Murray broke the WCAC all-time career record for receptions and yards on senior day
Watch Top Football Plays 2015, Episode 9, featuring Camari Murray’s record-breaking game this past Saturday as the No. 7 play. (Video by Nick Plum for Synthesis/Koubaroulis LLC / The Washington Post)
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October 27, 2015, 10:20 a.m. — Camari Murray transferred into the Bishop McNamara football program as a sophomore from Westlake and immediately developed a close bond with All-Met quarterback Ramar Williams. The senior tandem has been rewriting the history books, and Saturday was no exception.
Williams is currently second on the all-time career passing yards list for the state of Maryland with 8,425 yards, and Murray has been one of Williams’ primary beneficiaries, as he is now the WCAC’s all-time leader in receptions, 141, and receiving yards, 2,358.
In the Mustangs 21-14 win over St. Mary’s Ryken on senior day this past weekend, Murray passed both all-time career conference receiving marks thanks to an 11-catch, 193-yard and two-touchdown performance.
In the game, he first broke the Mustangs yardage mark set by Jordan Crockett (2,245), and then he went on to break the WCAC yards and receptions records, both held previously by DeMatha product and Virginia Tech sophomore Cam Phillips (129 catches for 2,352 yards).
“It means a lot,” Murray said. “I have a really good quarterback in Ramar Williams. Ever since I came here we have been very good friends on and off the field, and we created a good bond together. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without him.”
However, the 5-foot-9, 155-pound receiver will possibly have to finish his final prep season without Williams under center. The heralded quarterback suffered an injury on Oct. 17 during the loss to Good Counsel, and his return remains uncertain.
“It affects the offense a lot because he’s a very exciting player and has the ability to extend the play, especially when you need it,” Murray said.
The Mustangs out of Forestville, Md. sit at 4-4, needing to win both remaining games to reach the WCAC playoffs. This will be no easy task with their quarterback on the sidelines and a matchup with St. John’s (6-2) looming this coming Saturday on the road. They finish with back-to-back road games as they close at O’Connell (1-7).
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For now, starting junior wide receiver and backup quarterback Charles Kelly is filling in under center, and is 1-0 as a starter with a 249-yard and two-touchdown outing against Ryken. Like Williams, he found Murray early and often.
Murray credits all of the talent around him offensively for helping him in his career, but he also praises Head coach Keith Goganious and the rest of the staff for his development in a Mustangs uniform.
“A lot of this goes out to my coaches who taught me the mechanics of being a good receiver,” Murray said. “How to run a route if a linebacker is playing me a certain way so I can get open, or how to make a release off the line of scrimmage depending on the defensive backs’ stances.”
Even the defensive players have noticed the importance of Murray’s contributions, as senior defensive end Lawrence Mack praises the wide receiver both for his abilities and his approach to the game.
“Camari has been a horse for the team this year and throughout my career,” Mack said. “He has always been a hard worker and never been satisfied. He always knows there can be better and always works to be better.”
Thus far in his career, Murray has been named Third and Second-Team All-WCAC, First-Team All-State Private School, First-Team All-County, and honorable mention All-Met. However, he has higher hopes this season.
“I would like to be First Team All-Met and First Team All-Conference,” Murray said, “because I feel like the past two years they kind of skipped me for that stuff because I was leading the league in touchdowns, receptions, yardage and yards per catch.”
As an undersized receiver, Murray has not had the recruiting success that often comes with being a record-breaking performer. In a conference with football powers like DeMatha, Gonzaga, Good Counsel and St. John’s, he stands alone in terms of receiving numbers, but remains overshadowed.
“It means a lot to break these records especially since I’m an underrated receiver,” Murray said. “A lot of college coaches and people discredit me or look down on me because of my size, but that just drives me to work harder.”
So far he has just one official offer from Seton Hill, a Division II program in Greensburg, Penn. He has also received high interest from Morgan State in Baltimore, Md. and from Rhode Island.
Murray says he needs to improve his strength before playing at the next level. Yet, he believes his route-running, good hands, and ability to create separation from defenders will be an asset to any program that lands him. Plus, he feels he has the intangibles that can’t be taught.
“My desire, my will to win, my will to get open,” Murray said, “I have very good feet off the line of scrimmage so in man-coverage I don’t feel like anyone can stop me, and I also have a very good football IQ so in zone coverage I know how to alter my route.”
Murray and the Mustangs will put their season on the line Saturday as they pursue another crack at postseason play in the always challenging WCAC.
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