 High School Football:
Holy Cross Wins Offensive Battle Against Camden
Saturday, September 21, 2002
By Art Redd
SJSports Staff Writer
A highly entertaining shootout took place at Tom Reilly Stadium when the Camden Panthers traveled to Holy Cross High School for an Olympic Conference interdivision matchup. A total of 78 points was scored in this game with the Lancers finally putting this game out of reach in the third quarter on a key interception by Rick Costa. Holy Cross' Chris Haslon rushed for 128 yards and scored two touchdowns, while three different quarterbacks each threw a touchdown pass to highlight the Lancers' 48-30 offensive battle.
There were fifteen schools that didn't open their football season last week and one of those teams were the Panthers from Camden High. They knew their team had to patiently wait one more week before finally getting a chance to hit someone else besides their own teammates. As for Holy Cross, their season began in a strange way with teacher's strike that had just ended. The players would have to practice and workout on their own during that strike preparing for last week's opponent. It showed, as the Lancers were shutout by St. Joseph Prep (PA).
 On their first series from scrimmage, the Panthers put together a 5 play, 86-yard drive that was strangely capped off with Tarell Carney's 86-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Nathaniel Brown. On a second and thirteen from their own 24-yard line, Renaldo Davis and Dijon Thomas sacked Brown back at the 14-yard line. Brown would pick himself back up and tossed a bomb to Carney who out leaped two defenders and rolled into the endzone to take a 6-0 lead. Right back came the Lancers on their first set of downs. Joe MacArthur found James Townsend open down the right sideline and 72-yards later, Holy Cross was in front of Camden by the score of 7-6.
Holy Cross went to work offensively scoring three unanswered point when Haslon carried the ball seven consecutive times. Haslon scored on his last carry from 3-yards out to start the second quarter. That scoring drive covered 43-yards and established the fact that the Lancers could run the ball against the Panthers defense. Haslon added his second touchdown on an 8-yard run with 3:33 remaining to the half.
 Believe it or not, two more touchdowns would be scored right before the half ended. MacArthur added his second touchdown pass of the day when London Fryar came down with a 24-yard reception in the endzone. Carney would match that score for Camden when Brown connected with him with 2:05 showing on the clock to end the first half scoring.
Now trailing 26-12, Camden started the second half the same way they started the game. Shamari Moore, who had 142 yards rushing on 20 carries and two touchdowns, ran straight up the middle and scored from 18-yards out. After the missed two point conversion, the Panthers only trailed by one touchdown. Camden would recover a fumble on the ensuing kickoff deep in Holy Cross territory. But on a second and ten pass attempt, Rick Costa picked off the pass and rumbled 83-yards to slam the door on the Panthers. Lou Gallagher was leading the charge for Holy Cross putting pressure on the quarterback causing two interceptions and at least two sacks.
Jay Marino and Rob Curley each would add a passing touchdown in the finally quarter. Marino tossed a 5-yard score to Dalon Thomas while Curley found Townsend for his second touchdown of the day. Moore would add a 22-yard reception for the Panthers to go along with an 80-yard touchdown run for the final points of the game.
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High School Football:
