ABSECON — Ahmad Jones made his debut as the Camden High School quarterback at Holy Spirit on Friday night.
It was practically a home game for him.
The senior, who is from Atlantic City and played the last three seasons at Pleasantville, ran for a TD as the Panthers beat Spirit 28-14 in a West Jersey Football League interdivision game.
Camden (3-1) trailed 14-0 early in the second quarter.
“We had some big plays and couldn’t sustain anything,” Spirit coach Andrew DiPasquale said.
Jones had an inauspicious debut. The Panthers began their first possession at their own 1-yard line after their defense made a goal-line stand against Spirit. Jones fumbled his first snap, and Spirit linebacker Brady Kolbe fell on the ball in the end zone for a TD.
“Short-term memory,” Jones said. “I can’t dwell on that the whole game. I have to put it past me, look forward and make more plays.”
Spirit went up 14-0 when quarterback Ty Costabile connected with Emanuel Gerena on a 93-yard TD pass with 11 minutes, two seconds left in the second quarter.
Spirit had a two-TD lead and momentum. But the game turned in Camden’s favor on the ensuing kickoff.
Ibn Muhammad returned it 74 yards for a TD. The Panthers controlled the game from there.
“We tell the kids all the time: You go up two scores, you have to go up three scores,” DiPasquale said. “It changes the whole game. They got the kick return. They got some life, and they played a great rest of the game after that.”
Camden took the lead for good when Christian Braxton burst off tackle and into the clear for a 62-yard TD on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter.
Jones completed 8 of 13 passes for 135 yards and ran nine times for 50 yards. He left the game briefly in the second half with leg cramps.
“I can coach Ahmad hard,” Camden coach Rob Hinson said. “I’m not happy with tonight, and I’m sure he’s not either. We’ll take care of all that. He did enough and made some plays when we needed him to, so we’re happy with the outcome.”
Jones had to sit out Camden’s first three games because he transferred as a senior. Jones said he saw a better opportunity for himself at Camden. Jones threw for 33 TDs and 3,504 yards during his Pleasantville career.
“I’ve been waiting for this,” he said. “I worked all offseason for this. I had a lot of support behind me. It felt good to come out here and compete in front of basically my hometown. I’m back. I’m better, and I’m happy.”
Spirit (2-2) struggled to establish any offense in the second half. The Spartans finished the game with just 52 rushing yards.
“Their secondary did a great job,” DiPasquale said.”They got great pressure. Their ends knocked down four or five passes. Credit to them: They played a great game.”
The Spirit defense played well and gave the Spartans something to build on. Defensive lineman Ubrig Kurtz had two sacks. Linebacker Freddy Marczyk was a constant presence in the Camden backfield and had two sacks. Senior linebacker Jake Groeber made two tackles for losses.
Holy Spirit will play at Cedar Creek (3-1) next Friday.
“You are what your records says you are,” DiPasquale said. “We’re 2-2 right now, so we’re pretty average. We have another good opportunity next week against a good Cedar Creek team. We have to get everything going in the right direction tomorrow morning.
Camden 0 14 6 8 – 28
Holy Spirit 7 7 0 0 – 14
FIRST QUARTER
HS – Kolbe recovered fumble in end zone (Taboga kick)
SECOND QUARTER
HS – Gerena 93 pass from Costabile (Taboga kick)
CAM – Muhammad 74 kickoff return (Duckett run)
CAM – Jones 19 run (pass failed)
THIRD QUARTER
CAM – Braxton 62 run (run failed)
FOURTH QUARTER
CAM – Muhammad 56 run (Freeman pass from Jones)
Contact: 609-272-7209
MMcGarry@PressofAC.com
X @ACPressMcGarry
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Mike McGarry
Staff Writer
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