Little Tigers turn page with victory vs. Hamilton
By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
The Princeton High football team came into this season ready to put last year’s winless campaign behind them.
The Little Tigers did that in a big way as they outplayed Hamilton on both sides of the ball on their way to a season-opening 28-7 win on Saturday.
”We expected to play well,” said Ben Danis, one of 15 Princeton seniors looking to make this season a special one. “We have worked really hard as a team. Everything was clicking. If you were to take the guys we have and play them one way, we would go undefeated because there is that much talent. But we have to play both ways and more. I am scripted as playing every play between offense, defense and special teams.”
Princeton came out looking to make things happen, attempting an onside kick on the opening kickoff. And while that play didn’t work, it only took the Little Tigers three plays to score once they got their hands on the ball.
Rory Helstrom, who ran for 131 yards, caught a pair of passes and also scored on a 91-yard punt return, scored on a 74-yard run on Princeton’s third play from scrimmage. It was a sign of things to come for the Little Tigers, who gave head coach Charlie Gallagher his first career win.
”I think we had erased that from our memories to a certain extent,” Gallagher said of last year’s winless campaign. “We have a whole new team. It’s the experience. Everybody is coming back. We lost two or three guys. I look at it as the experience itself is a fresh start.
”I am excited for the players. I’m excited for myself, no doubt. It’s good to be 1-0. We’ll take them one at a time. We have a tough Ewing squad coming up. They have a good squad over there.”
Princeton was one of three Packet-area teams to win their opener over the weekend. West Windsor-Plainsboro North picked up a 19-14 win over Steinert as Kevin Murphy ran for one touchdown and passed for another. Murphy threw for 114 yards, while Robert Peterson ran for 150 yards and touchdown and C.J. Markisz ran for 107 yards and also caught a touchdown pass.
Montgomery opened the season with a 30-19 win at Westfield. Chris Chugunov threw a pair of touchdown passes to Tyler Young, while Trevor Schmidt and Jared Reinson each ran for a touchdown for the Cougars.
WW-P South nearly made it a clean sweep on the opening weekend but dropped a 27-22 decision at Hightstown on Friday night. Andrew Schoepfer ran for one score and also returned a fumble for another score in the loss.
Princeton, which outplayed the Hornets most of the first half, trailed 7-6 at halftime. After forcing Hamilton to punt at the start of the second half, Helstrom returned a punt 91 yards for a touchdown and a 12-7 lead. The Little Tigers held on defense again on Hamilton’s next possession and two plays later quarterback David Beamer hit Joe Hawes in stride for an 80-yard touchdown pass. Sam Smallzman would add a touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
”It feels great,” said Danis, who was injured during his sophomore season and missed all of last year. “We have 15 seniors and I think that is my favorite part of being on this team. All the guys we have come out to play hard. We have some new guys on the team who are seniors and it is great to see them do well.
”I was friends with all of the guys and I was at the games last year. I had the mindset that I was going to come back and play (last year) but at the time I had to choose. I decided I wasn’t ready. But I knew I was going to play this year. I wasn’t going to miss it. It was hard last year but this feels great. This is my second career PHS win.”
Danis had one of four Princeton interceptions on defense. The unit made plenty of big plays during the game, while Helstrom took care of the big plays on offense and special teams.
”He is just a playmaker,” Gallagher said of Helstrom. “Everybody is going to have to try to do something to defend him and hopefully that will open things up for other guys as well. We’re just excited that he is on our squad and we don’t have to defend him. He’s a player on defense and is just a talented football player.
”Rory had a big punt return. Beamer hits Hawes. I think we have a relatively complete team offensively. Defensively we are swarming to the ball and making plays. Even on their touchdown Matt Ochoa was right on him. Matt has done a great job and come a long way. He’s a kid who played last year as a sophomore and now he has 10 games experience.”
And now the Little Tigers have some winning experience to go along with that game experience. And that feels real good for all involved.