FOOTBALL: Whitley, Panthers roll over Bulldogs

By Ben Coley
Published in Sports on September 11, 2016 1:48 AM

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bcoley@newsargus.com

PRINCETON -- Entering Friday's game against North Johnston, Princeton head coach Travis Gaster was concerned with the dual-threat abilities of Panthers' quarterback Trey Whitley.

And it did not take long for Whitley to show why Gaster was worried. In the second quarter alone, the junior signal-caller threw touchdowns passes of 36 and 34 yards and added a 30-yard rushing TD.

By the end of the game, Whitley tallied five total TDs -- three through the air and two on the ground in a 48-20 victory over the Bulldogs at Harvey Brooks Field.

"We've got to become a better tackling team," Gaster said. "They just made more plays than we did breaking tackles. But the name of the game is blocking and tackling. And we didn't tackle well throughout the whole game."

After allowing just eight points in their season-opening victory over Kestrel Heights, the Bulldogs have now given up an average of 47 points per game in their three losses.

North Johnston took the opening drive of the game and met little resistance downfield. The Panthers' Jahvante Dublin finished off the possession with a 23-yard TD run.

And then of course, in the second quarter, it was the Whitley show. His two passing TDs and rushing TD gave North Johnston a 34-6 lead at halftime.

"I think we executed a whole lot better this week than we did last week," said Panthers' head coach Jonathan Riba. "And it really showed. Guys were focused, they did what they were supposed to do, and we just took advantage of what we're looking for to take advantage of."

Princeton began to move the ball in the second half. Midway through the third quarter, Bulldogs' running back Earl Gibson Jr. broke free for a 62-yard TD run. And early in the fourth quarter, Matt Stallworth punched in a TD from four yards out.

The Bulldogs cut the lead to 41-20 and appeared as if they had established a rhythm. But after receiving the ball at midfield due to a failed onsides kick attempt by Princeton, Whitley connected with senior wide receiver Treshaun McPhatter for a 50-yard TD.

"We have to evaluate how we're teaching our kids to tackle," Gaster said. "And try to word it some different way or try something different to really hammer home the proper way to do it and the way that works."

Next Friday, the Bulldogs will face Union, an undefeated team that averages 35 points per game and allows just 8.7 points per game.

Although his team is in the midst of a tough losing streak, Gaster has managed to keep a positive attitude about the current state of his team. He believes the Bulldogs are still headed in the right direction.

"Our record doesn't show that, but we're getting better," Gaster said. "I can see things that are better. And we're moving the ball well on offense, we just can't have penalties. We need to limit our penalties and continue moving the ball like we've been doing."

Notes from Friday's game:

REPEAT OF LAST SEASON

* Last season, Princeton fell 32-12 to North Johnston. In that game, the Panthers totaled 368 yards of offense. This year, that number increased to 518 yards.

STALLWORTH SUCCESS

* Stallworth, Gibson Jr. and Trace James receive almost all of the carries for Princeton's Wing-T offense, and Stallworth may be considered the lead dog. He has rushed for at least 120 yards in each game this season, including 124 against the Panthers.

PROTECTING THE PIGSKIN

* Both teams combined to commit over 20 penalties, but each did a good job of not giving the ball away. North Johnston's only turnover was an interception by the Bulldogs' Lamarr Wilkins and Princeton's only turnover was a fumble by Gibson Jr.