The South Mountain Jaguars spoiled homecoming and the Class 5A Metro Region opener Friday for the Camelback Spartans

What started out looking like an old-fashioned shootout with four touchdowns in the first 10 minutes soon turned ugly after South Mountain (4-3, 2-0 region) locked down Camelback star wide receiver Shawn Charles. 

In the end, the visiting Jaguars prevailed 47-12.

Offensive coordinator Rick Wilson attributed the Jaguars’ win to their coaching staff.

“This team was very well coached,” Wilson said. “They obviously watched film and paid attention to what they saw and came up with a game plan that took advantage of our weaknesses.”

South Mountain was familiar with the Spartans (0-6, 0-1) and opposing co-head coach Mark Carter saidhow important preparation would be for his team.

“We came here last time, we were in their homecoming, and they put it on us,” Carter said.  “They came to our house for our homecoming the year before and they put it on us.  To see that we got scheduled for [their] homecoming, we took it personal and you can see that out there.”

According to Carter, the game plan consisted of triple teaming Charles and making them beat us with someone else.

“The stats will say that Charles didn’t have a good game, but they had the No. 1 corner in the state manned on him in the first play of the game,” Wilson said. “He scored a touchdown the first time we threw against him and they realized they had to do something else.”

Charles finished with 100 yards and that long touchdown, although a couple of underthrown balls as well as a questionable off-ball penalty, negating a 45-yard Charles touchdown, curtailed his production.

“As a receiver I always check to make sure I’m on or off (the line of scrimmage), and I always look at the ref and tell them,” Charles said. “When I looked at the ref he gave me a thumbs up and told me I was good. After when I asked him about it he told me it doesn’t matter if he gives me a thumbs up.”

Camelback coach Joseph Brissette summed up the game as to a few key things for his team to improve on including making tackles and blocks.

There was major room for improvement in these categories Camelback linemen gave up more than 10 sacks on quarterback Eric Marquez as well as giving up more than 150 rushing yards along with four touchdowns. 

Injuries as well as two blocked punts contributed to Camelback’s downfall.

“At the end of the day when we don’t get the ball to our best player we struggle, and it was tough when they put three and four guys on them,” Brissette said.

As future games Charles mentioned that there is one main thing the team has to do which they have struggled with all season. 

“If we can turn into a family we will win a game,” Charles said.