Campbell Memorial defeats LaBrae 35-7

By DOUG CHAPIN

Vindicator CORRESPONDENT

LEAVITTSBURG — As veteran coach Jeff Bayuk continues the rebuilding of Campbell Memorial’s football program, his immediate goals seem very simple.

On Friday night, the Red Devils used two big plays on special teams to defeat LaBrae, 35-7.

Campbell (4-1, 2-0 All-American Conference Blue) is officially in the thick of the division race.

“I don’t even think, considering the stage we were at, that a league championship is anything but a long-term goal to us,” Bayuk said. “Right now we want to line up right, we want to hit people, execute on offense and try not to get a lot of penalties. If we can do that we have the kind of skill that we can hang with people.”

Campbell was 1-9 and 3-7 in Bayuk’s first two seasons.

“A year ago, along with the Lakeview game, this [42-0 loss to LaBrae] was probably one of the worst defeats Campbell had. At the end of that game I remember standing on the 50-yard line wondering if we were ever going to be able to compete,” Bayuk said. “What a difference a year makes. I really am so proud of our kids.

“The last couple of weeks we’ve played some teams that put it to us pretty good in the previous couple of years. The kids rose to the occasion and I think they are buying into the fact that it is finally their turn.”

Senior Michael Brooks blocked a LaBrae punt on the first possession of the game, setting up Campbell with a short field at the LaBrae 28.

Junior quarterback Lester Hughes ran for 23 yards on the first play, then fullback Nick Golec carried twice. He crossed the goal line on the second carry, from 3 yards out, and Campbell led 7-0.

Late in the second quarter, Campbell worked another short field, taking over at the LaBrae 47 after a punt. Hughes hit Skevo Zambellis for a 29-yard pass and a roughing the passer penalty set up the Devils at the LaBrae 9.

Hughes converted a fourth-and-goal from the 1 on a quarterback sneak with 14 seconds remaining.

The second special teams gem came on the opening kickoff of the second half. Zambellis mishandled the bouncing kick at about the 20 and went back to the 12 to pick it up. He took off down the sideline and 88 yards later had increased Campbell’s lead to three touchdowns.

“Coach [Steve] Hunt does a really good job with our special teams. Last week we blocked a punt and returned a punt for a touchdown,” Bayuk said. “Tonight we got the kickoff return and the blocked punt. Those plays are game changers.”

LaBrae responded by shoving the ball down the Red Devils’ throats. Sophomore tailback Matt Szorady (24 carries, 133 yards) carried the ball on seven consecutive plays, moving the Vikings from their 36 to the Campbell 1. From there, quarterback Andrew Sekela scored on a sneak.

“Our defense has been inconsistent this year, but they have risen to the occasion,” Bayuk said. “We’ve still got some things that we have to tweak on defense. We’re doing what we can because of our lack of size to hold up inside. That’s going to be an issue for us all year, so we’ve got to make the big plays on the perimeter when we can.”

Hughes completed all four of his pass attempts on an 11-play, 88-yard scoring drive which made the score 28-7. The biggest play was a 32-yard gain on a slant pattern to Richard Bledsoe.

Running back Darrio Bivens contributed a 20-yard run and he scored the touchdown from 4 yards out with 8:39 left in the game.

Chris Copeland recovered a LaBrae fumble on the next play from scrimmage and Hughes rumbled 35 yards up the middle for a touchdown at the 8:03 mark to ice the contest.