Princeton pulls off stunner against archrival Rosewood

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on November 7, 2015 11:16 PM

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bdavis@newsargus.com

PRINCETON -- Don't stop this rivalry any time soon.

Separated by eight miles and a county line, Princeton and Rosewood battled through three ties and four leads changes before the Bulldogs came out on top, 42-41, in Carolina 1-A Conference play Friday evening.

"The best we've played all year, and in no better time to do it," Princeton head coach Travis Gaster said. "It's a rival game so it means the world to the kids, and they had a little bit more fire about them. I was so, so impressed with our kids' sportsmanship and their (Rosewood) kids' sportsmanship.

"For it to be a rivalry, that just really stood out to me -- these are two really good groups of young men."

Senior Kiadae Richardson put the Bulldogs on the board with a 1-yard touchdown run, and added the two-point conversion. Rosewood closed to within 8-7 on Marquail Al-montaser's touchdown.

Earl Gibson Jr. scored Princeton's second touchdown.

Senior Kenny Chandler's interception of Bulldog quarterback Adam Crocker set up a touchdown run by Mike Woodard. Richardson scored his second touchdown, but Cameron Helt threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Ethan Chapin, which created a 21-21 halftime tie.

Richardson, Gibson Jr. and Woodard traded touchdown runs. Gibson's score pushed Princeton ahead 34-28 after three quarters. Woodard tied the game at 34-34 with a 4-yard run.

Princeton drove to Rosewood's 42-yard line. Eagles defensive end Tronquill Blue recovered a Bulldogs' fumble, which led to a 61-yard touchdown run by Helt.

The Eagles led 41-34.

Late in the fourth quarter, Bulldogs defensive lineman Lejuan Williams recovered an Eagles' fumble and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown. Gibson Jr.'s two-point conversion gave Princeton a 42-41 lead with 1:34 left in the game.

Rosewood couldn't find the end zone again.

"It was a heck of a high school football game," Rosewood head coach Robert Britt said. "I wish we could've been on the other end. I thought both teams played extremely hard. It really came down to Princeton was able to capitalize on a mistake. You got to tip your hat to them, but our kids are extremely tough.

"They're gonna take this loss hard because they do so much to prepare for each game. But the one thing this Rosewood crowd has always shown is, win or lose, we're gonna come back on Monday (and) try to be a better football team next Friday."

Princeton denied Rosewood a share of the Carolina 1-A Conference title for the first time since 1999. The Eagles dropped to the No. 4 seed for the postseason, while the Bulldogs climbed to No. 3.

"Our kids believe in the system that we have in place," Gaster said. "And what better way to win this game than with our defense."

Rosewood (7-4 overall, 4-2 Carolina) begins the postseason at conference foe Lakewood in round one of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-AA (large school) playoffs.

Princeton (4-6, 4-2) returns to action Friday at Atlantic 10 Conference member Camden County in the 1-AA playoffs.