Dynamic King leads Collingswood to win in his final game

Collingswood senior two-way back Jahmir King didn't waste much time getting going in his final high school game.

King burst for an 80-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage Wednesday night in the Panthers' 47-8 win over host Sterling in a Colonial Conference Liberty Division game.

"It was a great feeling and a great way to open the game," King said.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior made the most of his four carries, rushing for 163 yards and two touchdowns, the other on an electrifying, 73-yard run against the 3-7 Silver Knights.

King played a variety of positions this season for Collingswood, all with distinction. In addition to running back and cornerback, he saw time at safety, linebacker, wideout, and even took snaps at quarterback.

King finished the season with 712 yards and seven touchdowns on 71 carries.

"He's been a big part of what we do and has been one of our go-to guys," Collingswood coach Jack McConnell said of King. "We will miss him."

King and 1,000-yard rusher Dashon Burdett were part of a deep and dangerous backfield.

Despite some heavy losses to graduation, Collingswood went 6-4 and returned to the postseason, losing a 21-20 heartbreaker to Cedar Creek in a South Jersey Group 2 quarterfinal on Nov. 14. The outcome wasn't decided until Collingswood had a field goal blocked on the game's final play.

"We came up short, and our record doesn't indicate what kind of team we had," King said.

The Panthers had a tough team, one that was in every game. Even during a 34-7 loss to unbeaten West Deptford, the Panthers trailed just 14-7 at halftime.

King says he will now work on making his college decision. He said Rutgers is among the schools that he has heard from.

"That is one thing I will miss about this program, just competing with each other and getting better with each other," King said.

And King demonstrated in his final game that Collingswood will equally miss his presence, leadership, and ability to make the big play.

Collingswood 14 26 0 7 - 47

Sterling 0 0 0 8 - 8

C: Jahmir King 80 run (kick failed)

C: Donnie Barr 7 run (Jovan Allie run)

C: Dashon Burdett 33 run (pass failed)

C: Barr 42 run (Zach Irwin kick)

C: King 73 run (run failed)

C Zach Irwin 84 run (Robert Upshur kick)

S: Sam Messina 5 pass from C.J. Barrett (Nick Furlow pass from Barrett)

C: Abdul Bangura 6 run (Upshur kick)