Holman Edwards has been playing quarterback for French Camp for three years while Phillip Caradine is new to the position of defensive end, but both had big games in the Panthers' 42-7 victory over Hamilton on Friday night.
French Camp can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Sebastopol this Friday.
Edwards accounted for all six French Camp touchdowns. He carried five times for 143 yards and three TDs and completed 8 of 13 passes for 183 yards and three scores.
“He threw a couple more balls right on the money that were dropped,” said coach Nathan Wright.
Edwards also made his presence felt in the secondary on defense with an interception and four solo tackles.
Caradine, a junior, has played defensive end for only a couple of weeks, but he led the team with 10 tackles, including two for losses. Wright said it was his best game.
“He's one of those guys who has played a lot of positions,” Wright said. “He's had a couple of games at defensive end and is really figuring that out. He was a backup linebacker so he wasn't starting.”
French Camp jumped on Hamilton early, taking a 28-0 lead at the half. Edwards threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Bradley Edwards and had scoring runs of 75, 60 and five yards.
In the second half, he connected on TD passes of 25 yards to Clayton Leathers and 32 yards to Bradley Edwards. Calvin Johnson set up Leathers' TD with a 60-yard kickoff return.
Edwards had two receptions for 73 yards and Leathers three for 52 yards.
French Camp also had a safety when pressure by Zach Gilmer resulted in an intentional grounding in the end zone.
“Offensively, we were able to do what we need to do,” Wright said. “Our defense is improving.
“We're peaking at the right time, which is a good thing.”
French Camp is 5-4 overall and 4-2 in Region 3-1A. Four-time defending champion Nanih Waiya is 7-0 and Noxapater 6-0. First and second in the region will be determined when they meet Nov. 1. Both have wins over French Camp.
French Camp is tied for third with Leake County. If the Panthers defeat Sebastopol, their game at Leake County Nov. 2 will determine third and fourth.
The region's top four teams make the playoffs, but third and fourth have to go on the road in the opening round against the top two teams from Region 4.
Stringer and Lumberton are both 4-0 in Region 4 with their game Friday to determine first and second.
Sebastopol is 3-6 and 2-4 in region play, but can still make the playoffs with wins in their final two games against French Camp and West Lowndes and a French Camp loss to Leake County.
Sebastopol is coming off a 48-0 loss to Vardaman, a team French Camp beat 34-6. The Bobcats are led by senior running back Javiers Johnson who has run for nearly 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns.
