FOOTBALL TAB: Bulldogs continue to knock on door to earn elite status in 1A play

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 22, 2014 1:48 PM

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A placard on the wall inside his office has become a valuable teaching tool for third-year Princeton head football coach Derrick Minor.

It's a formula directed toward sports and everyday life -- E + R = O.

Minor beams when asked about it.

"Every event (E) has a reaction (R) and an outcome (O)," he said.

The principle aptly describes the Bulldogs' final game of the 2013 season. Princeton battled toe-to-toe with James Kenan in their second-round playoff game and endured a 43-36 shootout loss.

Although the game (event) resulted in disappointment (reaction), the Bulldogs realized they were close to beating the Tigers, who eventually won the 1-AA state championship.

The outcome left Minor's team salivating for this season.

"The kids saw the results of their hard work and their efforts, and I think that helped in the offseason this year, too," Minor said. "It was a huge stepping stone (for this summer). If everything is handed to you in life, you're never going to work for it.

"Two years in a row we've been right there at the doorstep knocking on the door and it just didn't open."

Expectations continue to grow for Princeton, which returns the most talent and experienced upperclassmen that Minor has had during his three-year stint at the Carolina 1-A Conference school. The elements surely seem in place for the Bulldogs to make a serious run at the program's first regular-season league championship since 1983.

Princeton can't be complacent, however.

Minor and his staff work remind the players to be humble and hungry each day. They've established some competition in practice to keep the players sharp and focused on reaching their potential.

"We want to let them know they're playing well, but we want to keep that expectation high because we don't know what it takes to get there yet because we haven't gotten there," Minor said.

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Everyone knows about Johnny Frasier.

The senior running back took the high school football world by storm with a 3,000-yard and 45-touchdown performance in 2013. The 220-pounder recently verbally committed to Florida State.

But there's more weapons in The Doghouse.

During a college workout this summer, senior quarterback Michael Wooten ran 4.8 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He's strengthened his mechanics and improved his footwork in the offseason.

Wooten threw for 1,484 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2013.

"I've never seen Mike work so hard," Minor said. "He had a young receiving crew last year. Now they have had a full year of varsity experience, they're not dropping the balls this year like we did last year.

"I think if we're passing and catching (well), we're going to be tough. It takes the pressure off of Johnny, takes the pressure off of everybody that we can spread the love."

Frasier, senior Tanner Woodard (6-foot-5, 200 pounds), junior Nick Hare (5-8, 170) and junior Malcolm Best combined for more than 1,200 receiving yards and nine TDs last season.

Princeton's dual-threat capability allows Minor to open up the playbook. Opposing defenses will have to defend short and deep routes, and prevent the Bulldogs from getting loose in open spaces.

The challenge is to get the weapons in position to help the Bulldogs, who scored 76 offensive touchdowns last season, put points on the scoreboard.

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Defense wins championships.

The Bulldogs barely scratched the tip of the iceberg last season. Minor hopes they shatter it this fall.

Junior linebacker Adrian Whack (6-1, 235), senior linebacker Cody Garner (6-2, 170) and senior lineman Quentin Rhue (6-2, 310) are the anchors. Known as "Thunder & Lightning," Whack and Garner combined for 215 tackles, including 31 stops behind the line of scrimmage.

Garner served as the set-up guy and delivered the initial hit. Whack handled the clean-up duties. The duo combined to recover four fumbles and pick off three passes a year ago.

Overall, Princeton forced 25 turnovers.

"We were talking about it the other day how Whack is like a missile, has a nose for the ball like I've never seen in a linebacker," Minor said. "Quentin can take on two gaps if he needs to shut a run down. These guys can shut down half the field, so it's going to be hard (for teams) to find a weak link.

"Just to have those veteran guys back, the leadership they have on defense, it's really going to make us a complete team I believe."

The Bulldogs held opponents to two TDs or less in five games and recorded one shutout last season.

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Minor understands it's a long process to build a program.

The biggest change he's noticed has occurred off of the field. The seniors pick up teammates and take them home after practice. Everyone stays late to help clean the locker room.

It's a bond they've developed since their little league days.

"There is something special about this team that I don't know if it's going to equate on the scoreboard," Minor said. "They take care of each other, encourage each other, push each other (and) won't let each other slack (off).

"They hold each other accountable and it's everything you've hoped you could get a team to do. It's just amazing and a blessing to watch these kids grow. They're making each other better (and) are a true team."