Area teams have full weekend ahead
By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
For the first time in a couple of years, it will be a big football weekend in the Packet-area.
Last year the teams in the area went through the season without the sort of big games that had been customary. West Windsor-Plainsboro North made the state playoffs and The Hun School was in the middle of a battle for the Mid-Atlantic Prep League championship. But Princeton High, Montgomery, WW-P South and Princeton University all struggled through sub-par seasons.
This year that all may be changing.
WW-P South will play in what might turn out to be the biggest game of the year in Mercer County when the Pirates travel to Notre Dame tonight. After going 4-6 a year ago and missing the playoffs for the first time under Todd Smith, the Pirates are off to a 3-0 start this season.
WW-P has been impressive in their three wins, averaging 39 points a game while allowing just one touchdown in the last two weeks. Brian Schoenauer is off to another impressive start at running back, having rushed for 487 yards and six touchdowns in three games, while senior quarterback Chris Evans has the whole offense clicking. The offensive line has also been a strength this season, with junior Eric Davis being honored as the 12th Man Touchdown Club Offensive Lineman of the Week this past week.
The Pirates defense has also been impressive, posting shutout against Trenton and holding Hightstown to eight points in a win last week.
”We went in undermanned the last couple years,” South coach Todd Smith said. “This is one of those years where the teams are more evenly matched up. This could be another classic battle. We’ve told the kids they need to be prepared. I can imagine what I would be saying to those Notre Dame kids after a loss (39-0 to Jordan, Utah). I can’t remember the last them they were shut out. Now they have a chance to come home and play a team they know they have to get up for.”
One year after going winless, Princeton High finds itself in big game this weekend. The Little Tigers improved to 2-1 with a 26-7 win at WW-P North last weekend and host Hopewell Valley on Saturday. A Princeton win would put the Little Tigers in position to battle for a West Jersey Football League Colonial Division title.
Princeton and Pemberton are both 1-0 in division play. Northern Burlington and Allentown are both 1-1, while Hopewell Valley is 0-2. A win on Saturday would not only keep the Little Tigers atop the division, but also move them realistically into playoff contention in Central Jersey Group III. The Little Tigers are currently tied for seventh with 24 power points, but there are three other schools right on their heels.
Montgomery, which won just one game last year, will get another chance to show how far it has come when the Cougars play at Franklin on Saturday. Montgomery is 1-2, but the two losses have come by a combined 11 points.
A year ago, Montgomery dropped a narrow decision to Franklin, which has won two straight games, including a win over Phillipsburg last week.
Hun looks like a team ready to make a run at a MAPL title this year and will host Kiski School on Saturday. Kiski dropped a 40-6 decision to Blair Academy last week. The Raiders have opened the season with wins over Episcopal and Mercersburg, the latter their MAPL opener.
Princeton University will look to shake off an 0-2 start when the Tigers host Columbia 6 p.m. Saturday in their Ivy League opener.