High School Football:
Willingboro Shuts Down Camden

Saturday, October 31, 1998

By Art Redd
SJSports Staff Writer

Saturday at Camden High featured two very good football teams in an Olympic Conference game. The Willingboro Chimeras were going up against the Camden Panthers. It was a meeting between the top two teams in the National Division. Willingboro was coming off a 67-0 win over Paul VI, while Camden got past Bishop Eustace 32-20. Both teams had high hopes of continuing their winning ways. It must have been the excitement of the Willingboro Marching Band during the pre-game festivities that got their team electrified. The Chimeras scored big in the first and final quarters to record a 38-0 shutout victory.

Willingboro didn't waste any time getting their fans something to cheer about. Runningback David Alston took a pitch from quarterback Matt Perry and ran down the left sidelines for a 73-yard touchdown. Once Alston got into the opening, he out ran the defenders and was on his way to getting the Chimeras a touchdown on the opening play. Josh Minkins converted on the two-point attempt to put his team up 8-0 in the first quarter. The big plays continued when Minkins got into the scoring act with 1:02 remaining in the first quarter. Minkins took a reverse handoff 79-yards for a touchdown. Terrell Watkins got an early 2-point conversion run to put the Chimeras up 18-0. Neither team would score in the second quarter.

The second half would prove what kind of condition each team would be in after the break. The one advantage Willingboro had was Strength and Conditioning Advisor Gregory "Graig" White. "I work hard with these kids each week," White mentioned. "Most of these kids will be back next year. They are a young team." Well, this young team continued to hold the Panthers in check all game. Camden's offense could not penetrate deep into Willingboro's territory and the Panthers' defense spent a lot of time on the field.

Minkins had a big second half when he scored twice in the final quarter to put the game out of reach. The first was a one-yard plunge, and the second a 20-yard run to give the Chimeras a 31-0 lead. Alston scored on the 2-point conversion on Minkins second touchdown of the day, while the extra point was good on the 20-yard run. Coach Ty Belford prepared his team well to record Willingboro's second straight shutout victory and position themselves for the upcoming playoffs.

Photos by Art Redd