Wildcats Rally Past Brunswick 35-21 After Weather-Delayed Season Opener
Camden County overcomes weather delay, halftime tie and Brunswick comeback to start the 2026 season 1-0.
CAMDEN COUNTY It took two days, a weather suspension and a dominant second-half response, but the Camden County Wildcats opened the 2026 regular season exactly where they wanted to be in the win column.
Camden County defeated the Brunswick Pirates 35-21 in a season opener that began Friday night and didn’t end until Saturday morning.
The Wildcats finished with 471 yards of total offense, including 292 rushing yards, as quarterback Xavier “Zay” Collins and a deep group of Camden playmakers powered the offense.
But the final numbers only tell part of the story.
Camden had to respond to adversity almost from the opening whistle.
A Game That Took Two Days
The Wildcats jumped out to a 14-7 lead Friday night, but severe weather brought the game to a halt after just one quarter.
Both teams returned Saturday morning to resume play.
Camden drove into scoring position after the restart but came away empty following a missed field goal. Brunswick took advantage and eventually pulled even, sending the teams into halftime tied.
For Camden and head coach Tucker Pruitt, it became an early test of the identity the Wildcats have spent the offseason building.
Camden’s response was emphatic.
“We got a lot of things to clean up, but one thing we’re learning as a program, we’re learning how to deal with adversity,” Pruitt told his team after the victory.
“We come out yesterday, they score right off the bat, we don’t blink an eye. We come back and score 14 more. Come back over here today, it don’t start good for us.”
Then came the second half.
“We gotta go into halftime and regroup,” Pruitt said, “but we come out and totally dominated the second half.”
Camden Takes Control on the Ground
The story of Camden’s second half started with the offensive line.
The Wildcats rushed for 292 yards on 44 carries, averaging more than 6.6 yards per attempt.
Brunswick knew Camden wanted to establish the run.
It didn’t matter.
Pruitt made a point afterward to recognize the offensive line.
“On offense, the guys that did it was the offensive line,” Pruitt said before asking the team to give the unit a round of applause.
“There’s nothing like moving people against their will. And then football guys, there ain’t secrets. They knew what we were running.”
Camden kept running it anyway.
“Football don’t come down to secrets,” Pruitt said. “It comes down to execution, discipline, toughness.”
Camden Rushing
44 carries
292 yards
6.6 yards per carry
Xavier “Zay” Collins Leads 471-Yard Camden Offense
Senior quarterback Xavier “Zay” Collins was dangerous through the air and on the ground.
Collins completed 9 of 15 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown while adding 83 rushing yards and another score.
He finished his season debut with 262 yards of total offense and two touchdowns accounted for.
Xavier Collins
9-of-15 passing
179 passing yards
1 passing touchdown
83 rushing yards
1 rushing touchdown
262 total yards
His ability to threaten Brunswick with both his arm and his legs added another dimension to a Camden rushing attack the Pirates already struggled to contain.
Malakhi Poole Breaks 100 Yards
Running back Malakhi Poole delivered one of Camden’s strongest performances.
Poole rushed 13 times for 107 yards, averaging 8.2 yards per carry.
He also caught two passes for 44 yards, giving him 151 yards from scrimmage.
Quan Mercer Makes Impact on Both Sides
Sophomore Quan Mercer accounted for 85 all-purpose yards.
Mercer rushed for 27 yards and a touchdown while adding 58 receiving yards.
The two-way standout also contributed defensively with four tackles.
Sean Green Delivers Explosive Plays
Sean Green caught three passes for 71 yards and added a 53-yard run.
He finished with 124 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns.
Green also added 53 return yards, pushing his total to 177 all-purpose yards.
Running back Jesse Newsome also found the end zone as Camden spread its scoring production across an offense that produced five touchdowns.
Camden Offensive Totals
471 offensive yards
582 all-purpose yards
5 touchdowns
Wildcats Defense Creates Pressure and Turnovers
Camden’s defense made its presence felt throughout the game.
The Wildcats finished with:
44 total tackles
4 tackles for loss
2 sacks
2 quarterback hurries
2 forced fumbles
1 interception
Senior linebacker Will Smith recorded six tackles — five solo — along with a sack, tackle for loss and quarterback hurry.
Senior defensive lineman Daquan Edwards finished with four tackles, three solo stops, one sack and one tackle for loss.
Senior defensive back Maliek Patterson added an interception, giving Camden another momentum-changing defensive play.
The production came from every level of the Wildcat defense.
Jacob Vermilyea Goes Perfect on Extra Points
Senior kicker Jacob Vermilyea went a perfect 5-for-5 on extra points.
Every Camden touchdown became seven points.
Vermilyea also recorded a touchback on kickoff duty.
Camden’s return game added another 111 kickoff-return yards.
Execution. Discipline. Toughness.
There are easier ways to begin a football season.
Camden didn’t get one.
The Wildcats surrendered an early score Friday night, responded and built a lead.
Then the weather came.
They went home, returned Saturday morning and watched Brunswick fight its way back into the game.
Camden missed a scoring opportunity.
Brunswick tied the game.
Then the Wildcats went into halftime and had to decide how they were going to respond.
What happened next may ultimately be more important than the final score.
Camden came back out and took control.
The offensive line moved people.
The rushing attack produced nearly 300 yards.
Collins created plays with his arm and legs.
Poole surpassed 100 yards rushing.
Mercer contributed as a runner, receiver and defender.
Green delivered explosive plays.
The defense created pressure and turnovers.
It looked increasingly like the identity Pruitt and his staff have spent the offseason trying to build.
EXECUTION • DISCIPLINE • TOUGHNESS
There is plenty of football still ahead and, as Pruitt acknowledged afterward, plenty for Camden to clean up.
But the first test is complete.
CAMDEN COUNTY 35 • BRUNSWICK 21
THE WILDCATS ARE 1-0
NEXT UP: GLYNN ACADEMY
Camden County returns home to Chris Gilman Stadium Friday night for its next challenge against Glynn Academy.
GO WILDCATS! 🐾🏈
