If the Harlan Green Dragons were trying to think of the perfect 60th birthday present for coach Brian Williams, they found it Friday during a 30-8 win over visiting Lynn Camp.
With star running back/receiver Darius Akal sidelined from an injury last week and two other key players no longer with the team, Williams turned to sophomore Jonah Sharp and an offensive line that had struggled to move the football during the season’s opening month. Sharp rumbled for 301 yards on 32 carries as Harlan controlled the line of scrimmage all night as part of 324-yard night as a team.
“This was awesome. All I asked for was a win tonight. You have to give credit to our offense with coach (Chris) Thompson and all those guys,” Williams said. “We had a good plan. We decided where were going to go downhill on them, and that’s what we did.”
Sharp turned into a workhorse as he lined up behind Hunter Clem, who moved from tight end to fullback, and pounded the Lynn Camp defense with a pair of five-play scoring drives in the first quarter and then a 12-play drive in the second quarter that pushed the lead to 22-0 at the break.
“Jonah is a football player and when he was given an opportunity he showed what he could do,” Williams said. “I think our offensive line has gelled. They are a good group and work hard every day. I’m proud of them.”
Sharp had four of five carries in the opening series, capped his 29-yard TD run. Baylor Varner went in for the two-point conversion and an 8-0 lead with 9:37 to play in the opening quarter.
Sharp’s four carries on the second drive set up Clem’s 3-yard touchdown run.Varner’s two-point conversion pushed the lead to 16-0 with 4:50 left in the first quarter.
Harlan drove inside the Lynn Camp 10 on the Dragons’ third drive, before stalling at the 8 after a false start and incomplete pass.
Lynn Camp put together its drive after stopping Harlan, driving to the 19 before Eden Caudill made a stop on fourth down.
Varner went to the air on the Dragons’ next series, connecting with Clem for a 34-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-10 play with 19.4 seconds left in the half.
D.J. Wren put the Wildcats on the board when he broke free on a pitch to the left for a 25-yard touchdown run. Darren Campbell went in for the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 22-8 with 8:33 left in the third quarter.
Harlan wasted no time answering as Sharp had six straight carries in a 53-yard scoring drive, capped his 8-yard TD run on third down. Sharp’s conversion run closed the scoring with 6:02 left in the third quarter.
Two Lynn Camp drives in the second half ended with fumbles as Elijah Caudill had a recovery in the third quarter and Dayjuan Forester added one in the fourth period.
The Dragons played their second game without senior Nate Montanaro and junior Sedrick Washington, who are both no longer with the team. Washington led the team in tackles through six games and Montanaro was second in receptions.
Harlan (2-6) will travel to Williamsburg on Friday with a chance to force a three-way tie for first place in District 7. Lynn Camp (3-4) will close its district schedule Friday at Pineville in a game that will determine fourth place.