CAMDEN — Of all the yards Christian Braxton gained Friday night, none were more satisfying than the 17 tough third-down yards he gained on a crucial, game-clinching drive in the fourth quarter.
"I'm not the biggest guy, so running somebody over felt good," the Camden junior said. "It felt great, knowing I could be a key part in our winning tonight."
Braxton had 205 rushing and the Panthers pulled away to a 44-27 victory at Farnham Park, lifting their overall record to 4-1. The Red Devils, who cut a 27-7 deficit down to 27-20 but could get no closer, fell to 3-2.
Camden piled up a whopping 385 yards on the ground, including 113 by Jaiden Steele and another 66 by quarterback Mahki Brunson.
Braxton broke free for 36 yards on the game's second play, setting a powerful tone for the evening. The junior had touchdown runs of three and 32 yards, both coming in a second quarter that saw Camden reach the end zone on all four of its possessions, excluding the one that ran out the first-half clock.
The Panthers displayed their resolve.
"Coming off a loss (to Holy Spirit), we talked all week about how we had to bounce back," Braxton said. "It wasn't the prettiest win, but we got it done."
In a contest filled with big plays, Camden stayed grounded, continuing to churn out important gains.
"We just had to stay locked in," Braxton said. "We got it done."
Braxton carried the ball 30 times, including eight in the fourth. He kick-started one drive with a 20-yard burst and kept another drive going with the 17-yard run that saw him battle through multiple tacklers.
That allowed Camden to drain the clock and hold off the Red Devils.
"If we can run the ball like that, and let the passing game catch up, have a full game offensively, I think we'll be a tough out for anybody," Panthers coach Rob Hinson said.
Key Play
With Camden ahead 42-27 with 4:52 left in the fourth quarter, Jeremiah Steeley intercepted a Rancocas Valley pass. but Steeley's interception provided the Camden defense a satisfying finish. The unit also added a safety in the closing moments to cap the scoring.
Game Balls
Christian Braxton ran 30 times for 205 yards and two touchdowns for Camden. His two scores helped the Panthers find their footing, the first one tying things up at seven apiece and the second putting Camden in front for good.
Wagner College-bound Malik Redd provided a pair of electrifying plays for Camden, dashing 78 yards for a touchdown on a kickoff return and also going up high in double coverage to bring down a 22-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Mahki Brunson. Redd had three touchdowns in all, also scoring on a 28-yard reception.
Quarterback Sayvien Adams had a big night for the Red Devils, breaking free for a 92-yard run in the first quarter, which set up a 9-yard rushing TD by Montre Wilson, and the Red Devil QB also ran for an 11-yard score and threw a 60-yard touchdown strike to Brody Deiter.
Rancocas Valley's Devin Duana was tough to contain. He hauled in a pair of receptions for 81 yards and also threw to Brody Deiter for a 34-yard score on a gadget play.
He said it:
Camden coach Rob Hinson on the win: "I was talking (to one of my assistant coaches) before the game about how much (Rancocas Valley) does offensively. So we were a little worried. The quarterback's a dual threat, Deiter is a great receiver, and they run the ball well. So this was a good win for the team, but I don't think we played well. I'm just happy we got the win.
"This is a pretty challenging schedule we have. You can't have an off week."
Next up
Camden has a WJFL American contest Friday at Winslow while Rancocas Valley travels to Williamstown Friday night for a WJFL Classic battle.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: HS football: Braxton powers Camden by dangerous Rancocas Valley
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