Long Beach's Donovan Campbell wins Martone Award
Donovan Campbell of Long Beach poses for a portrait with the Martone Award, given annually to Nassau County's most outstanding lineman, during the coaches' gridiron banquet at Crest Hollow Country Club on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014. Credit: James Escher
When Long Beach ran the football, it was no stealth operation. There was no attempt to trick opponents, merely to have Donovan Campbell trample them.
"When we ran left, we ran behind him. And when we ran right, we pulled him and ran behind him again,'' Marines coach Scott Martin said of his 6-foot, 250-pound senior left guard, who also excelled at defensive tackle. "He was probably a stronger defensive lineman. He could flatten the guy blocking him and disrupt things in the backfield.''
For his two-way prowess, Campbell was awarded the 40th Martone Award as the outstanding interior lineman in Nassau County at Wednesday night's annual Nassau County Coaches Association banquet in Woodbury.
"He was a very explosive player and he knew the assignments of everybody on the team,'' Martin said. "He was a team captain and he was the captain of the line. He helped us stay focused, even in the tough times. Midway through the season, I didn't know what kind of team we had. He stepped up and showed us the way.''
The Marines overcame a midseason slump to earn a playoff spot and upset Mepham in a first-round game before losing to eventual county champion Carey in the semifinals.
"We ran behind him in the Mepham game and moved the ball,'' Martin said. "On defense, he was a force. That's why we were able to win. He had a good game against Carey, too, making some tackles in the backfield.''
In becoming the first Long Beach player to win the Martone, Campbell beat out other finalists Malik Mavruk (Lawrence), Matthew Mascia (East Meadow) and Paul Nosworthy (Baldwin).
"We took him up to the varsity as a sophomore and he became a three-year starter,'' Martin said of Campbell, who is also a top wrestler. "Our offensive line was a question mark at the start of this season, but Donovan worked hard. I think wrestling helped him lose some weight and then he sculpted his body. He's all muscle. He became a mentor. Other guys started lifting weights, and by the end of the season, the offensive line was a strength.''
Campbell had a motor that was always running.
"The only time he caught a break was on special teams,'' Martin said. "Otherwise, he never stepped off the field.''
Campbell doesn't want to leave the field any time soon. His coach said several schools are recruiting him, mostly from Division II.
"He loves football. He loves the competition,'' Martin said. "I see him as a defensive lineman in college. He's a good athlete with good feet and a good mind for the game. He has the potential to get bigger and stronger. He has this driving force.''
