By Bob Nuse, The Packet Group
When the state football playoffs begin this weekend, it will mark a a long-time between appearances for Princeton High School.
The Little Tigers, the No. 7 seed in Central Jersey Group III, will play second-seeded Long Branch Saturday at noon. The game will be played at Matawan High since Long Branch does not have a home field.
For Princeton, the state tournament berth is the school’s first since 1993, when the Little Tigers lost to Manasquan in the CJ II playoffs. Princeton last won a state game in 1992, when they topped Lawrence, 8-0, to reach the CJ II final against Carteret.
”It’s exciting,” said Princeton coach Steve Everette, whose team slipped to 5-4 with a 12-7 loss to Trenton in its regular-season finale on Saturday. “It’s been almost a generation since Princeton last played in the playoffs. The kids have worked hard and they have met all of their goals. We made the playoffs and won our division. It’s an exciting time.
”We wanted to beat Trenton to go into the playoffs on a high note. But I think when we look back over this season, we’re able to see how our hard work paid off.”
Princeton was 5-2 before dropping its last two games to Group IV teams WW-P South and Trenton. Everette would have preferred to have gone into the playoffs off a win, but is happy to have the Little Tigers back in the post-season after a 13-year layoff.
”We really wanted to get the win at Trenton, so that if we got into the playoffs we’d go in on a high note,” Everette said. “When you’re dealing with teenagers, everything comes into play. You need every opportunity and advantage you can get.”
Princeton does know a little about Long Branch. The two teams met in a state consolation game last year, with Long Branch coming away with a 36-14 win.
”We played them last year in the consolation game, so we know a little bit about them,” Everette said. “And I’ve actually seen them twice this year because they were playing teams we needed them to knock off for us to get into the playoffs. They beat us last year and our kids are familiar with them. We know we have something to prove this year.”
Playing for the Little Tigers from Cranbury are Tommy Hines, Joe Giacalone, Dario Presepe, Alex Bozich, Joe Kirkenir and Joe D’Eramo.
