Princeton wins OT thriller versus Rosewood

By John Joyce
Published in Sports on November 4, 2017 8:58 PM

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PRINCETON --  Redemption.

Such was the prevailing theme on Friday at Harvey Brooks Field, as Princeton enthusiasts lingered in the stadium's east end zone to celebrate their Bulldogs, who outlasted Carolina 1A rival Rosewood, 28-27, in what can best be termed as an overtime panic attack.

There were children, reliving the exploits of tailback Lamar Wilkins, who rumbled and stumbled and finally, in a sea of traffic, scored the game-tying touchdown by reaching for the pylon on Princeton's second play in the extra stanza.

There were parents, many teary-eyed, hugging a loved one.

And then there was Bulldog head coach Travis Gaster, who talked through a smile as he explained why he chose not to kick a game-winning field goal with .7 seconds left in regulation -- and the ball on Rosewood's 1-yard line.

"With it not being an extra point, if it's blocked -- which, it's a desperation situation for them, they send everybody -- if it's blocked, the ball is live," Gaster said. " And we have nobody behind her... if they block it and recover it, they win the ball game."

So the third-year head coach went to the crafty Wilkins, whose prowess was engulfed in short order by a litany of hard-charging Eagles.

The stand, which capped a wild evening of penalty flags and high drama, set the stage for overtime and ultimately decide which team would claim sole possession of third place in the Carolina 1A standings.

Rosewood (5-6, 2-3) struck first in the extra session, with Michael Reid finding a gap at the line of scrimmage and ghosting to the end zone.

The Eagles' conversion attempt, however, ended in haste, with quarterback Tucker Chapin flushed from the pocket and wrestled to the turf by a pair of Princeton defenders.

Then it happened.

Wilkins, who assumed the bulk of Princeton's carries after Rahjai McPhatter left the contest in the fourth quarter with an injury, found blockers to the edge, then somehow stayed on his feet and managed the pylon before being driven out of bounds.

Tie ball game, 27-all.

For many Bulldog faithful, the moment was pure bliss.

For others, it was deja vu.

Just two weeks ago, in the same end zone and in the first overtime stanza versus North Duplin, a botched hold produced a PAT that missed wide left, costing the Bulldogs a chance to upset one of the state's best 1A outfits.

That wasn't going to the case on this night.

A clean snap and a spot-on hold by Wilkins set the stage for senior Allie Britt, who cleanly booted the game-winner end over end toward the Bulldog field house.

Done and done, at long last.

"It was a Princeton-Rosewood classic," RHS head coach Robert Britt said. "A game full of teams making plays and overcoming mistakes... Of course we wish we could have come out on the winning side, but it'll be a game the boys will always remember."

So to will Princeton, whose never-say-die spirit now includes a moment of redemption.

Playoff Implications

Princeton, who finished 7-4 overall and 3-2 in Carolina 1A play, earned the ninth-seed in the upcoming N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A (AA) state playoffs. It will travel to face an old friend next Friday in Williamston Riverside -- who they defeated last year, 70-64,  in a pulse-pounding, four-overtime affair.

Rosewood emerged as the 12th seed in the small AA classification, and will hit the road to Mt. Gilead, N.C., to face West Montgomery -- a 9-2 outfit who finished second in the Yadkin Valley 1A conference.