Samuel Fels defeats Horace Furness

WITH A heavy heart, Aasim Campbell took a knee near midfield with his Samuel Fels High teammates after leading them to a 35-16 victory last night at Charles Martin Memorial Field.

Head coach Bill Harrigan then spoke succinctly about exorcising last week's late-game demons and finishing off a game against Horace Furness.

Harrigan then presented the game ball to Campbell.

"There is overcoming adversity," Harrigan said, "and then there is overcoming adversity."

Campbell's father, Benjamin Campbell, was shot and killed on Tuesday, Aasim said.

"He's in a better place now," the 16-year-old sophomore said. "I miss him. I miss him already. It's only been about 2 days. Funeral's [today] and then gotta go back to practice and work hard. I'm doing it for him now. I have to take care of my mom."

The 5-9, 170-pound quarterback orchestrated a scoring drive on the team's first possession, which he punctuated with a 5-yard plunge. Jylil Reeder followed later with a 6-yard score that made it 12-0, as Fels failed on both conversion attempts.

Campbell scored three touchdowns, and had 89 rushing yards on 23 carries. He also passed for 77 yards on six of 13 passing.

After the team blew a 19-0, fourth-quarter lead in a loss to Northeast last week, Campbell said his mind was only on one thing.

"To win," he said. "I don't like to lose. When I lose, I get mad and I don't want to talk to anybody. That's how I felt last week."

Furness attempted to deal Campbell's crew more late-game heartache, led by junior running back Kharee Ruley's 155 yards rushing on just 13 carries. Ruley also added an 85-yard kickoff return that pulled Furness within 12-8 after a successful conversion.

However, Wesley White returned the ensuing kickoff for a 90-yard score, and Campbell added a 6-yarder to make it 28-8 after successful two-point tries.

"I hate the feeling of losing," Campbell said. "That's the worst feeling to me other than people passing."

Benjamin Campbell, 38, was shot and killed in Love Park, his youngest son said. Aasim said he wasn't sure of the circumstances surrounding the death.

"He came to all the games," Campbell said. "He was going to be here today, but it happened. He was definitely going to be here. He worked with me. He took me to the gym three times a week. My brother will take me now."

His brother, Malik Corbin, 26, was at the game. His mother, Trina Harrell, 43, could not attend.

"[My dad] called me 'Sim' or 'Showtime,' " Aasim said. "Every time I stepped on the field or on the basketball court he would say, 'Ok, let's go. It's showtime.' "

As he spoke, Campbell's eyes grew glassy, but his voice never wavered.

Harrigan made him a captain before the game, to the sophomore's surprise because the other three captains are seniors.

"I'm a leader now," he said.

Wave after wave of teammates patted his head or tapped his shoulder in support as he spoke, which seemed to weaken his defenses.

"I love them guys,'' he said. "They gave me a moment of silence before the game and at halftime. I love them guys. I didn't know they'd be here for me like they did, but they were here for me, and I'm here for them."