BUIES CREEK, N.C.-Despite 149 yards of total offense and two touchdowns from redshirt freshman running back CJ Oates, the orange-clad Camel defense took Campbell’s Orange & Black Spring Game, 42-34, Saturday afternoon at Barker-Lane Stadium.
Oates, a Faison, N.C. native, flashed a big first half, totaling 77 yards receiving on three receptions and 39 yards from scrimmage on seven carries with both of his touchdowns coming in the opening half. The Faison, N.C. native tallied 33 yards on the ground in the second frame.
Behind Oates, the offense, wearing white on the day, jumped out to a 21-12 lead in the first quarter. On the game’s opening drive, freshman running back Rashaun Brown teamed up with Oates, combining for 35 yards rushing, including Oates’ 15 yard touchdown scamper to the left side.
After three straight defensive stops that gave the orange squad nine points (three points for each three-and-out), redshirt freshman running back Carl Smith punched in another score on the ground, breaking a tackle at the line of scrimmage before speeding in for the 15 yard score.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Daniel Polk then gave the Camels their first score through the air, connecting after a scramble in the backfield with Oates over the middle, who raced down the left sideline for a 66 yard touchdown.
Two more defensive stops wrapped around the end of the first quarter gave the Camel defense a 21-15 deficit before 10 more unanswered points from the white team.
Kicker Adam Willetts, who registered a perfect 2-for-2 field goal and 5-for-5 PAT performance on the afternoon, landed the first three points of the run, connecting from the left hash on the 35-yard line.
The next score came from a newcomer under center, freshman Payton Brady, who aired out a pass to redshirt freshman Alex Royal on the left side for the Camels’ second passing touchdown of the day.
After the break, however, the defense took over, forcing three interceptions and three additional stops.
Opening the second half, redshirt freshman defensive back Christian Dixon intercepted Brady for the orange team, racking up five points in the process. Just two plays later, sophomore linebacker Lee Stanley picked off another pass, diving for the interception off a tipped Daniel Polk pass.
Another stop highlighted by a Taylor Reed and Rico Dailey combined sack, gave the defense three more points, knotting the score at 31 late in the third quarter. Stephen Goldsmith then grabbed the defense’s third interception of the day, picking off Matt Vollono’s fourth quarter pass and taking it all the way for the score.
Willetts added another field goal late, but another pair of defensive stops sealed the 42-34 win for the orange squad. The defense, after surrendering 31 first half points, posted a 24-3 rally to take the win.
Pioneer Football League All-Conference selection and redshirt freshman linebacker Milton Brown led the way on defense with six tackles, followed by freshman linebacker Jody Maness, who recorded five.
Freshman defensive lineman Eric Bratton finished the day with 4.5 tackles that included 1.5 sacks, while Goldsmith added three tackles to go along with his interception. Randel Herring also notched 3.5 tackles in the win.
Matching Oates’ efforts on the ground was Brown, who registered 72 yards from scrimmage on 11 carries, while Carl Smith posted 32 yards with a touchdown, part of 224 total yards on the ground for the Camels.
All three quarterbacks on display showed similar numbers in the loss for the white team, with Polk topping the group at 108 passing yards on 5-of-11 attempts. Polk added a touchdown, an interception, as well as 15 yards rushing. Vollono registered a 9-of-20 clip under center with 91 yards and one interception, while Brady registered 84 yards through the air on 5-of-12 passing with a touchdown and an interception.
In addition to Oates’ 77 yards receiving, redshirt freshman Alex Royal pulled down 72 yards, while Harrison Jordon tallied 66 yards, and 49 in the second half.
Campbell will kick off its 2009 season Saturday, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. against Methodist inside Barker-Lane Stadium in Buies Creek.
Courtesy: GoCamels.com