Nike Football Road Tour Game of the Week
Teams: Camden County (Kingsland, Park, Ga.) at Hoover (Ala.)
Where: Regions Park
When: Friday, 7 p.m. (CT)
Records: Camden County (2-0), Hoover (2-0)
National rank: Camden County #24, Hoover #406
State rank: Camden County #2, Hoover #14
Coaches: Jeff Herron (CC), Josh Niblett (H).
By Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
The football team at Georgia power Camden County has been out of state once this decade.
It may be surprising coach Jeff Herron wants to give it another go.
Three seasons past, the Wildcats bussed 5½ hours to South Carolina only to commit three turnovers on their first three possessions in a 20-19 loss to Aiken. The following season in the cozy confines of Kingsland (Ga.) Camden whitewashed Aiken 49-0.
“We didn’t handle that trip real well,” Herron said. “Hopefully we learned something from it.”
None of the players on that Camden team are on the current one, which will bus seven hours this morning to Alabama to face the MTV-made-famous Hoover Buccaneers in the Nike Five Days ‘Till Friday Football Road Tour Game of the Week.
Friday’s game is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Birmingham Barrons Double-AA baseball facility.
Though the Wildcats are somewhat burdened by the long trek, they are thankful for the opportunity, Herron said. Camden County comes into the game 2-0 and ranked 24th nationally by MaxPreps and No. 2 in Georgia.
The Wildcats returned a whopping 15 starters back from last year’s state AAAAA semifinal team and thus far have outscored opponents 52-6, including a 21-6 victory over fellow state power Norcross.
“We’re not complaining at all (about the long trip),” Herron said. “We’re excited about the chance to play such a great program. It’s a heck of a challenge.”
Hoover, under coach Rush Propst, won five 6A state titles between 2000 and 2005, prompting MTV officials to inquire about a reality show called “Two-A-Days” chronicling the life of players and coaches.
The Bucs obliged and responded with their fourth straight state title in 2005 that included a win over the Tim Tebow-led Nease Panthers of Florida.
The show continued for a second season but all the bright lights, cameras and high profile took its toll on the school and program. The show eventually was cancelled and amid off-the-field allegations, Propst resigned at the end of the 2007 season, which ended with a 21-17 loss to Vestavia in the third round of the playoffs. The Bucs finished 7-5.
Just before Christmas, Hoover hired Josh Niblett, who spent the last three seasons at Oxford High.
According to the MaxPreps' Brady Wilkes and Nick Reasons, on site all week at Hoover preparing for Friday’s game, Niblett and his brother/offensive coordinator Tad Niblett, have injected stability, balance and a positive influence back into the program.
Wilkes said the brothers’ physical presence alone is enough to inspire. Both look athletic and in playing shape, like they could suit up for a NFL squad right now.
“Everyone from the players to staff to community seems really encouraged,” Wilkes said. “What I hear is before the program was so much about winning but the new philosophy seems to be more about personal growth and turning these boys into men. The community has really latched on and the players have bought in.”
It’s just what Josh Niblett promised at a school board meeting the night he was hired.
“We’re gonna win, I’m not worried about that,” he said. “My biggest thing is I want to make a difference in these kids’ lives, so 10 years from now they’re still winning.”
Despite a very young squad, they’ve won on the field, beating Gardendale, 27-7 and then knocking off Homewood 30-21.
The 57 points is impressive considering they returned back just one starter on offense, he being quarterback Simon Propst (Rush’s nephew).
On defense, Simon’s brother, senior linebacker John Propst led the team in tackles last season and other top defenders include linebacker Robert White and safety Justin Sly.
Herron flew to Alabama to watch Hoover in a spring scrimmage and was impressed with what he saw.
“They were both fast and physical but what impressed me most was how hard they played,” Herron said. “They are definitely well coached. I was very impressed.”
Camden is extremely impressive, fast and strong. They are led offensively by South Carolina-bound receiver DeAngelo Smith, running back Greg Baker, tight end Marquevious Myers and quarterback Christian Milstead, who moved over from his safety spot to take over the reigns left by graduated Major Herron, the coach’s son.
Coach Herron said Milstead has made the transition smoothly.
“He’s a great kid and athlete and very capable,” Herron said. “He’s made the switch very well.”
The strength of Camden is probably on defense, where linebacker Justin Orr and backs Michael Green, DeWaine Coleman and Robert Williams return.
“Like a playoff game, we can’t make mistakes,” Herron said. “We’ve got to play great defense and not turn the ball over. We need to shore some things up, be more consistent and improve our kicking game.”
The Hoover camp is well aware of how talented and well coached Camden is. The biggest question mark for Camden might just be the travel and long bus ride.
Unlike its last trip out of state, the Wildcats won’t be traveling the same day of the game.
“Our fans, players and community are excited,” Herron said. “Traveling makes things more difficult, but we look forward to a situation where we get our blood pressure up.”
E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com.
