PRINCETON — Hunnicutt Stadium was the site of high drama at the conclusion of the Princeton Tigers—Hurricane Redskins football game on a cold and wet Oct. 16 evening.

With the Tigers (3-4) clinging to a precarious 13-7 advantage, the Redskins (4-4) had the ball inside Princeton’s one-yard line. One second remained in the game. The Tigers’ defensive end, Corey Quick, put on a strong rush, and Hurricane’s quarterback Tyler Pate threw short of the receiver in the end zone. The Tigers’ third consecutive victory was preserved. As the pass hit the turf, the Princeton faithful exhaled a collective sigh of relief.

Although Princeton’s attack piled up large chunks of yardage, its defense gets primary credit for this win. They throttled Hurricane’s offense for three quarters and sacked Redskin quarterback Pate four times. They forced three turnovers-two interceptions and a fumble. They yielded only 146 yards of total offense with more than half of it, 74 yards, coming on the Hurricane’s final unsuccessful drive. For the first three quarters, the Redskins’ deepest penetration into Tiger territory was at the 43-yard stripe.

The Tigers’ entire defense played well — the line, linebackers, and the secondary. Lineman Colt Karnes was a “Tiger” on defense repeatedly disrupting Hurricane’s offensive rhythm. Tevin Allen made key tackles and broke up several passes. Domonique Antwi pounced on a fumble. Jerrell Powell and O.B. Pannell intercepted passes, while Cameron Mallory, John Barnett, Virgil Campbell and Tony Jones recorded sacks. Linebacker Tanner Grose delivered some particularly hard licks to Hurricane ball carriers.

Princeton tallied all of their points in the first quarter. After their early success, the Tigers failed to capitalize on multiple scoring opportunities.

To start the game, the Tigers received the ball. They were unable to advance the ball after one first down, and were forced to punt.

Similarly, on their initial possession Hurricane was forced to punt. The Redskins’ punt traveled only four yards to their 20-yard line. A Princeton holding penalty backed them up to their opponent’s 30-yard stripe. Powell dashed 24 yards to the Redskins’ six-yard marker. Allen smashed to the two. On the next play, Powell scored from the two-yard line. The conversion attempt was blocked. The scoreboard showed 6:39 left in the first quarter.

Later in the opening period, Princeton drove 40 yards in seven plays to tally their second touchdown. Mallory pounded the line for six yards. Powell hit Barnett with a nine-yard pass. Allen slashed 15 yards to place the ball on the Hurricane 10-yard stripe. Four plays later, Powell raced to the goal line from the four-yard line. Travis Tabor’s kick was good and the Tigers’ lead jumped to 13-0 with 1:24 left in the quarter.

In the second quarter, Hurricane turned the ball over on three consecutive drives with a fumble and two pass interceptions. The Tigers’ assumed possession on the Hurricane 40-yard line, the Hurricane 38-yard marker, and their own 40-yard stripe. Princeton was unable to convert on any of these opportunities. On the last possession, the final one of the half, the Tigers’ marched down to the Redskin seven-yard stripe. On a planned field goal attempt, Hurricane apparently was offside’s which disrupted the timing of the play. As a result, the center snap was low and Princeton was unable to launch a kick as time in the first half ran out.

For the first half, the Tigers amassed over 150 yards of offense while holding the Redskins to total offense of 31 yards including a minus 12 yards rushing.

In the third quarter, Princeton marched 65 yards in eight plays, but turned the ball over inside Hurricane’s 10-yard line. Big gainers on the drive were a 22-yard scramble by Powell and a Powell to Barnett pass play that covered 16 yards.

Hurricane did not cross midfield in the third quarter.

The fourth quarter was a different story. On the second play of the period, Hurricane linebacker Nick Rice intercepted a Tiger pass and returned it to the Princeton 20-yard line. On the next play Redskin halfback Jayson Wolford ripped up the middle and reached the end zone virtually untouched. Aaron Browne connected on the extra point making the score Princeton—13, Hurricane—7 with 11:37 remaining in the game.

Princeton started the Tigers’ next drive on their own 15-yard line. Sparked by back-to-back runs of 29 yards by Allen and 21 yards by Tre Hopkins, the Tigers’ advanced to the Redskin 24-yard marker. Powell tossed a pass to Tanner Grose in the end zone, but the play was nullified and the Tigers were penalized for holding. After the penalty, the drive bogged and Princeton eventually punted.

On the ensuing Redskin possession, Allen broke up a third-down pass that looked like a potential big gainer for Hurricane. The Redskins punted and the Tigers started their possession on their 32-yard stripe.

Allen rambled for 18 yards followed by a scamper of 21 yards to put the ball on Hurricane’s 28-yard marker. At this point, it looked as if the Tigers might have a productive drive. The Hurricane defense, however, stiffened. Two rushes netted only four yards and two pass attempts were incomplete.

The Redskins took the ball over on downs at their 24-yard stripe and started the last drive of the game. Halfback Dustin Wilkerson scooted 16 yards. Pate gained four yards on worth keeping and Khalil Sturdavent gained three yards up the middle. The next play was an incomplete pass. Confronted with a fourth down and three yards to go with the clock winding down, Hurricane opted to go for the first down. Pate connected with wide receiver Ben Fletcher for a six-yard pass play and a first down on the Tigers’ 47-yard line. Pate squirmed 18 yards, his only significant rushing gain of the game, to place the ball at Princeton’s 29-yard line.

Hurricane misfired on three consecutive passes. On fourth down and 10 yards to go, Pate again hooked up with Fletcher for a 27-yard gain to Princeton’s two-yard line. A run up the middle was stuffed by defensive standout Colt Karnes and netted Hurricane only a yard gain to the one-yard stripe. With only one second remaining, the Tiger defense faced its most critical play of the year. They were equal to the challenge. Princeton stood tall and repelled the Redskins’ bid for a win. Princeton’s quest for a playoff spot stayed alive.

Princeton’s attack produced an impressive 335 yards of total offense, including 264 yards on the ground, as the offensive line continued to provide Tiger ball carriers ample holes to run through. Allen gained 137 yards rushing, and Powell’s running generated 74 yards and two touchdowns. Powell completed six passes for 71 yards.

Tonight, the Tigers host Greenbrier East (2-6). The Spartans’ offense is led by running back Nathan Lilly and quarterback Clay Ayers. Lilly has gained 689 on the ground and he has tallied eight touchdowns. Ayers has passed for 661 yards and five scores.



At Hunnicutt Stadium

October 16, 2009

Hurricane 0 0 0 7 — 7

Princeton 13 0 0 0—13

First Quarter

Princeton Jerrell Powell 2 run (kick failed) 6:39

Princeton Powell 4 run (Travis Tabor kick) 1:24

Fourth Quarter

Hurricane Jayson Wolford 20 run (Aaron Browne kick) 11:37