THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 20, 1995 TAG: 9508170217
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: [High School Football section:] Kickoff '95
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
One of the maxims of football - from Pop Warner to the National Football League - is that good defense and good kicking win games.
Camden County High School coach Scott Jones hopes that ancient truth comes through in a big way for the Bruins in 1995.
``I think we'll have one of the best kicking games in northeastern North Carolina,'' Jones said. ``And right now, our defense is way ahead of our offense.''
But while the Bruins were one of the area's most improved teams in 1994, going from a 2-9 record in 1993 to 6-5 in 1994, 1995 will be a year to contend with inexperience. Camden returns only five starters from last year's club, which finished with a 3-3 mark in the Class A Albemarle Conference.
``We're very, very young,'' Jones said. ``We're going to be putting a lot of inexperienced people out there.''
Camden may lack experience, but some talented veterans return off last year's club. Ernest Graham, a 6-foot-2-inch, 245-pound senior, will line up at offensive tackle and defensive end for the Bruins.
``Ernest is a good athlete,'' Scott said. ``He's very strong. This is the first time he's played defensive end for us.''
Scott has tremendous confidence in the kicking game, because of the talented foot of Kevin Dodson.
``He averaged 44 yards per punt for us last year,'' Scott said. ``We didn't let him try too many field goals last year, but he's got 60-yard range.''
Offensively, Camden's big gun is expected to be junior Joel Taylor. Taylor rushed for 600 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore. He will be the workhorse in the Camden split veer attack.
``Joel's going to carry the ball a lot for us,'' Jones said. ``As far as the other running back spot, it's up in the air.''
Jones has a stable of talented young backs to choose from for the other backfield spot, including Rod Paxton, Lavar Bryant and David Clark.
The hottest preseason battle in the Camden camp is at quarterback, where senior Doug Leary and junior Ryan Allen are virtually dead even.
``We're going to see who can consistently move the team,'' Jones said. ``That's how we'll make our decision.''
Uncertainty clouds the offensive line for Camden. Only center James Douglas returns as a starter. Guard Brad Johnson will line up alongside Graham. The other slots are up for grabs.
At the receiver slots, Keenon Walker and Derrick Stiles will start.
Defensively, Camden's strength is at linebacker, where Joel Taylor and David Clark will start with Johnson.
Graham leads the defensive front. Freshmen Jeff Mattera and Chad Leary will start at the tackles, with Douglas at the other end.
The four-deep secondary features Paxton and Allen at the safeties with Stiles and Walker at the corners.
The defense holds the key for Camden early in the year.
``I think we can have a good defense,'' Jones said.
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by CNB