Nate Mills is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Camelback High School for AZPreps365.com

PHOENIX – Camelback senior running back Murray “Texas” Crump rushed for 165 yards on 35 carries and scored three touchdowns, leading the Spartans to a 44-9 victory over Trevor G. Browne on Thursday.

Crump, who was coming off an ankle injury sustained in week two against Dobson, made his presence felt immediately as he exploded for 46 yards on three consecutive carries on Camelback’s first drive.

“I mean, I just had my breakout game,” Crump said. “I was 100% in that game, so you saw what I can do.”

According to Crump, the Lone Star State native tweaked his ankle in the first quarter against Dobson, got some snaps a game later and came back at 70% health last week. Now he has fully recovered and is excited to showcase his talents.

“I got to prove to everybody, not just my teammates, not just the other team, but college coaches that I can play big-time ball,” Crump said.

First-year Camelback coach Dante Foster recognizes Crump’s passion and ambition and it shows in their offense that is built around the running back. 

“I love that kid. He’s been playing amazing,” Foster said. “I told (Crump) ‘we’re going to get you at least 25 carries and I’m going to trust you to just lead us to the promised land.’”

The game plan exceeded expectations against the Bruins as the offense challenged Trevor G. Browne until the final whistle.

“They hit us in the mouth. We couldn’t stop the run,” Trevor G. Browne coach Francisco Rangel said. “They were just crushing us on the same play over and over.” 

Though the Spartans were productive on the ground offensively, the defense, led by senior defensive end Da'jieon Carter, showed out in a big way as well.

Carter piled on an already dramatic lead in the fourth quarter as he recorded two touchdowns off an interception in the backfield and a returned fumble recovery for 65 yards with less than two minutes remaining.

But he was a force all game before those two plays, recording two of the five team sacks and being a key contributor in pressuring Trevor G. Browne quarterback Kenyon Hale, who completed five passes in 19 attempts with four interceptions. 

“I think everybody in our region knows he’s a big player for us,” Foster said. “(He’s just an amazing player and we are happy that he plays here.”

It’s players like Crump and Carter that Foster can rely on to build a new culture around the Camelback football program. Discipline and hard work are pillars for the program, according to Foster.

Crump said that the team has formed a brotherhood around the father figure that Foster acts as and they trust anything their coach says because they feel it’s going to be a good decision.

“Our kids have made tremendous jumps with high GPAs, everything has been good,” Foster said. “I think we are getting it. They are bought in. We have taken our punitive yards down a lot.”

Following a bye week, Camelback (2-4, 1-0) will host North (1-5, 1-0) on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.

Trevor Browne (0-6) also has the week off, then will host Central (1-5) on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.