Union gets chance to return favor

By BRIAN WHITMORE
Sports Editor

Rarely does life present a second chance and an opportunity to correct the past seems even more elusive in the world of sports.

But Union's Yellow Jackets have a chance to right a terrible wrong, dispense of an unforgiving memory and replace it with a more suitable reflection.

Union will get its chance to avenge last December's 24-21 overtime loss to Camden in the Class AAA state championship. The rematch is at 8 p.m. Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.

You'd be hard-pressed to find someone in Union County who doesn't know the story. A tackle was made 2 yards from the end zone on the final play of regulation, preventing a Union win, and a Jacket field goal went wide in overtime, before Camden's kick was true to break the collective hearts of the Yellow Jacket faithful.

"You always say, 'I wish I did this or that,' well, we'll get our chance to make our wish come true, because we'll be able to do some things we couldn¹t do or should have done and didn't do last year." said Union coach Mike Anthony. "The biggest thing will be scoring more points than them."

Union gets its second chance against essentially the same team, with 12 Camden players returning from last year's state championship game - five on offense - and 14 of 22 starters returning overall.

"They're almost the same team that we played last year," said Anthony.

That presents the challenge. Camden is 13-1, coming off a 42-7 lowerstate championship victory over Dillon. Union, also 13-1, advanced to the state title game by winning the upperstate championship, 43-7 over Lugoff-Elgin.

Lugoff's Demons are the only team that played both Union and Camden this year, they lost 42-17 to the Bulldogs in week 4.

A loss to Sumter, 23-20 in week 1, is the only blemish on Camden's record.

Union's loss came at the hands of  Region III-AAA champion Newberry, 22-14.

The parallels are many, as both teams have powerful and similar attacks on both sides of the ball.

Camden senior quarterback Eric McCollom returns to lead the Bulldogs' spread offense. He holds school records for passing in a season and touchdown passes. He needs two touchdown passes to set a new single-season state record.

McCollom, a finalist for the state's Mr. Football award, the Bob Bacot Award - both given to S.C.'s most outstanding football player - and a Shrine Bowler, has led the Bulldogs to a 28-1 record in two years as a starter.

This season he has passed for 3,292 yards and 40 touchdowns, averaging 235 yards production through the air each game, with only nine interceptions.

He lost his favorite receiver Kelvin Grant from last year's state title game, but Camden has replaced Grant with a triple threat - junior Marvin Johnson, and seniors Todd Glee and Teo Ellis. Johnson has 57 catches for 1,043 yards and 18 touchdowns, while Glee has 39 grabs for 1,019 yards and 10 touchdowns. Ellis has 48 catches for 952 yards and 10 touchdowns.

"They don't have Kelvin Grant anymore, but they've got three great receivers," said Anthony. "I don't think any of the three can do what Kelvin could do, but McCollom is going to put the ball in the right hands. He puts it in the right places, throws on time and runs when he needs to run. He creates a mobile threat running and passing."

On the ground, McCollom is the team's second leading run producer. He has 105 carries for 430 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 4.1 yards per carry and 30.7 yards per game. Randy Hooks is the team's leading rushing threat, with 281 carries for 1,490 yards and 18 touchdowns. Hooks averages 5.3 yards per carry and 106.4 yards per game.

"They lost Marcus Brown, but got an even bigger back to replace him (Hooks is 5-10, 220 pounds)," said Anthony.

Camden's offensive line is solid, anchored by lineman Jermaine Thomas, a North-South all-star.

As impressive as the Bulldogs are on offense, they are even more dangerous on defense. Senior defensive end Charles King has 106 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 14 sacks (a school season record), eight quarterback pressures, four recovered fumbles, a batted pass and two blocked kicks. Camden senior linebacker Ron McKie, a North-South all-star, leads the team with 124 tackles and has nine tackles for loss, .5 sacks, a quarterback pressure, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

"This is the best defensive team we've seen since Spartanburg," said Anthony. "King at defensive end - his motor never stops. McKie knocked down a couple of passes by Josh (Harris, former Union quarterback) last year. He gets his hands up quick and is always coming after the sack."

