Helstrom helps PHS football to fast start
By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
Rory Helstrom feels a lot better about the way this season has started for the Princeton High School football team than he did at this time a year ago.
”We’ve started 2-0, which is a lot better than last year,” said Helstrom, who scored the only touchdown of the game as the Little Tigers topped Ewing, 7-0, last Friday night for their second win in a row. “I think that coming off the first win the motivation was to get better. A lot of it came from this game being the Homecoming game. We were excited for that. It was awesome. It was the first time they’ve had the lights and playing on a Friday night at the school. I heard there were over 2,000 people and the fans were super loud.”
The Princeton fans have certainly had plenty to cheer about this season when it comes to the football team. The Little Tigers opened with a 28-7 win over Hamilton and then recorded their first shutout since 2011 with the 7-0 win over Ewing.
”It was a great atmosphere for a game,” Princeton coach Charlie Gallagher said. “I was walking out at the half going back to the field and I felt like a fan myself. I was walking across the field and felt like I should take a picture of the crowd. It was a great Princeton event and we were happy to see the community come out. Ewing brought great fans and it was great to see the Princeton community put on such a great event. It was totally funded by people raising money.”
On the field, Helstrom played a big role in the Princeton win. He played every play of the game on defense, helping the Little Tigers record the shutout, and also scored the only touchdown of the game with an 11-yard run in the third quarter.
Rory Helstrom is the Princeton Packet Athlete of the Week.
”It was very tiring,” Helstrom said of the game. “I don’t really come off the field. The line has been playing well which has helped me. And Colin Buckley at fullback has been great with blocking. And the biggest thing is that our defense has stepped up. We’ve only allowed seven points in the first two games. That will go a long way as far as how we do this year.”
Princeton was 0-10 a year ago and surrendered 401 points in those 10 games. But this year the defense has done a complete turnaround and limited teams to seven points in two games.
”Last year we gave up an average of 40 points a game and now — knock on wood — we’re giving up 3.5 a game,” Gallagher said. “We just have to work hard to get ready for the next game. Our players celebrate and rightfully so, but the celebrations are short and finite and then there is work to be done.”
While the defense has kept teams out of the end zone, Helstrom has been the main cog in the Princeton offense this season.
”He was behind Will Harrison last year early in the season,” Gallagher said. “He did a nice job freshman year. I was the freshman coach so I knew he was a talented kid. Will was a senior ahead of him and unfortunately for Will against Hightstown he went down with an injury and that opened the door for Rory. There was a lot to learn for him last year. I think a lot of those sophomore, including him, gained a lot of experience.”
Helstrom came into this season ready to play a big role for the Little Tigers and he has not disappointed.
”I knew I would have to play a lot from last year,” the junior said. “Now with some depth we get some time off. I am not punting this year. I knew if I did my job and played well and everyone else did their job, everyone would come together.
”It has been great so far. Before the Homecoming game all the teachers and all the people around Princeton said they had not seen so much spirit before because we won our first game.”
There is still a long way to go in the season, but Princeton has certainly been encouraged by its strong start.
”We are real excited to be 2-0,” Gallagher said. “Now all the focus is on Hightstown and the next game. We had so few seniors last year. We had 12 juniors last year who played a lot of football and another eight or nine sophomores in the mix. We were young. Now we’re a real veteran team. The kids were super excited for the first win. The second one they were just as happy.
”Last week was a huge event and they were super psyched. Now it is like going to work a little. We want to perform like we did in that first game again. Coach (Scott) Goldsmith is doing great job with the defense. Now we have to keep it moving forward.”