The Princeton Tigers needed a game like this.

After tough losses to open the season to two state-ranked teams, Newman and Rockridge, and gaining a forfeit win over Sherrard last week, the Tigers needed to get on the field and get after it.

And get after it they did Friday night.

The Tigers scored six times in the first quarter alone and went on a 63-12 romp over Kewanee in a game in which the running clock was put in play.

Princeton senior captains Common Green and Casey Etheridge said it was just the kind of game that the doctor ordered for the Tigers.

“It was amazing. It’s a great feeling to get a big Dub like this,” Green said. “It was really tough [not playing last week]. We really wanted to get at it [and] really show what we’re made of.”

“It was a good confidence booster, and I thought some of the stuff we added we came out a lot better, especially on the offensive side,” Etheridge said.

Etheridge had four touchdown runs rushing with 130 yards on six carries, along with six receptions for 77 yards; junior Ayden Agushi scored two touchdowns, including an 88-yard kickoff return; and the Tigers even got a 7-yard scoop and score by senior lineman Grady Cox, who recovered a fumble on a strip sack by Green.

“Everyone’s playing a part of the game. It’s teamwork. It’s what we need,” Green said.

Fans who came a little late missed a lot of excitement as the start of the game turned into a track meet.

The Tigers scored three times in the first 2½ minutes with Etheridge scoring on a 4-yard run at the 10:58 mark and again on a 45-yard dash at 10:29. Agushi followed with a 1-yard score less than a minute later to make it 21-0.

Chris Crowe returned a kickoff 90 yards for a Kewanee touchdown only to have Agushi return the favor with an 88-yard kickoff return to pay dirt for the Tigers.

Before the first quarter expired, Etheridge added a 34-yard score, and Abram Longeville caught a 28-yard scoring strike from quarterback Gavin Lanham to send the Tigers to a 42-6 lead.

The Tigers played like they had something to prove.

“We were in very unfamiliar territory. We are not used to being 0-2,” Princeton coach Ryan Pearson said. “But at the same time, I felt like we’re a play here and a play there from flipping the script and being 2-0.

“I was a little worried coming off a bye week and being a little rusty, but this is the best week of practice we’ve had all year and I’m a firm believer you play the way you practice and came out and executed in all three phases better than we’ve had all year.

“As long as keep taking strides forward, I like the direction we’re going.”

Etheridge praised the freshman and sophomore players for performing well in their first taste of varsity ball this season, including freshman Reece Pearson, who scored on a 9-yard run late in the third quarter, the Tigers’ last score of the game.

“It’s nice seeing the freshmen, especially like Reece Pearson, all the kids that work really hard and don’t get to see the field a ton on varsity, come up and make big plays. It’s so exciting for them,” Etheridge said.

It was the 127th meeting of the longtime Route 34 rivals, with Princeton leading the all-time series 66-57-4.

Princeton’s 63 points is the Tigers’ most scored in the series with Kewanee, second only to the Boilermakers’ 64-point effort in 1974. Princeton’s previous high was 56 points in 2022 (56-7).