Camden overpowers Kingsway

Sean Chandler likes to sit back and strike from the shadows.

He says that's why he has returned five interceptions for touchdowns in the last two seasons: The element of surprise.

"My coach tells me, 'Bait the quarterback,' " Chandler said.

But the Camden senior and his teammates can't sneak up on anybody anymore. The Panthers clearly belong among the best teams in South Jersey.

"They took it to us, plain and simple," Kingsway coach Tony Barchuk said after his team was outplayed by Camden in a West Jersey Football League interdivision clash of Top 10 teams.

Chandler, senior two-way star and Temple recruit, sent Camden on its way to an imposing 28-7 victory with a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown midway through the first half.

Junior quarterback Khalil Williams added two touchdown passes, both to sophomore Brad Hawkins, and also ran for a score as Camden (7-0) won its 11th game in a row.

The Panthers, the No. 9 team in The Inquirer's South Jersey rankings, all but assured themselves of a pair of home games in the South Jersey Group 2 tournament. With a victory Friday over Bishop Eustace, Camden likely will lock up the No. 1 seed.

"These guys feel like they can accomplish anything," Camden coach Dwayne Savage said.

This was a statement game for Camden, as Kingsway (5-2) entered the game as the No. 10 team in the rankings and as a squad that made the South Jersey Group 4 finals last season.

A large program with a deep tradition that plays in the WJFL National Division, Kingsway represented perhaps Camden's biggest challenge of the season.

"We knew they were a great team," Chandler said. "We wanted to show we could play with anybody in South Jersey."

Barchuk was impressed with Camden's big-play explosiveness and its ferocity on defense. The Panthers forced the Dragons into four fumbles and kept standout running backs Ray Lawry (18 carries, 77 yards) and Justin Morrison (15 carries, 96 yards) from busting loose.

"They play defense with a fury," Barchuk said. "They come after you."

Camden got strong work on defense from linebackers Khasif Williams and Demian Thomas as well as end Jamil Holloway.

On offense, Khalil Williams was 10-for-20 passing for 137 yards and also ran 12 times for 55 yards. His twin brother, Khalil Williams, ran 15 times for 90 yards and scored a pair of two-point conversions.

Hawkins caught four passes for 50 yards, and Chandler caught two passes for 35 yards and had punt returns of 39 and 24 yards.

"We're just making plays as a team," Chandler said. "We feel like we can go all the way."

Kingsway 0 0 7 0 – 7

Camden 6 6 8 8 – 28

C: Sean Chandler 36 with interception (kick failed)

C: Hawkins 20 pass from Khalil Williams (pass failed)

K: Brendan Pollick 42 pass from Robert Green (Connor Bell kick)

C: Khalil Williams 10 run (Khalif Williams run)

C: Hawkins 8 pass from Khalil Williams (Khalif Williams pass from Khalil Williams)

See and hear from Camden senior star Sean Chandler after the victory over Kingsway.

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