Keynnard Campbell accounted for 7 of his team's 8 tocuhdowns in an 60-24 victory over Williamsburg Academy for the SCISA Class-A championship.
The win avenged a loss for Bible Baptist earlier in the season to the Stallions and also helped make up for the last second loss the Braves suffered at the hands of Dorchester Academy in the title game two years ago. "Very determined because of what happened 2 years ago," said Campbell, who was a wide receiver on that team. "Our team put it in our minds already that we weren't going to lose or the game wasn't even going to be close at all."
All Campbell did in the championship game was carry the ball 21 times for 305 yards and 2 touchdowns, plus five 2-point conversions. He also completed 21 of 28 passes for 312 yards and 5 touchdowns plus another 2-point conversion. That's 617 total yards. He said he felt it would be a special day even before the opening kickoff. "During warmups, we did a lot of pre-game warming up and I felt great throwing and then if I do good in pre-game warming up, I know I'm going to have a good game passing the ball," said Campbell. "But, I could see the field better now than was I was at the beginning of the season and my receivers are a lot better than they were at the beginning of the season, too, and so are the offensive linemen."
Head coch Jonathan Mauk added, "He's just a tremendous player. He done everything we've asked him to do, get the ball out fast. But a lot of it is Keynnard's offensive line blocking for him, giving him time and the receivers catching the ball. Keynnard is a tremendous player. It's hard for a defense to cover 5 wides in the spread offense and try to stop the run. You just play the numbers game and we'll always win the numbers game."
The next question is, what do you do for an encore, can you do better? "I believe I can play better than I did in the state championship if I really put my mind to it and try to," said a confident Campbell. "But, I guess it's going to be kind of hard to top but I think I can do it."
"He's got that deep desire to be a champion and that come out," said Mauk. "That's why I think he's the best player in Savannah and he makes great plays."
Campbell is just a junior and you can bet he is already thinking about a repeat.
Other nominees:
Jeremy Johnson - Screven County
20 carries for 151 yards and 3 touchdowns in
41-7 playoff win over Bacon County
Brandon James - South Effingham
10 of 19 passing for 158 yards and 4
touchdowns, one 2-pt conversion in 43-33 win at Westside Macon
Brad Maccarello - Hilton Head Christian
7 carries for 41 yards and TD, 8 catches for
82 yards and TD, 2 interceptions in 29-22 victory over Thomas Heyward in
SCISA-AA Championship
Shyheim Roberts - Johnson
14 of 22 passing for 280 yards and 3
touchdowns in 32-23 playoff win at Chapel Hill
Keynnard Campbell
Jonathan Mauk
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