“They run the wing-T, like we do,” McPherson said. “They went to a little more passing, and some shotgun running game. They’ve got great backs and linemen. He runs that offense well.”

Camden’s version of the offense generally uses two wingbacks and a fullback, as opposed to the more traditional wing-T, which uses a wingback, a fullback and a halfback. That offense has worked for the Wildcats for many years, and this year is no different: Camden averages 38 points per game.

But for a change, Camden has thrown the ball a little more this year. Quarterback Major Herron, the coach’s son, has passed for 952 yards and 14 touchdowns. Herron, a college prospect who has also rushed for 542 yards and 14 touchdowns, has spread the ball around. His leading receiver is D.D. Smith, who has 18 catches for 280 yards and seven touchdowns.

“Their quarterback is the man,” McPherson said. “He’s a great player.”

Still, Camden’s bread-and-butter remains its running game. None of the Wildcats’ backs have huge numbers (ballcarriers generally share the load for Camden). Greg Baker leads the team with 654 yards, and has scored 11 touchdowns. Chris White has 452 yards and three touchdowns, while Ronald Flowers owns 339 yards and two touchdowns and A.J. McCray has 304 yards and seven touchdowns.

Camden also plays very tough defense. They were one of the first high school teams in Georgia to use a 3-3 stack defense, and they run it well. They’ve allowed only 65 points all year (in contrast, Camden’s offense scored 66 points in one game, against Savannah Johnson).

“Defensively, it’s the same defense they always run,” McPherson said. “They stunt a little and move around. More speed than we’ve seen all year long. They can fly. They’ve stopped everybody they’ve played.

“They feel just as comfortable in the 3-3 as we do in the 50.”

Lowndes keeps the ball on the ground a lot more in its wing-T. In some of the Vikings’ best games this year, they have thrown the ball fewer than five times.

Darriet Perry continues to lead Lowndes’ running attack. The only player on either side who started that 30-0 game in 2004, Perry has rushed for 1,122 yards and 14 touchdowns. Greg Reid, the Region 1-AAAAA Player of the Year, has gained 697 yards and scored 13 touchdowns, and fullback Adrian Hargett has 503 yards and seven touchdowns.

Defensively, linebackers Tavaris Williams (111 tackles) and Blake Summers (94.5 tackles) are the team’s two leading tacklers. Defensive linemen Desmond Miller and T.J. Manning have five sacks apiece. Reid has picked off a team-high six passes, while Kelly Dawsey owns four interceptions.

Lowndes vs. Camden

When: 9 p.m. today