photograph by: Kim North
Cameron quarterback Kason Angel races up the sideline through the Dragons’ playoff sport in opposition to Meadow Bridge. Angel and Cameron will face Clay-Battelle on Saturdy at 1 p.m. within the Class A state semifinals.
CAMERON — Three months in the past, heading into their common season opener in opposition to each other, the Cameron Dragons and Clay-Battelle CeeBees thought themselves to be in the identical place.
“When we played them the first game, we were up 22-8,” Cameron head coach Tim Brown mentioned. “Then, we had a turnover and they capitalized. And the next thing you know, it’s 22-16 and it’s a fight to the finish.”
After the sport was over, Coach LaPoe requested me, ‘You know, I know we’re fairly good and we’ve acquired an extended approach to go, however how good are you?’ And I mentioned, ‘I’m the identical as you, Coach, when it’s early, we don’t know.’”
On Saturday, the Dragons and CeeBees will as soon as once more discover themselves in the identical place.
A rematch between No. 7 Cameron and No. 3 Clay-Battelle is on the horizon, the CeeBees set to host a WVSSAC Class A semifinals sport on Saturday at 1 p.m., the most recent of a longstanding sequence of video games going again all the way in which to 1940. The two groups have performed yearly since 1972.
Cameron leads the all-time sequence 41-26-1. The Dragons have gained 11 straight over the CeeBees, however Clay-Battelle had gained 9 in a row earlier than that.
“Clay-Battelle was fantastic,” Brown mentioned. “I mean, we barely got by with the win, and they’ve been undefeated ever since. So obviously, [LaPoe]’s doing a great job. They have a great team. They have good size, good speed, good run game, good pass game, good defense. I mean, you don’t get to be ranked third in the state if you’re not a very good team, very well-coached team. So we have a lot of respect for them. And we’re obviously gonna have to come in and play an outstanding game to try to win this game.”
Since shedding to Cameron, Clay-Battelle has not tasted defeat. The CeeBees are within the third spherical of the playoffs for under the second time in class historical past, and their success has been led by the backfield of junior quarterback Corey Coen and sophomore working again Caleb Hall, who every totaled over 100 yards and scored a number of touchdowns of their staff’s state quarterfinals victory over Wirt County, 46-14. Clay-Battelle rushed for 355 yards and 5 touchdowns as a staff in what was simply one other displaying of ground-bound dominance this season by the CeeBees.
The Dragons have additionally had a banner season on the bottom– lead again Marshall Holland ran for 252 yards and two touchdowns in Cameron’s state quarterfinals affair in opposition to Wahama– which they’ve achieved regardless of accidents up-and-down their roster.
“We’ve got very good line coaches and they’ve done a really good job of having kids ready to play and understanding. Our offensive coordinator, coach [Matt] Burge, does a really good job of explaining what we’re trying to accomplish and how one play gives you another play and how you have to take what they give you. I have to commend the kids for really giving all their attention to the coaches and all their effort. And I have to commend the coaches for being able to communicate and make the kids understand what it is we’re trying to do. You know, Marshall’s a really good running back.”
“We also had Talon Brown and some other kids were helping out with that. But, you know, now we’re down to Kason [Angel] and Marshall and sometimes Gunner [Lilley] can come in there. Coach Burge has been good about being able to get our receivers involved. And we’ll have a well-placed pass here and there to make them still defend the whole field. And as long as you are paying attention and trying to get the plays that they’re giving you, then I think you’re always going to be able to run the ball.”
Cameron completed as state runners-up final season.