Princeton Tigers Dominate Erie-Prophetstown with 48-0 Victory

The Princeton football team showcased a commanding performance on October 27, 2023, as they secured a decisive **48-0 victory** against Erie-Prophetstown at Bryant Field. This win marked Princeton’s sixth of the season and solidified their position for a **seventh consecutive playoff appearance**.

After a challenging start to the season, where the Tigers lost three of their first five games against ranked opponents, they demonstrated significant improvement over the last few weeks. In this regular-season finale, the team executed their strategy effectively, scoring on all five of their first-half drives.

Princeton’s head coach, **Ryan Pearson**, praised his team’s performance, stating, “That was the most complete game we’ve played all year. It’s really a testament to our kids.” He emphasized the importance of starting strong, a challenge he gave his players, who responded positively by playing a full four quarters.

In the first quarter, Princeton wasted no time in establishing dominance. After receiving the opening kickoff, they scored within six plays, with quarterback **Gavin Lanham** handing off to **Brennen Emmett**, who executed a lateral to **Jack Pester** for a 14-yard touchdown. The Tigers’ defense quickly forced a three-and-out, leading to a safety after a mishandled punt snap by the Panthers.

Casey Etheridge added to the scoring, picking up a dropped snap and running in for a 7-yard touchdown. Etheridge noted, “I thought this was the best game we’ve played. We came out a lot better in the first half than we have in previous games, and I thought that showed for the rest of the game.”

The first half continued to favor the Tigers. Despite being pinned deep in their territory, Etheridge broke free for an impressive **87-yard touchdown run** after receiving excellent blocking from his teammates. He commented on the play, highlighting the teamwork involved: “They gave me great space. I just had to finish the run. They did all the work.”

Princeton’s defense also played a crucial role, generating two interceptions that set up additional scoring opportunities. **Grady Cox** intercepted a screen pass, positioning the Tigers on the Erie-Prophetstown 20-yard line, leading to a touchdown by **Lane Goskusky**. Cox remarked, “It really boosted everyone’s momentum.”

Another interception by **Abe Longeville** gave Princeton a first-and-goal situation, culminating in a touchdown by Emmett just before halftime, extending the lead to **35-0**.

The second half saw Princeton maintain their momentum. Etheridge scored another touchdown, completing the game with **213 rushing yards** and three touchdowns on just 14 carries. The Tigers amassed a total of **416 rushing yards** without attempting a single pass, underscoring their dominant ground game. **Ayden Agushi** capped off the scoring with a 41-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

In contrast, Erie-Prophetstown struggled offensively, managing only **2 rushing yards** and **43 passing yards** in the first half. Their quarterback, **Keegan Winckler**, completed 2 of 7 passes for 43 yards, with two interceptions. Coach **Tyler Whitebread** acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, stating, “We could not match their physicality, so you have to give them credit for that. I was a little disappointed that some of our defensive struggles led into offensive issues.”

Despite the defeat, the Panthers (6-3) are set to enter the playoffs for the second consecutive year. Coach Whitebread emphasized the need for his team to regroup and focus on their upcoming challenges.

As the Tigers celebrate their strong finish to the regular season, senior lineman Grady Cox encapsulated the team’s spirit, declaring, “This is Princeton football. We were waiting on this all season. We had a slow start to the season, but we got it together. We’re ready for playoffs.”