FAIRLEA, WV- Homecoming did not provide a victory for the Greenbrier East Spartans on Friday night, Oct. 27, but it did provide some entertainment for the fans in attendance.
Spartan football player Aiden Cole and volleyball/tennis player Peyton Barker took home the king and queen honors at halftime of the Spartans 55-0 loss to Princeton.
It was the second time the two teams have met this season— East lost 56-7on September 26– and each time has not been very kind to boys from Fairlea.
And it has to do with Princeton just being on another level this year.
The Tigers got the scoring started after forcing the Spartans into a three-and-out on their first series. Just a few plays into the possession, Tiger quarterback Chance Barker hit speedster Dom Collins for a 38-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 Princeton lead with 8:57 left in the first quarter.
Abram Wickline then coughed up the ball on the subsequent Spartan possession and Collins scooped it up and ran it back 34 yards for another score, and with 7:52 left in the quarter, Princeton led 14-0 and were starting to take control.
The Spartans (1-8) turned it over on downs on their next drive, but they did create a nice play for the highlight reel. Brody Hamric hit Grant Burdette, who reached over a defender, and brought the pass in for a nice 39-yard catch and run.
However, it was the Tigers (8-1) who created another highlight on the scoreboard when Brad Mosser scampered to the end zone from 43 yards away. After that score, Princeton took a 21-0 lead with still 2:03 left in the opening quarter.
Princeton continued to add to the lead as the half went on. Marquel Lowe, Collins and Mosser played well the rest of the half as Collins had four TDs at the break.
Princeton led 55-0 at halftime.
The second half consisted of two 6-minute quarters due to the score and the game ended on the real time clock a lot earlier than it would have normally.
The Spartans’ Nate Suttle, who played the first couple series went out with what looked to be a knee injury early in the first quarter. Suttle had missed last week’s game and missed all of last season due to an injury.
Hamric finished 13-of-29 for 147 yards. East was held to -16 yards rushing for the game. Burdette led the way offensively with five catches for 75 yards. He was also named the McDonald’s player of the game.
Collins (113 receiving yards) and Mosser (106 rec. yards) led the Tiger attack. Barker went 9-of-10 for 239 yards.
The Spartans will stay at home to conclude their season on Friday, November 3 against Lincoln County. It will also be senior night. Fans are encouraged to pack the stands one last time this year to support their graduating seniors.
Stats courtesy of 103.1, WRON.
