Camden comeback ends Woodstock’s magical run

Kingsland — Pregame talk pegged the Camden County-Woodstock game as over by halftime. Unranked and unappreciated Woodstock obviously did not get the memo.

The visiting Wolverines pushed Class AAAAA’s No. 2-ranked Camden County to the brink of a big upset before falling 18-17.

The quarterfinal was decided only after Camden (13-0) got two first downs in the final three minutes.

Senior Daniel Valdez’s lone carry turned out to be the winner. His 1-yard plunge with 6:30 left capped a 10-play, 69-yard march that ended the game’s scoring.

“We were scared to death because we looked at film and saw Woodstock was playing really well and was a well-coached team,” said Camden coach Jeff Herron, who will make his fifth appearance over the past seven years in the semifinals.

“On Thanksgiving, we always have issues about being flat and unemotional. We weren’t [emotional] tonight, and [Woodstock] was. They took it to us.”

Woodstock (8-5) demonstrated that on the first snap of the game when senior Justin Thompson gathered in quarterback Taylor Trotter’s option and raced 78 yards for a touchdown.

Woodstock sophomore Zach Hitt then pounced on a loose ball when Camden fumbled on its first possession at its 42-yard line. Woodstock cashed that in when Trotter hit Tanner Skogen in the flat and the sophomore sprinted into the end zone for a 14-0 lead.

The Wildcats countered with a textbook 59-yard march, which was finished off on a short run by senior Ean Days. But the momentum gained from that was short-lived. Woodstock’s wing-T led to another extended drive and a Jonathan Wiener field goal for a 17-6 lead.

Woodstock was on the verge of carrying that margin into the final quarter before Camden senior Michael Green intercepted Trotter’s underthrown pass at midfield and returned it for a touchdown.

“Michael Green has had a huge year,” Herron said. “That might be his 11th interception this year. Them throwing to him was a blessing for us.”