Camden County Wildcats gave it their all, but their playoff journey ended after a tough 28-7 loss to the unbeaten North Cobb Warriors in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs.
The Wildcats, who earned the fourth seed from Region 1-6A, were up against a North Cobb team that had been dominant all season.
This was the third time in 13 years these teams met in the playoffs, and the stakes were high.
Unfortunately for Camden, North Cobb came out on top and broke the tie in their postseason history.
The Wildcats fought hard to get to this game, securing their playoff spot by beating Tift County in the regular season finale and getting a little help from Colquitt County, who took down Richmond Hill.
First-year head coach Travis Roland had done an impressive job leading Camden to a 7-3 regular season in a tough region.
Without question, Camden came in ready to battle, but North Cobb proved why they were undefeated.
Camden’s offense, led by junior quarterback Parks Riendeau, had been strong all season.
Riendeau put up 20 touchdowns and only five interceptions during the year, completing about 60% of his passes.
The Wildcats averaged 42 points per game in the regular season, but the North Cobb defense wouldn’t make it easy for them.
One of Camden’s biggest weapons, 5-star senior tight end and Georgia commit Elyiss Williams, had been unstoppable all year.
At 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds, Williams is the kind of player every team dreams of having.
He finished the regular season with over 750 yards on 52 catches, which, let’s face it, makes him nearly impossible to cover.
But North Cobb had a plan, and they managed to hold Williams to zero catches—a huge accomplishment that made a big difference in the game.
Camden’s offense wasn’t only about Williams, though.
Wide receiver Sean Green added steady production all season, with 500 yards on 41 catches.
On the ground, running backs Jordan Hardy and Antwan Williams combined for almost 1,800 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns, which gives the Wildcats a balanced attack.
Against North Cobb, though, they needed help finding their usual rhythm.
Defensively, Camden had some bright spots, even in the loss.
Junior linebacker Xavier Brown had been a standout all season and led the team with 116 tackles and eight tackles for loss.
Seniors like Donald Widener Jr. and Jerome Roundtree added leadership and impact plays, while sophomore linebacker Kingston Melton showed promise with his 53 tackles and six tackles for loss.
Despite their efforts, North Cobb’s offense was too much to handle.
The Warriors were led by senior quarterback Nick Grimstead, who had been a reliable dual-threat player all season.
Grimstead accounted for 26 total touchdowns with only one interception and added nearly 600 rushing yards to his nearly 1,500 passing yards.
And for sure, Freshman running back Zach Belyeu was the star of the game; he scored twice and showcased why he’s a player to keep your eye on in the future.
North Cobb’s running attack, with Belyeu and Quay Echols, had been solid all season, combining for over 1,600 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns.
And North Cobb’s defense was just as tough as their offense.
Senior linebacker Cooper Negron had been a force all season, leading the team with 124 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and four sacks.
In the secondary, senior Dy’lon Womack made life hard for opposing quarterbacks and picked up his eighth interception of the year during the game.
Camden’s lone score came in the fourth quarter when sophomore receiver Sean Green found the end zone.
By then, North Cobb had already built a commanding lead, thanks to Belyeu’s two touchdowns, a touchdown run from Echols, and a pass from Grimstead to receiver Micah Billingsley.
But the Warriors capitalized on turnovers and penalties, making it super difficult for Camden to gain any momentum.
Although they lost, Camden County showed heart and determination.
This season laid the groundwork for what could be a bright future under Coach Roland.
With talent like Riendeau and Brown returning and young players like Melton stepping up, the Wildcats have plenty to build on.
Williams, a senior, leaves behind a legacy as one of the most talented players in recent program history, and the team will surely miss his impact.
While North Cobb moves on to the second round to face Douglas County, Camden County can take pride in its efforts and look forward to building on this season for the future.
It’s the end of the road this year, but there’s no doubt this team will come back stronger, ready to take another shot at playoff glory next season.
