Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard

For Cedar Creek, a sprint to title game

Three years ago, Damon Mitchell was a freshman at Oakcrest.

Three years ago, Damon Mitchell was a freshman at Oakcrest.

Gary Melton Jr. was a freshman at St. Augustine Prep.

Cedar Creek was a construction site.

Now, Mitchell and Melton are senior leaders for a Cedar Creek football team that is on the verge of a South Jersey title in just its second season of varsity competition.

Those guys don't just run fast.

They work fast.

"Over the last three years, Coach [Tim] Watson has told us many times to look in our heart and imagine and envision a parade down Philadelphia Avenue after we bring home the state championship," Mitchell said.

"Any school can say they are going to do that. But to do this from the ground up, that's truly special."

Mitchell and Melton have led Cedar Creek (10-1) to the South Jersey Group 2 championship game, scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Rowan University against West Deptford (11-0).

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Mitchell, who has committed to Georgia Tech, has passed for 22 touchdowns and run for 17 as the Pirates have averaged 40.2 points.

The 5-10, 180-pound Melton, who has drawn recruiting interest from Iowa, Rutgers, and Temple among major programs, has 17 rushing touchdowns and nine receiving TDs.

"These guys have laid the foundation for this program," Watson said. "They've been outstanding players and outstanding young men."

Located in Egg Harbor City, Cedar Creek opened in 2010 as part of the same school district as Absegami and Oakcrest.

The Pirates played a junior-varsity schedule in 2010. They went 4-5 as an independent program with no seniors in 2011. They joined the Cape-Atlantic National Division this season.

"I remember playing our first game," Mitchell said. "We always told ourselves we could do it. We said that once we got going, this train would be unstoppable."

Mitchell was a running back for the Mays Landing Lakers youth program. He didn't switch to quarterback until his sophomore year.

"He's grown so much as a quarterback," Watson said. "His poise, his presence, his ability to deliver the ball. He ran a lot more last year, but now he's comfortable sitting in the pocket."

Mitchell and Melton were classmates at William Davies Middle School in Mays Landing. But Melton played youth football for the Egg Harbor City Crusaders.

"We were friendly enemies," said Melton, whose father, Gary, was a standout player at Absegami and Rutgers.

Mitchell and Melton joined forces when Cedar Creek opened in September 2010. A little more than two years later, they have the Pirates on the brink of a South Jersey championship.

"I'm at a loss for words," Melton said. "We always talked about it. We always thought we could do something special. But now that it's here, it's hard to believe that it actually happened."