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Serving Princeton, Rosewood, Brogden, E. Johnston Co., W. Wayne Co., North Carolina |
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HeadlinesThis week's Pigskin Pickin' results Landis Howell brings a hot meal, visit to seniors PHS senior killed in car accident Blue Ribbon Committee plans for growth in Johnston Co. PHS Football: Rams take Bulldog blood for homecoming, 28-0 RHS Football: Eagle drive not enough to stall Midway, 28-6 PHS Volleyball: Princeton girls at 3-1 for conference play RHS Volleyball: Lady Eagles take home loss PHS Golf: Lady Bulldogs notch win Photos Obituaries Eutha P. Young, Sara Evans, Carl Millard Jr. Movies Sydney White Local Showtimes
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Rams take Bulldog blood for homecomingBy Barry Merrill 26 September 2007 — Princeton’s defense held Franklinton scoreless for two quarters Friday night, but the offense continued to struggle as the Bulldogs went down to the Red Rams, 28-0. The loss was Princeton’s fifth without a win so far this year. This Friday the Bulldogs host Mattamuskeet for Homecoming. The Musketeers have a 2-4 record, despite playing with only 16 players. A new coach took over just before practice started and the numbers out for football are down substantially from last year. They will run out of a split back formation, they will run twins to both sides, and will run out of a pro set. The Musketeers will run a 5-3 on defense. Despite the short numbers, Princeton Coach Russell Williamson warns they have a strong running back and quarterback, hence the two wins. Still, with spirits high for Homecoming, this may be Princeton’s best chance for a win this season.
Coach Williamson was clearly discouraged after a tough loss at Franklinton. “We’ve had a couple of games that if we couldn’t win, we at least could have played fairly even. I knew this would be a tough year, but I didn’t figure we would struggle like we have.” Friday night at Franklinton, the speed of the Red Rams had Princeton on their heels early. A 64-yard Ram touchdown run in the first quarter left Princeton down 14-0. A fumble earlier gave Franklinton a short field to work with, and the Rams cashed the chance with their first touchdown.
Princeton’s defense played fairly solid for the rest of the first half, and kept Franklinton off the scoreboard in the third quarter, as well. Meanwhile, the Princeton offense struggles to find consistency. “We had a couple of nice runs, and a couple of screen passes, but we need to find ways to keep us from so many three and outs, keep our defense off the field for awhile,” said Coach Williamson.
Quarterback Dylan Myers completed only two passes, but suffered two interceptions. The last of those came in the last half of the fourth quarter, and resulted in the final Franklinton touchdown. The Rams put another touchdown up earlier in the quarter. Coach Williamson blamed that score, that came after his defense forced a 4th and 15 play, on his defense getting worn down after so much time out on the field. While turnovers were fewer Friday than some other times, the four were more than they could afford to give up. It also contributed to the inconsistency of the offense, and two Ram scores. “We’ve just got a bunch of sophomores out there that need to mature. I am hopeful in a year or two that we can have a good football team, if we can keep them out there.” In the meantime, he hopes the blocking on offense improves. They have been stressing blocking technique, and sustaining blocks, but too many times Friday night Ram defenders were penetrating and blowing up plays.
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Wayne Wilson News Leader
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