FINAL ROAR: Princeton High running back Rory Helstrom tries to break a tackle in a game this season. Senior star Helstrom scored the lone touchdown as PHS ended its season by falling 35-7 to visiting Millburn in a regional crossover game earlier this month. The Little Tigers finished the fall with a 4-6 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

As the Princeton High football team got ready to host Millburn in a season-ending regional crossover game earlier this month, Charlie Gallagher was expecting a tight contest.

“I thought we matched up well against them,” said PHS head coach Gallagher.

“They had a talented running back and we have a talented running back. I thought our O-lines were similar.”

The Little Tigers fell behind early in the November 14 game but had the chance to tighten things up as they drove deep into Millburn territory.

“It was 14-0 and we were down at the one yard line with third down and goal at the one,” recalled Gallagher.

“We thought about passing the ball but you have Rory Helstrom in the backfield and in two plays, he can get one yard for you.”

Helstrom didn’t get into the end zone on that sequence and Millburn never looked back, rolling to a 35-7 win.

“They just beat us up front, taking nothing away from our guys,” said Gallagher, whose team finished with a final record of 4-6. “Their guys just played well.”

Gallagher wanted better for his senior guys as PHS also fell 48-38 to WW/P-N in its regular season finale.

“I would have liked to have seen the senior guys enjoy some more success down the stretch,” said Gallagher, who did get a fourth quarter touchdown from star running back Helstrom in the loss to Millburn.

“I thought we had quality senior play, they did a nice job for us. I personally would have liked to see them go out with few more wins but it is hard to win football games.”

The team’s Class of 2016, which included Shahieym Brown, Matt Lambert, Kiki Mahiri, Joe Cunsolo, Noah Ziegler, Alex Cortez, Matt Toplin, Nick Fliss, Dave Beamer, and Matt Ochoa in addition to Helstrom, meant a lot to Galllagher.

“Those guys have never had another head coach,” noted Gallagher. “I was their head coach on the freshman team. I got the call-up to take the team their sophomore year so then they see me as their coach for the whole entire program. They are a fun loving bunch of guys. They came to work with a smile on their face. It was a close knit group.”

In Gallagher’s view, that group is leaving a special legacy. “There is no doubt I am going to miss them terribly,” said Gallagher.

“I think the program is going to miss them terribly. They did a lot of good things for the program. Between those guys and the senior class from last year, I think they really helped turn the tide for our program.”

While PHS expected to do better than 4-6 this fall, Gallagher is determined to keep things headed in the right direction.

“We have to keep the momentum going,” said Gallagher, who guided PHS to an 8-2 record and a state playoff appearance in 2014.

“It took a little bit of a setback with a 4-6 record but we were still in a lot of those games, like Hamilton, Hightstown, and WW/P-N, we could have been 6-4. We can’t falter and go back to old Princeton teams that were 1-9, 0-10. They set a benchmark and now we have to maintain and do even better.”

Gallagher believes that PHS has the talent in place to build on the last two seasons.

“I really do think we have a good foundation; those guys have laid the groundwork for many future teams,” said Gallagher.

“We have a good group of young guys and we are excited to bring them into the fold. I think from the freshman class right now, there will be some contributors next year which I am excited for because that reminds me of the Dave Beamers and Rory Helstroms and Noah Zieglers because those guys all started their sophomore year.”

Looking ahead to next year, Gallagher is excited to start the process of getting his returning players up to speed.

“We want to win, they know how to score touchdowns, they can throw, they can catch, they can tackle,” said Gallagher.

“They can do all of the basic fundamentals of the game so we just have to do that for four quarters. We have got to coach them in the offseason, making sure that they are doing everything they are supposed to be doing, whether playing another sport, whether throwing the ball around, or working in the weight room.”