PRINCETON (WVDN) – The Greenbrier East Spartans traveled to Mercer County on Friday, Oct. 28, and faced the Princeton Tigers at Hunnicutt Stadium.
Unfortunately for the Spartans, the Tigers got off to a quick start and kept their foot on the gas defeating the Spartans 48-18.
East had a tough start against the school’s longest rival.
The Spartans fumbled on the very first play of the game which the Tigers jumped on at the East 1-yard line. Princeton capitalized with one play of their own when Brodee Rice plowed into the end zone from a yard out and a 7-0 Tigers lead.
The Spartans (3-6) used a long, 9-play drive on the ensuing possession and converted a fourth-and-15 with a 16-yard completion to Lucas McCallister. Earlier in the drive, Ian Cline broke a 43-yard run and Jake Pate capped it with an 18-yard scamper, and East cut the deficit to 7-6 midway through the opening quarter.
But Princeton would answer over the next couple of possessions.
First, their leading receiver Dom Collins caught a 2-yard touchdown and Rice scored another 1-yard run after he recovered a fumble the play before on defense. At that point, the score was 20-6, Princeton, as they started to control the game on all sides of the ball.
Late in the first half, Cline went over 1,000 rushing yards for the season after a 9-yard scamper. It is Cline’s second consecutive 1,000-yard season. He scored on a 1-yard run shortly after the feat.
The Tigers (7-2) took a 34-12 lead into halftime after another Collins’ touchdown catch, this one from 53 yards away.
Cline finished off the Spartan scoring late in the second half and finished with 150 yards and two scores.
McCallister had a good day receiving for East hauling in six catches for 63 yards with a couple pass breakups on defense. He took home McDonald’s Player of the Game honors.
Gavin Bennett had a nice game at quarterback off the bench when he came in for the injured Monquelle Davis. He completed 8-of-14 passes for 84 yards.
Grant Cochran, the Tigers’ all-state QB, went 7-of-9 for 106 yards and four touchdowns. Rice complemented him with 128 yards on the ground and two scores.
East will conclude their season this Friday, Nov. 4, at Lincoln County.
Stats courtesy of 103.1, WRON.
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