On special teams, senior placekicker Jake Broom returns for Camden. He has connected on 56-of-62 PATs and two field goals. Matt Eckenroth, a sophomore, punts, averaging 30 yards per kick. Ellis is the leading Bulldog punt returner, averaging 18 yards per return. Marvin Johnson averages 18.7 yards per kickoff return.

Camden's offense averages 164 yards rushing per game, 237 yards passing per game and 38 points per game. The Bulldog defense gives up 93 yards rushing per game, 91 yards passing per game and only 11 points per game.

Few teams during the season could compete with Camden's offensive and defensive onslaught. Other than the Sumter loss, only two games were close - Lancaster (38-30) and Wilson (26-21).

But few teams compare to Union.

Union junior quarterback Justin Knox, a Bob Bacot Award finalist, leads Union's spread offense. He has passed for 2,460 yards and 26 touchdowns, with only 13 interceptions. He's rushed for 655 yards and seven touchdowns.

Anthony said Knox is the key to victory.

"Justin will be a key factor for us," he said. "We've got to allow him to do the things that he does well - sprinting, throwing and, of course, running the ball."

Knox also has three capable wide receivers - David Smith, Charles Brandon and Blake Haney. Smith, a North-South all-star who has committed to play college football for USC, has 59 catches for 1,017 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Brandon, a Shrine Bowler, has 41 grabs for 696 yards and five touchdowns.

Haney has 29 catches for 270 yards and six touchdowns.

Junior running back Eirish Stevens gives the Jackets even more running punch. He has 1,049 yards and 18 touchdowns this season.

The offensive line is anchored by senior lineman Eric Young, a Shrine Bowler, Mr. Football candidate and Division I prospect, with excellent blocking grades.

Senior linebacker Curtis Rice leads Union's defense. The North-South
all-star has 95 tackles, 30 for loss, 12 sacks, two recovered fumbles, an interception, a batted pass, 33 pressures and a defensive touchdown this season. Senior linebacker Deon Glenn also is a defensive force with 93 tackles, 10 for loss, a sack and two batted passes.

The Union secondary has 27 interceptions - senior defensive backs Josh Gilmore with eight picks, Colie Gray and Tony Good both with six.

"These are two even more similar teams this year," said Anthony. "I think our defense is as good as their defense. I'd hate to play our defense and I'm sure they feel the same way about theirs."

On special teams, junior place kicker Nick Maness has made 54-of-61 PATs and three field goals. Maness averages 38.1 yards per kickoff and sophomore punter Ricky Benvenuti averages 34.4 yards per punt.

Union's offense averages 175 yards rushing per game, 183 yards passing per game and 36 points per game. The Jacket defense gives up 117 yards rushing per game, 73 yards passing per game and only 14 points per game.

"It's really an interesting match-up again," said Anthony. "I think because we did play last year that both of us are looking at that film and what we did well and didn't do well. We'll be able to pull some things off that.

"For us to be successful we have to be patient," said Anthony. "We've got to take the short game and we've got to find ways to run the football. If we mix the pass and run, like we have all year, we should be OK."

Game 15:
Camden
Mascot: Bulldogs
Colors: Gold & Black
Home: Kershaw County
Coach: Jimmy Neal, 54-11, fifth year at Camden
Division: Region IV-AAA
Last week: Camden defeated Dillon 42-7 for the lowerstate championship
2001 record: 15-0
2002 record: 13-1
Preview: Camden defeated Union 24-21 in overtime to win last year's Class AAA state title. Union wants payback and its third state championship in four straight title game appearances.
History: Camden leads the series 3-0, also defeating Union 92-7 in 1925 and 13-6 in 1930.
Players to watch: Eric McCollom (#7, QB, Shrine Bowl); Tremaine Mitchell (#82, TE, Shirne Bowl); Jermaine Thomas (#73, OL, North-South); Ron McKie (#51, ILB, North-South); Marvin Johnson (#2, WR); Todd Glee (#9, WR); Teo
Ellis (#80, WR); Charles King (#90, DE); Randy Hooks (#34, RB); Derek Robinson (#24, RB).

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