MULTI-TASKING: Princeton High football player Stephen Hennessy carries the ball in a recent game. Last Friday, senior star and co-captain Hennessy starred as PHS rallied to edge West Windsor-Plainsboro 22-19. Hennessy returned the opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown and helped spark the Little Tiger ground attack from his running back spot. He also made two interceptions on the evening as the PHS defense held WW-P scoreless in the second half. The Little Tigers, now 2-4, play at Hopewell Valley on October 19. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After the Princeton High football team rallied to beat visiting West Windsor-Plainsboro 22-19 last Friday evening, the PHS players gathered in the end zone, grabbed tennis balls and threw them into the ground in unison, hollering in celebration.

For the Little Tigers, the postgame group toss symbolized bouncing back from a 44-0 loss to Lawrence a week earlier and from a 19-13 halftime deficit in the win last Friday.

With a raucous crowd on hand for its annual Friday Night Lights Homecoming game, PHS gave the fans something to cheer about right away as senior star Stephen Hennessy took the opening kickoff, bounced outside and raced 89 yards down the sideline for a touchdown.

“We have got a great group of blockers, we all work so hard,” said Hennessy. “I saw my boys blocking so hard; they were pushing as hard as they could.”

Despite trailing at the beginning the second half, the Little Tigers were determined to keep pushing.

“We were confident coming out of halftime that we were going to win the game,” said Hennessy. “We knew as long as we worked hard, we were going to get that win.”

Tightening up the defense proved to be a key factor in the PHS comeback as the Little Tigers held WW-P scoreless in the second half and scored on a safety in the fourth quarter.

“We figured it out; we got their offensive scheme down,” said Hennessy. “We played hard; it was a team effort. We got it all together and won the game.”

Hennessy came up with a big effort, getting an interception late on the contest to thwart a WW-P drive.

“I was just doing my technique that my coaches taught; it was just like practice, no difference,” recalled Hennessy, who had two interceptions on the evening. “I was dropping back, I saw that ball and I broke on it.”

After having starred at receiver last fall, Hennessy has moved to running back this fall and broke through with some big gains on Friday. “It is definitely new being a running back but I like it,” said Hennessy.

Hennessy also likes serving as captain the Little Tigers. “I am honored to be leading this group of guys,” said Hennessy. “I can’t wait for next week to lead them onto battle against Hopewell.”

Senior running back Jaylen Johnson showed a battling spirit against WW-P as he bulled for two rushing touchdowns in the evening, including a 15-yard jaunt midway through the fourth quarter as PHS took a 20-19 lead.

“I can’t stop until I get into that end zone,” said a smiling Johnson. “On the last touchdown, I saw grass and it was ‘no one is stopping me.’ I got wrapped up and kept going.”

Johnson, who moved to running back this year from the offensive line, has found a home in the backfield.

“It was a big transition at first but I got the feel of it.I am already an athletic player because of basketball,” said Johnson. “I have got to keep the ball safe, that is all. I love the contact.”

Remaining on the defensive line, Johnson delivered contact in the trenches from that spot against WW-P.

“The center was weak so I had to blow him up every time to get to the quarterback and to apply that pressure,” said Johnson.

PHS head coach Charlie Gallagher credited his defense with pressuring WW-P into critical mistakes.

“The whole idea was that we are going to put pressure on that quarterback as quickly as we can so those balls are coming out too quick and the quarterback didn’t have any time,” said Gallagher.

“Hennessy made a nice interception, he did a great job. We needed those turnovers. The ball had not bounced our way. We had two turnovers early and we were able to recover from that.”

The Little Tigers made their luck, persevering to earn their second win in the last three games and improving to 2-4 overall.

“We had a good game plan going in; it didn’t necessarily materialize but we knew it was going to eventually work,” said Gallagher. “I tip my hat to all of these guys going both ways, like Connor Coffee, Tommy Tenzlinger, Jay Jackson, Judd Petrone, Evan Angelucci, Jaylen, and Stephen. We have got a slew of these athletes who just don’t come off the field.”

Gallagher tipped his hat to the bruising running of Johnson.

“Jaylen really is a workhorse,” said Gallagher. “We are relying on that guy to move the ball three or four yards and he surprises you and the next thing you know he has a 15-yard gain.”

In Gallagher’s view, the program has turned a corner, getting ther pair of wins after enduring a 21-game losing streak.

“I would like to think that the train is back on the tracks and maybe we are getting a little push and we are getting on a roll,” said Gallagher.

“We are going to be playing a tough Hopewell team on Friday. We need to have a great week of practice and build on it the morale and the spirit, especially at Homecoming. We talked about school spirit and it was alive and well tonight at PHS.”

Johnson, for his part, felt that spirit. “It is our first win at homecoming since four years ago,” said Johnson. “It means a lot to us and the culture of PHS.”

Hennessy believes that the Little Tigers can keep winning.  “We definitely have some momentum running into next week,” said Hennessy.

“It is going to be the same work ethic we have been putting in all year. It is all about getting to practice and getting a good practice in and looking forward to Hopewell.”