VALDOSTA - Kevin Patterson rushed for two touchdowns and Camden County relied on its stifling defense to win the Class AAAAA state championship Saturday night, defeating Valdosta 21-7.<br>
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In the final game before renovation work at famed Bazemore-Hyder Stadium, top-ranked Camden (15-0), which allowed just 47 points all season, held Valdosta scoreless until midway through the fourth quarter in winning its first state title.<br>
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Patterson broke a scoreless tie with 13 seconds left in the first half, scoring from 1 yard out. Two plays earlier, Emanuel Bacon found Djay Jones in double coverage on third-and-21 for a 42-yard gain to the 2.<br>
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Bacon scored on a 3-yard run with 5:47 left in the third quarter for a 14-0 lead. Camden then put it away on the opening play of the fourth quarter on Patterson's 7-yard run.<br>
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Valdosta (11-4) got on the board on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Cedric Hatten to Shawn Berrian with 5:40 remaining.<br>
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The state title is the second for Camden coach Jeff Herron, who directed Oconee County to the Class AAA crown in 1999.
