead to 2022.

Camden will lose QB Gray Loden, RB Jamie Felix, LB Jadin Jones, RB KK Albertie, DB Zach Andreu, LB Will Dykstra, DL Iman Davis, DL Demarion Davis, DL Quinton Pinkney, K Adonis Coyle, OL Noah Demeritt, OL Thomas Scholl, OL Tyler Yarborough just to name a few.

The question is now can Jeff Herron turn this program back into one that reloads instead of rebuilds, I feel the answer to that question is YES.