IT DIDN'T MATTER that the opposition was considered by many as the best in South Jersey and ranked as high as third in the state. All coach Durwin Pearson wanted his Camden High football players to do was win the first game.

The Panthers did - in stunning fashion - limiting the heralded offense of Camden

Catholic to just one touchdown in a 14-9 win over the Irish.

"It wasn't so much about who we were playing, it was more we felt like that it was important to win the first game," said Pearson, in his first year as head coach after a long stint as an assistant at Camden. "Camden Catholic is a great team and it was unfortunate that we drew the No. 1 team for our first game. But it was important to us to start off well early this year. In the past, we've put things together late in the season. Our goal is to be able to play late-season football right away."

Camden intercepted Wisconsin-bound quarterback Joe Brennan three times and scored the winning touchdown on a 97-yard interception return by Denzel Satterfield with just under 6 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

"Going into the game, we wanted to play great defense, minimize our turnovers and get first downs to keep their offense off the field," said Pearson. "We wanted to be physical with them. If we did that, they wouldn't be able to sustain that spread offense, we thought. It was successful. It wasn't about putting pressure on their quarterback, it was about putting our best guys on their best guys."

And many were outstanding for the Panthers, including Satterfield.

"He was on their big receiver [6-7 Terrance Casper] all day," Pearson said. "We manned him up against Casper and he neutralized him all day. And Casper's a great receiver. And then Denzel made the biggest play of all coming up with that pick and touchdown."

Satterfield wasn't the only defensive star.

"Darryl Perry, who I think is the best linebacker in South Jersey, had 24 tackles in that game, including 18 solo. This kid was all over the field. He had 169 tackles, including 69 solos last year. Corey Drummond was great. He had a pick and 10 tackles from his safety position. And Jamil Davis had three passes defended, including one in the last 5 minutes, two sacks and eight tackles.

"But our whole thing is that we promote team, not individual stars."

Camden has always been a very good defensive club, and this year is no different. It has always been able to stay in games because of their defensive stinginess.

"Last year [when Camden went 4-6], it seemed like we were in every game," Pearson said. "We were leading Camden Catholic, 2-0, last year late in the first half, then we threw two interceptions near our goal line that turned it into a 16-2 game at the half. That's the kind of year it was.

"This year it's one game at a time. Our next game, at Paul VI [7 p.m. tomorrow] is more important than the Catholic game. This is a [Burlco/Olympic Patriot] division game. Paul VI has a great team, a great coaching staff. They are more balanced than Catholic. Our goal is to win the division, and we need to win this game to do that."

Cherokee, looking ahead

 

Well, last Friday the two opened against each other once again. And once again it was a thriller, with Cherokee this time coming out with the win, 14-7.

It will be interesting to see how these two bounce back from such a physical game, and with 1 less day to get ready.

Shawnee plays at dangerous Winslow Township this afternoon at 3:45, while Cherokee will christen its new turf field tonight when it hosts Lenape at 7.

 

Congrats

 

Joining Camden's Pearson as winners in their first game were: Jon Caputo, who got Audubon's season rolling with a 27-0 win over Collingswood; Nelson Epley, of Haddon Township, whose club beat Overbrook, 27-14; Pennsauken's Clinton Tabb guided his alma mater to a thrilling 20-16 win at Eastern; and Pennsville's Ryan Wood oversaw a 21-17 win at Deptford.

New Holy Cross coach Fran Holmes will open tomorrow night at Bishop Eustace, while Wildwood's Rob Dieffenbach will try to take the opener tomorrow at home against Pitman.

 

Games to watch

 

tonight: Both had easy goes in their openers as Woodbury thumped Sterling, 48-0, and Haddonfield beat Gateway by the same score.

The quarterbacks are the story in this one. Both Woodbury's Brian Purnell and Haddonfield's Phil Bhaya can beat defenses with their arms and their feet. This might be a whoever-scores-last-will-win contest.

* Timber Creek at Moorestown, 7 tonight: This Burlco/Olympic Liberty division battle will go a long way toward a division title.

Both teams are blessed with great speed. Timber Creek's massive offensive line will have to play well, while Moorestown will rely on the all-around play of Sebastian Jaskowski. *

Send e-mail to

cooneyb@phillynews.com

 

A year ago, on a misty Friday night, Cherokee and Shawnee opened their seasons against each other in what turned out to be a hard-hitting, thrilling 14-9 win for Shawnee. It was the closest the Renegades would come to a loss during their 12-0 season.