Mercer County recovered an onside kick to start the second half and went on to score a touchdown pass to take a 15-14 lead over Princeton early in the third quarter Friday night in Aledo.

Then came Casey Etheridge to the rescue for Princeton.

The senior running back scored three straight touchdowns with runs of 2 yards and 7 in the third quarter and a 43-yard run early in the fourth quarter, helping the Tigers race away to a 41-22 victory in the Three Rivers Conference crossover.

“I think we startled off ugly again,” Etheridge said. “We still got a lot of things to work on. We got a tougher one next week because [Erie-Prophetstown] has had a good season. They have a lot of talent all the way around and we’ve got to come out ready to go.”

Princeton coach Ryan Pearson was perplexed by the Tigers’ slow start once again.

“Credit to Mercer County. We knew they were going to come out with a lot of emotion on senior night, an hour-and-a-half bus trip,” he said. “We have to figure out a way to jump-start our kids at the opening kickoff instead of waiting for the second half.”

Senior Gavin Lanham said it’s up to the Tigers’ defense to set the tone early.

“I think we just need to get off the field, stop with the stupid flags and get off the field. We’ll be fine,” he said.

Etheridge finished the night with 206 yards rushing and five touchdowns, setting another Bureau County record for career touchdowns with 74.

He had a 59-yard touchdown in the second quarter to give the Tigers a 14-3 lead. But it was his 43-yard score early in the fourth quarter, leaving an astonished teammate on the sidelines to ask, “How did he do that?”

“I don’t know. They give me a good initial block. I’m a firm believer if they give me a hole I’m going to make the most out of it,” Etheridge said. “I expect them to make a hole like that and if I expect them to make a hole like that they should expect me to finish the run. So, it’s not fair to them if they make a big hole and I just go down after 10 yards.”

Lanham, the Tigers quarterback who had a 62-yard jaunt to set up his own 9-yard TD in the fourth quarter, said he’s never surprised by what Etheridge does.

“I know he’s always going to get us back in the game. Always,” he said.

Mercer County opened the game with a long-possession drive, going 55-yards on 13 plays to the Princeton 13. The Tigers’ Abe Longeville threw QB John Baldwin for a 9-yard loss, but Cannon Link hit a 40-yard field goal to give the Golden Eagles a 3-0 lead with 3:18 left in the first quarter.

Princeton was shut out until the second play of the second quarter when Etheridge capped a 9-play, 64-yard scoring drive with a 5-yard TD to give the Tigers a 7-3 lead.

The Tigers’ forced a punt and two plays later, Etheridge was off to the races for a 59-yard TD. Braylon Clevenger added the PAT to put the Tigers ahead 14-3.

Baldwin threw for a 7-yard TD pass to Holden Demuth to draw the Golden Eagles within 14-9 lead at the half.

The Golden Rebels surprised the Tigers with an onside kick coming out of intermission and six plays later scored again on another pass from Baldwin to Demuth, this time for 11 yards to take a 15-14 lead.

The Tigers (5-3) will return home next week to face 6-2 Erie-Prophetstown on senior night, looking to guarantee their ticket to the playoffs with their sixth win.

“We told the kids, we became playoff eligible, but that doesn’t guarantee that we get a spot in the final 32. We’ve got a huge game coming up,” Pearson said. “E-P will probably be 6-2. You gotta have six to guarantee that spot. It’s going to be senior night for our boys. The emotions are going to be running high. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”