Camden coach Durwin Pearson saw the future of his football team Saturday, and it was as bright as the weather.
"The sun finally came out," Pearson said after visiting Camden's 24-13 victory over Gloucester Catholic in a WJFL Independence Division game.
Freshman quarterback Khalil Williams and sophomore wide receiver Sean Chandler led the way for Camden (1-3 overall, 1-2 division), one of South Jersey's youngest teams.
With just three seniors on the roster, Camden struggled at times early in the season. But the Panthers' younger athletes came through with big play after big play against the Rams.
"I'm so proud of these guys," said Camden senior defensive back/wide receiver Maleek Ways, who led the Panthers defense with an interception and was presented with a game ball by Pearson. "They really showed how they could play."
Senior Elliot McCummings, who started at quarterback for the first time, scored two touchdowns for Gloucester Catholic (0-5, 0-4).
"We made too many mistakes," Gloucester Catholic coach Tony Garczynski said. "Mistakes against speed will kill you. They make a mistake and we gain 15. We make a mistake and they score a touchdown.
"Our kids played hard, and that's all you can ask."
Camden features 13 sophomores and 10 freshmen, and many of those underclassmen played key roles in the Panthers' first victory of the season.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Williams, who starts in the backfield along with his twin, Khalif, threw touchdown passes of 50 yards to Quashon Jones and 73 yards to Chandler. He was 6-for-11 passing for 206 yards.
The 6-0, 175-pound Chandler also returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. Jones, a 6-1, 180-pound sophomore, caught two passes for 94 yards.
"We finally put together four quarters," Pearson said. "In our other games, we played good early but we didn't put together four quarters."
Pearson credited his seniors with keeping the team together through an 0-3 start.
"I told the seniors, 'You've been through this,' " Pearson said. "They had to provide the support for these young kids.
"We just had to continue to stand strong through the storm. There isn't any storm I know of that lasts a lifetime. The sun will shine again."
Camden 0 12 6 6 – 24
Gloucester Catholic 0 13 0 0 – 13
GC: Elliott McCummings 9 run (Anthony Antonini kick)
C: Sean Chandler 80 kickoff return (pass failed)
GC: McCummings 1 run (kick failed)
C: Quashon Jones 50 pass from Khalil Williams (pass failed)
C: Thomas Johnson 1 run (run failed)
C: Chandler 73 pass from Williams (pass failed)
Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223, panastasia@phillynews.com, or @PhilAnastasia on Twitter. Read his blog, "Jersey Side Sports," at www.philly.com/jerseysidesports
