It’s ‘state championship week’ for Princeton

The Princeton Tigers won their “semifinal” game Friday, defeating Newman 28-14.

This week, coach Ryan Pearson has mapped his Tigers out playing for their “state championship,” mythical as it may be, when they tangle with the Fulton Steamers.

It’s going to be a good one to close out the season with a battle of unbeaten teams. The Tigers (5-0) are No. 2 in the AP Class 2A Poll, the Steamers (4-0) No. 3 in 1A.

“Fulton is a very good team and we cannot take them lightly by any means. But finishing our season 6-0 has been our goal the whole spring season and we’re excited to get the opportunity to compete against a high quality team for that,” PHS senior lineman Grant Foes said.

“We are treating this game as our state championship and can’t wait to kick off on Friday.”

Pearson said, “It’s going to be a whale of a football game” to end the season.

“We’re kind of treating it as our state championship game and I’m sure Fulton is echoing the same sentiments to their kids. You can’t ask for a better game the last game of the year with the conference championship on the line,” he said.

Kickoff for the BCR Game of the Week is 7 p.m. at Bryant Field.

“I’m not going to sugarcoat it. They’re very good,” Pearson said. “We’ve had a chance to study them on film. They present some challenges for us, not only because they have some really good players, but they do a good job of designing things that they do based around the strengths of the kids.

“We have our hands full trying to contain the (Kyler) Pessman kid and the (Ethan) Rash kid. We’ve got to know where they are at all times and make sure we’re not going to let them hurt us. The Pessman kid is extremely explosive.”

Pearson said the Steamers will utilize Pessman, a 6-170/senior running back, much like the Tigers did with 2020 grad Wyatt Davis, moving him around in many places.

“You’re going to see him lined up out in the backfield, lined up out of receiver and see him play wing back. They kind of move him wherever they can and get him the ball in as many ways as they possible can,” Pearson said.

Princeton moved to 5-0 with an impressive 28-14 win at Newman. Senior quarterback Tyler Gibson threw for two touchdowns and ran in another to put the Tigers up for good. Sophomore quarterback Teegan Davis added a game-clinching 54-yard keeper with 1 1/2 minutes left to play.

“I’m extremely happy for our kids. They’ve worked extremely hard to get to this point,” Pearson said. “Not just the last couple weeks. They went through some tough times through COVID. Being shut down multiple times, but every time we brought our kids back, we asked them to give us every thing they had and then some.”

Fulton improved to 4-0 by defeating Monmouth-Roseville 49-6 Friday. It has put up 45 points or more in each of its four games, scoring 49 twice and 56 once. The Steamers are outscoring their opponents 49.8 to 6.5. While Fulton’s opponents have combined for only three wins (15 losses), Pearson said it’s a bit misleading, noting “they played Orion and won by about the same score as we did.”

“We have had a great football season so far and really look forward to the great challenge that Princeton will present,” Fulton coach Pat Lower said. “We are both ranked in the top five of our respected classes and feel that this could have been a real special year under normal circumstances.

“We know and understand how good this Princeton team is. They have size and great team speed. They are extremely well-coached. They are very disciplined. We will have our hands full. We look at this as a great opportunity to see where we are as a team.

“Most importantly, we are excited to have one final game with this group. This group of guys have been a pleasure to coach. I have appreciated all their efforts and am excited for this last game. In a season with no postseason, this game will be as close to a playoff atmosphere as we will have.”

Pearson said the PHS seniors have an old score to settle with their counterparts from Fulton dating back to the days of youth football

“This class has been the nemesis for our seniors ever since they’ve been in PFL,” he said. “You don’t really try to go back that long, but there’s a history. They beat our senior class three out of four years in PFL.”

“Oh yeah, they definitely have been (a nemesis). It would be nice to get back at them again for all of the times they beat us back then,” PHS senior quarterback Tyler Gibson said. “They’re definitely a good football team, so this will be one of the best games we’ve had with them, even though our 8th grade game with them was pretty exciting.”

Friday’s game will mark the final meeting between the Steamers and the Tigers with Fulton leaving the Three Rivers next year in favor of the NUIC. The Tigers look to even the score in the all-time series with Fulton leading 3-2.

“Obviously we want to send them to the NUIC with a loss. Kind of like their parting gift to the TRAC is to try to beat us,” Pearson said. “But I think it’s more in ending the year with a positive note and sending their season out with a big win and win a conference championship. I really don’t think there’s a lot of stock in them switching conferences.”