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Campbell tops Struthers
- Team: Struthers
2009 Season Record 2 / 8
Division: Div. III
- Team: Campbell Memorial
2009 Season Record 7 / 4
Division: Div. IV
- Gallery: Campbell 14 - Struthers 7
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By Greg Gulas
CAMPBELL — Prior to Friday’s game between Struthers and Campbell Memorial High, Struthers mayor Terry Stocker showed Campbell mayor Jack Dill the Steel Hardhat Trophy, which goes to the winning team.
After the game it was Dill, and the Red Devils, who went home with the trophy for the first time in six years.
Derek Carter’s 52-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown at 8:44 of the third quarter proved to be the margin of difference as the Red Devils narrowly defeated their “Bucket of Blood” counterparts, 14-7, in the 85th renewal at John Knapick Field.
Campbell Memorial finished 7-3, a great turnaround from a 2-8 mark two years ago in coach Jeff Bayuk’s first season.
Bayuk was visibly emotional when captains Michael Brooks and Chris Copeland asked him to hoist the trophy with them.
Bayuk took no credit for the turnaround, deflecting the praise to the senior class that stuck with him.
“I cannot tell you how proud I am of the seniors who stuck it out,” he said. “To finish their careers with a 7-3 record and remain in the hunt for a playoff spot is very special. I just love them all to death.
“Darrio [Bivens] carried us tonight. We just couldn’t get our passing game going; lost Nick Golec on the first play of the game with a broken hand yet we were able to hit some key passes to Alex Lopez to get us pointed in the right direction.
“This is one very, very special group of players,” Bayuk added.
Jermayne Brooks got the Wildcats (2-8) on the board first at 2:43 of the opening frame with a 35-yard touchdown romp.
Bivens’ 5-yard run just nine seconds into the second stanza knotted the score at 7 and it stayed that way until halftime.
Bivens, who led all rushers with 109 yards, said the records of the two teams do not matter when it comes to playing this game.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for three years and I just hope now that this isn’t the end of our season,” he said.
“Our offensive line was the big key as they were great in the trenches the entire game.
With the Wildcats in possession of the ball and driving at the Memorial High 48 right early in the third quarter, Wildcats running back Norman Cornwell was hit for a 2-yard loss, fumbled and Carter took advantage by racing 52 yards to the end zone for the deciding score.
Keith Auman had 88 yards and Brooks 84 rushing yards to pace the Wildcats.
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Comments
See what a great coach can do??? Bayuk came from hubbard after leading eagles to great year after year to turn campbell's game all around too bad struthers didn't manage to snatch him while he was available!!! Instead our poor kids r stuck w this "yahoo". Grrrrrrr! Congrats boys on the good game, I'm sure things will get better nxt year. U played ur lil hearts out!we luv u inregardless of wins/loses!
Great seasaon for the Red Devils. Congrats to the coaching staff and players
Graduated from Campbell Memorial way back in '71 but it still gives me a thrill to hear we beat Struthers. Way to go Red Devils. Great season!
Agree with you. I graduated in the mid 70's and live 1,000 miles away but it is always great to beat Struthers. I remember a defensive battle in the early 70's when Makridis kicked a field goal at Struthers stadium to give Campbell a 3-0 victory.
I too, graduated from Campell, Memorial in 71. Its unreal how the yrs. pass by so quickly. The memories of footbal games, and basketball games never fade. What excitement to hold on to all theses yrs.! I am very proud of our boys. I keep track of them from florida.
Was at my old Alama Mater's Game last night. Am too, very proud of the Red Devil's; and their Coach!
GRADUATED WAY BACK IN 1958!! BUT STILL LOVE MY 'RED DEVILS'.1957-1958 WAS THE GREATEST SEASONS,STRUTHERS WAS ALWAYS A GREAT RIVALRYWITH US HAVING OUR PEP ASSEMBLYSALTERNATING YEAR AFTER YEAR AT THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. WHAT FUN.!!! WHAT MEMORIES!! STEEL VALLEY CHAMPS SOOO MANY YEARS.THE TEAMS THAT BEAT THEM THIS YEAR WERE JUST TOO BIG AND TOUGH.THEY HAVE NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF!!HOPE THEY STILL HAVE A PLAYOFF SPOT?GOOD LUCK TO COACH DANILOV AND THE UPCOMING BASKETBALL SEASON, ALSO.
i am from campbell now i am a 2010 senior. if u were at the game then u seen me on the sidelines with my body painted running the flag. me and my fellow seniors did what we had to do to get the campbell crowd going and it worked. we scared the wildcats on those third down conversions in which they failed
Hopefully next year will be different.I have watched the majority of our 9th grade team play football for the last six years.These young people are gifted athletes,who strive to be their best. It's a shame our elected board members don't think our coaching staff do the same.Our team and town deserve the best staff that can be found,no less.There is something fundamentally wrong when our athletes are short changed by our elected officials year after year.Perhaps this is something that can be changed.After all, it's about time. SHS FOREVER! Please, vote November third
WAY TO GO DEVILS!!!
IT'S PLAYOFF TIME IN CAMPBELL!!!!!!!
We're in the Playoffs- We're in the PLAYOFFS----
Sounds like a tough team -
but the RED DEVILS- will fight hard.
G O C A M P B E L L
Not Bad for a bunch of River Rats! Keep playing with a chip on your shoulder. We just may surprise a few people!