Piscataway, NJ—Camden made history on Wednesday night, capturing the first state title in program history with a commanding 27–8 win over No. 14 Shabazz in the Group 2 final at Rutgers University. Ranked No. 15 in the NJ.com Top 20, the Panthers controlled the game from the second quarter on and never looked back.
After a defensive opening quarter, Camden delivered the first major blow late in the second. Senior Talib Shakir jumped a route, sprinting 56 yards on an interception return to give the Panthers the lead with 2:46 remaining in the half.
Camden struck again just before the break. With only 19 seconds left, quarterback Ahmad Jones fired a 21-yard strike to Syracuse commit Ibn Muhammad over the middle, sending the Panthers into halftime with a two-score cushion.
The Panthers continued to pile on after the break. Junior Roman Duckett powered in from three yards out midway through the third quarter to make it 20–0.
Camden added one more touchdown late in the fourth when Jones connected with senior Wasi Muhammad on a 10-yard pass, stretching the margin to 27–0 and sealing the celebration.
Shabazz broke the shutout in the final minutes when Karriem Coston hit Rayquan Clark for a 24-yard score, followed by a successful two-point conversion to Josiah Perez, but the outcome was already decided.
Camden’s defense was the difference all night. The Panthers forced four interceptions and a fumble, creating turnovers on nearly every big Shabazz possession:
Jaiden Steele picked off two passes
Shakir and Scott Freeman each grabbed one
Andre Robinson jumped on a loose ball in the first half
The Panthers closed out a memorable season by delivering the school’s first-ever state championship, ending with a dominant defensive showcase and a balanced offense that finished the job.
