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MOUNDSVILLE — Cameron head coach Tim Brown knew the 2020 season could feature its fair share of growing pains.
Compounding a youth movement that includes upwards of nine freshmen and sophomores who are seeing heavy action with a few key injuries and the Dragons have had to do some mixing and matching with their personnel.
While that could pay dividends down the road, as it pertained to Saturday afternoon's game against Pendleton County, it took a toll.
Couple that with Pendleton County's Isaiah Gardiner, who was effective both as a thrower and runner from his quarterback spot, and it was simply too much for the Dragons to overcome in a 34-20 setback at John Marshall's Monarch Stadium.
"We had some injuries coming into the game, so we tried to run some different things to help the personnel we did have and we got a little confused at times and gave up some big plays," Brown said. "I thought, overall, the kids did a pretty good job of adjusting to a new defense and some new positions, but when we got our wires crossed, it gave up some big plays and the same can be said offensively that it cost us."
Gardiner accounted for all five Wildcat touchdowns and 348 yards offense, including 220 through the air. Three of his touchdowns went to junior Braden Mcclanahan.
The Dragons, who trailed 21-12 at half and 34-12 after three, battled to the final whistle, scoring with just over two minutes to play in the game.
Getting their hands on the ball was a challenge, however. Pendleton County ran 71 offensive plays, while the Dragons snapped the ball offensively just 43 times.
"Give (Pendleton Co.) credit because they really kept the pressure on us," Brown said. "We suffered four or so injuries during the game and in single A football, it's difficult to fill those spots, but we got some young kids some playing time, so we're kind of preparing for the future."
Actually, the future is part of the present for the Dragons. Their freshman quarterback, Colson Wichterman, was solid in throwing for three touchdowns. Two of those went to junior Isaac Ball and the other was hauled in by senior Logan Burkett.
Wichterman was also the Dragons' leading rusher with 43 yards.
"We know we're doing some rebuilding and we're young," Brown said. "I saw some good things out there (Saturday), but I saw some mistakes, too. And when you make mistakes against a good team, they take advantage."
Brown was pleased with how his team battled to the very end before he put some of his reserves in for the final series.
"We told the kids to keep playing and enjoy the fact they you're getting to play because there are some teams (in West Virginia) who have played only one game this season," Brown offered. "We've got five games under our belt, so we're getting a lot of experience. We're truly missing the guys who are injured, so hopefully we can get them back."
Pendleton Co. 34, Cameron 20
Pendleton Co 7 14 13 0 — 34
Cameron 6 6 0 8 — 20
PC — Mcclanahan 16 pass from Gardiner (Alt kick).
C — Ball 59 pass from Wichterman (run failed).
PC — Smith 13 pass from Gardiner (Alt kick).
C — Ball 8 pass from Wichterman (pass failed).
PC — Mcclanahan 61 pass from Gardiner (Alt kick).
PC — Mcclanahan 6 pass from Gardiner (Alt kick).
PC — Gardiner 45 run (kick failed).
C — Burkett 44 pass from Wichterman (Burkett pass from Wichterman).
Rushing: Pendleton County, 42-196-td (Dunkle, 22-61; Gardiner, 20-128-td; Smith, 1-7). Cameron, 28-79 (Wichterman, 11-43; Presto, 4-21; Ross, 11-29).
Passing: Pendleton County, 19-29-220-4td-1x (All by Gardiner). Cameron, 7-15-157-3td-1x (All by Wichterman).
Receiving: Pendleton County, 19-220-4td (Mcclanahan, 6-121-3td; Mitchell, 6-60; Miller, 1-7; Smith, 3-22-td; Dunkle, 3-14). Cameron, 7-157-3td (Burkett, 3-79-td; Ball, 4-78-2td).
First Downs: Pendleton County, 20; Cameron, 10.
Fumbles: Pendleton County, 1-0; Cameron, 2-1.
Penalties: Pendleton County, 9-80; Cameron, 5-35.