Football notebook: Princeton accomplishes goal

By Staff Reports
Published in Sports on October 15, 2013 1:49 PM

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PRINCETON -- Princeton's defense talked all week about its goal of shutting out Hobbton on Friday evening.

The Bulldogs accomplished that goal while, holding the Wildcats to 97 yards of total offense and recording 17 plays that went or either one yard or loss yardage.

Hobbton did not convert a third down in nine attempts.

"For them not to convert a third down is huge," Minor said. "You don't realize that when the game is going on. The defense's goal tonight was zero. We bend, but we don't break sometimes and they wanted to prove that we can shut a team out if we have to and they did a great job."

Welcome back

WARSAW -- James Kenan starting tailback Marcelias Sutton had spent the past three weeks nursing a deep thigh bruise that prevented him from playing in the Tigers' three wins.

The N.C. State commit returned to the lineup against North Duplin and picked up right where he left off with 62 yards on five carries and two touchdowns. Sutton did not play in the second half due to the circumstances of the game.

"Getting Marcelias back is a huge boost on offense and on special teams," James Kenan head coach Ken Avent Jr. said. "He looked quick and more importantly he looked full speed in the open field."

James Kenan battles Lakewood for first place in the Carolina 1-A Conference this week.

Slow start

South Lenoir's defense seemed to have a tracking device on Goldsboro's Rasheid Malette during first-period play Friday evening.

Everywhere Malette went he faced either two or three white-shirted defenders. And on two occasions, the senior tailback lost his footing and slipped on the rain-soaked turf.

Malette's first five rushes resulted in minus-5 yards.

A blocking adjustment quickly reversed Malette's early misfortunes. His sixth and seventh carries covered 24 and 12 yards, respectively. The latter set up a 1-yard touchdown pass from Nashir Bowden to Joseph Baker.

Malette toted the mail on eight of the Cougars' nine rushing plays in the second quarter and found the end zone twice. He ended the night with 120 yards and three TDs on 16 carries.

"Rasheid is still kind of limping a little bit on that ankle," GHS head coach Eric Reid said. "I think some of that is a little mental (now). At the same, we've got to make sure he's in a situation where he's comfortable and he can make those moves that he's been able to make in the past."

You down in front

PRINCETON -- Tailback Johnny Frasier may garner most of the headlines, but Princeton's offensive line has done its fair share of work this season.

The group of Matthew Peedin, Quinton Rhue, Waylan Woodall, Chris Sauls and Jarrett Pearce has helped paved the way for Frasier and the Bulldogs' offense to rush for 1,833 yards and 25 touchdowns this season.

"Our offensive line is having a great year," Bulldogs head coach Derrick Minor said. "We pride ourselves on blocking for (Frasier) and he does a great job of giving them credit, too. We've been working hard (in the) off season and it's paying off.

"That is offensive line is definitely doing a great job."