Hinson cheered as Timber Creek blasts Camden, 56-14
It blared through the stadium before the game. A show of support for a man who has been, at times, polarizing outside the confines of his home stadium:
It blared through the stadium before the game. A show of support for a man who has been, at times, polarizing outside the confines of his home stadium:
"Welcome to the house that Hinson built."
Over the last 11 seasons, Rob Hinson turned football at Timber Creek into a must-see event.
Fans who packed the stadium didn't waver Friday night even after the Chargers took a massive early lead in a game they eventually won, 56-14, over visiting Camden.
The Chargers - regardless of the score - were too much fun to watch.
"We had the adrenaline going tonight," said junior wide receiver Jean-Paul Roane.
Hinson, a 1989 Camden graduate, didn't have to do much coaching Friday night against his old school. His players dominated from the opening kickoff, which Roane returned 82 yards for a touchdown. It was one of three touchdowns for Roane, who said he's finally feeling healthy after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last season.
"I finally feel like I'm getting that burst back," he said.
Roane was just one standout on a team with a deep pool of athletes. Quarterback Devin Leary finished 15 of 27 passing for 262 yards and five touchdowns. Wide receiver Ezrah Archie caught his 10th and 11th touchdown passes of the season.
And early in the third quarter, with his team already ahead by 42-7, Onani Moore fielded a punt near the right sideline. He reversed field, running to the left sideline before turning up field and scoring a touchdown. The highlight-reel plays just kept coming.
"Our team is good this year. We have athletes across the board," Roane said.
Hinson said he was all business in the week leading up to the game, but afterward he reminisced about a lifetime in Camden - most of his family still lives in the city - and a coaching career that has included stops at Woodrow Wilson, Camden High, Clarion University, Pennsauken, and Salem.
"I root for Camden to win every game they play," he said, "except this one."
Arguably the rockiest road Hinson has faced as a coach was this offseason, when his team was mired in recruiting allegations.
Those allegations appeared a distant memory on Friday night. Hinson said he's proud of what he's helped build at Timber Creek and proud of what his players have accomplished on and off the field.
"Football has been our sanctuary the whole time," Hinson said.
Camden 0 7 0 7 - 14
Timber Creek 14 28 7 7 - 56
TC: Jean-Paul Roane 82 kickoff return (Tyler Coluccio kick)
TC: Ezrah Archie 6 pass from Devin Leary (Coluccio kick)
TC: Roane 7 pass from Leary (Coluccio kick)
TC: Onani Moore 17 pass from Leary (Coluccio kick)
C: Damon Rice 96 kick off return (Andre Sterling kick)
TC: Archie 14 pass from Leary (Coluccio kick)
TC: Harold Coleman 4 run (Coluccio kick)
TC: Moore 50 punt return (Coluccio kick)
TC: Roane 29 pass from Leary (Coluccio kick)
C: Deron Wharton 30 pass from Drew Harris (Sterling kick)