By By STEVE FRANKLIN, Sports Writer
CHOCOWINITY — Southside had its most prolific offense performance of the season on Friday night.
Unfortunately, so too did Camden.
The Seahawks racked up a season-best 301 yards of total offense, but the defense couldn’t keep the Bruins out of the end zone as Camden racked up a season-high 48 points and 366 yards of offense to defeat Southside, 48-12.
It was the 16th consecutive loss for the Seahawks dating back to November of 2006.
Camden exploded right out of the gate Friday night.
The Bruins scored on a 47-yard touchdown pass from Kendrick Jackson to Demetris Branch a minute and 10 seconds into the contest to start a wild first quarter.
Two plays later, Southside quarterback Kevin Sparks connected with Terrence Windley on an 82-yard strike down the right sideline to draw within 7-6.
Not to be outdone, the Bruins answered the Seahawks’ challenge on their ensuing possession as Rashard Overton burst through the middle of Southside’s defense for a 51-yard touchdown run to put Camden ahead 13-6 less than five minutes into the game.
After forcing Southside’s offense to go three-out on its next drive, the Bruins took advantage of the first of seven Seahawk turnovers.
On fourth down, Southside lined up to punt, but the snap sailed over punter Geoffrey Weston’s head and into the end zone, where it was pounced on by Bruins’ linebacker C.J. Williams to give Camden a 20-6 lead.
The Seahawks mounted another drive on its next possession to stay close to the Bruins. Southside strung together a four-play 64-yard drive in which Sparks completed two passes for 59 yards, the last of which resulted in his second touchdown pass of the evening, a 20-yard toss to Derick Cannon to make it 20-12 after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Bruins broke it open.
Fifty-four seconds into the second quarter, Overton scored his second long rushing touchdown of the game, darting 46 yards to make it 27-12.
That’s when the wheels started coming off.
Three minutes later, the Bruins pass rush got to Sparks and forced the Seahawks’ senior signal caller to fumble. The ball was scooped up Camden’s Ray Sawyer and returned 37 yards to the Seahawks’ 3 yard line.
After the Seahawks kept the Bruins out of the end zone on three straight plays, Camden fullback Byron Brooks finally managed to penetrate Southside’s defense and plunge in for a one-yard score.
On Southside’s next drive, Camden’s defense again came up with a big play.
The Bruins’ Zach Sanderlin deflected Sparks’ first down pass attempt at the line of scrimmage and the ball fell into the hands of T.J. Brooks who returned it to Southside’s 13 yard line.
A few plays later, Camden capitalized on the turnover as Jackson hooked with Mack McCartney on a two-yard TD toss to make it 41-12 at the half.
In the second half things settled down as the Bruins produced the lone score after intermission on Overton’s third rushing touchdown, this one from 49 yards out.
Sparks threw for season-high 187 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game with an undisclosed arm injury late in the fourth quarter.
Hines gave his senior quarterback a lot of credit after the game.
Overton led Camden’s rushing attack with 164 yards on just six carries. The leading rusher for the Seahawks was sophomore Lonnie Williams who racked up 93 yards on 13 carries.
The Seahawks (0-5) will look to pick up their first win of the season next Friday when they travel to Manteo.
Camden Southside
16 First Downs 14
33-276 Rushes-Yards 27-107
90 Passing Yards 194
5-8-2 Pass-Comp-Int 8-23-4
2-35.5 Punting 2-32
4-3 Fumbles-Lost 5-3
4-30 Penalties 9-60
Camden 20 21 7 0 — 48
Home 12 0 0 0 — 12
Scoring Summary
C — Demetris Branch 47 pass from Kendrick Jackson (Nick Blackwell kick), 10:50. 1st
S — Terrence Windley 82 pass from Kevin Sparks (Run failed), 9:55, 1st.
C — Rashard Overton 51 run (Kick failed), 7:46, 1st
C — C.J. Williams fumble recovery in end zone (Blackwell kick), 5:31, 1st
S — Derick Cannon 20 pass from Sparks (Run failed), 4:05, 1st
C — Overton 46 run (Blackwell kick), 11:06, 2nd
C — Byron Brooks 1 run (Blackwell kick), 6:36. 2nd
C — Mack McCartney 2 pass from Jackson (Blackwell kick), 4:38. 2nd
C — Overton 49 run (Blackwell kick), 9:15, 3rd