Camden, Timber Creek set for road trip

Most road games for South Jersey football teams involve bus trips that last anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours, tops.

The players and coaches from Camden and Timber Creek are set to travel nearly halfway across the country this weekend to participate in a season-opening showcase event in East St. Louis, Ill.

"It's very exciting," Camden senior two-way lineman Dayvohn Washington said. "We're both going out there to show how we play, to represent South Jersey and our state."

Camden and Timber Creek will participate in the second annual Gateway Classic Saturday in 7,000-seat Clyde Jordan Stadium on the campus of East St. Louis High School.

East St. Louis, an Illinois state power, is coached by Camden High School graduate Darren Sunkett, who put together the event and invited a pair of teams with ties to his old hometown.

"We wanted to see a little 'Camden' out here in the Midwest," Sunkett said. "It's going to be great to see South Jersey teams."

Camden will play Cahokia (Ill.) in the first game of the showcase at 1 p.m. Timber Creek will play Belleville West (Ill.) at 4 p.m.

East St. Louis, which won its eighth state title and finished 14-0 last season, will host Evangel Christian Academy of Shreveport, La., in the third and final game, set to kick off at 7 p.m.

"It's a chance to get out and play somebody else," said Timber Creek coach Rob Hinson, a Camden graduate. "We try to gear things like this to getting our kids different experiences. They sacrifice so much playing for this program, the things we do in the summer.

"It's a chance to get out of the area, to see another part of the country."

Camden coach Dwayne Savage said the educational component of the trip is as valuable as the competitive part.

"It's fun to play a team from somewhere else," Savage said. "But the main thing is showing the kids something different, showing them a different part of the country.

"Some of these kids, they've never been anywhere. It's an educational experience for them, to see another part of the country."

Camden and Timber Creek were able to arrange their participation because they were scheduled to play each other this season in a West Jersey Football League game.

Under WJFL rules, the teams were able to opt out of the non-division game, creating an opening on each squad's schedule.

"The only bad part is not being able to play Timber Creek," said Savage, noting that the Chargers were 12-0 last season and open this season as the No. 1 team in the Inquirer's Top 25.

Camden planned to leave by bus at midnight Thursday, with around 53 players, coaches and support staff in the Panthers' travel party.

The bus ride is expected to take 13 or 14 hours, Savage said.

"It's exciting to go somewhere else," Camden senior wide receiver/defensive back Damon Rice said. "We're planning to put a show on."

Timber Creek planned to leave around 4 a.m. Friday. The Chargers have about 60 people in their travel party but Hinson said members from as many as 19 families intend to fly out to meet the team in East St. Louis.

"It's something different," Timber Creek senior offensive lineman Derryk Sellers said. "It's going to be fun."

Said Timber Creek senior wide receiver/defensive back Deion Jennings: "We're going out to represent."

Hinson said Belleville West is "like Lenape." The Maroons opened their season Friday night with a 48-24 win over Quincy (Ill.) as senior Kriston Davis ran for 222 yards and three touchdowns.

"I've seen them" on video, Hinson said. "They're going to be tough."

Savage said Cahokia is "like us, they spread the field." The Comanches opened their season Saturday with a 42-7 loss to Vianney (Ill.).

Camden and Timber Creek both plan to return home Sunday with a quick turnaround for an important division game for each team on Sept. 8 as the Panthers will host rival Camden Catholic in a WJFL Constitution battle and the Chargers will host Delsea in a WJFL National clash.

"We'll get back Sunday night, let them sleep in Monday morning," Hinson said. "Monday afternoon, we'll be back out here."