WILL TO SUCCEED: Princeton High football player Sean Wilton runs upfield in a game this season. Senior offensive/defensive lineman Wilton starred in the trenches this fall for the Tigers as they made their first state playoff appearance since 2014. Playing in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) South Jersey, Group 4 Tournament last Saturday, eighth-seeded PHS fell 69-6 to top-seeded and undefeated Winslow. The Tigers finished the fall with a 5-5 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

There was a buzz around the Princeton High football team last week as it prepared to face Winslow in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) South Jersey, Group 4 Tournament, making the program’s first state playoff appearance since 2014.

“The guys realized 10 years has been long time since we have been in the playoffs,” said PHS head coach Charlie Gallagher. “To be there is a tremendous achievement. The guys really rallied around the fact that they had done something that a lot of football teams at Princeton High haven’t done in a while.”

Getting another week together had the Tigers hoping for more.

“It was nine years of consolation games so this game meant a lot more; in the grand scheme of things; if you win, you keep going,” said Gallagher. “When you had a consolation game, that was your last game. You get into the playoffs, you say to yourself, who knows what the last game is going to be. Our guys had a feeling, ‘Hey this is going to be a tall order but at the same time, who knows.’”

Playing at top-seeded and undefeated Winslow last Saturday in a first round contest, the eighth-seeded Tigers couldn’t get it going as the powerhouse Eagles jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead on the way to a 69-6 victory

“Outside of them just being an outstanding football team, offensively we really couldn’t muster up many yards because they really swarm to the ball,” said Gallagher. “They were in our backfield. When we made plays, they were there to stop us. We would make a nice catch. If it was seven yards, guess what, we got seven yards. There were not many yards after catch.”

PHS senior quarterback Tracis Petrone provided a highlight for the Tigers, scampering for a five-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

“It was a fantastic touchdown, it was designed to be a pass and Tracis ended up scrambling like he does,” said Gallagher. “He does a great job of that. He saw a little bit of daylight along the sidelines and he just ran for it. It was a great drive.”

Gallagher acknowledged that PHS committed some miscues that helped turn the game into a rout for Winslow.

“We made a few mistakes; we gave up a punt return,” said Gallagher. “They returned an interception for a touchdown. We had a fumble they returned for a touchdown. They were opportunistic, they made their own luck. We talk about making our own luck. If you do good things in the football game, the ball tends to bounce your way when you think it might not. It bounced their way just about everywhere. It is what it is. It was a great atmosphere, the kids were really jacked up.”

The squad’s senior group created a great atmosphere around the PHS program this fall.

“We graduate about nine guys, and all were major contributors.” said Gallagher, whose Class of 2025 includes Wyatt Arshan, Brady Collier, Joe George, Elisio Moncada, Sean Wilton, Leo Sarett, Richard Jean-Pierre, and Gabe Sigrist in addition to Petrone. “We are really happy that those guys got to the playoffs, they deserved it. Last year was a successful season, 5-4, but the previous two years, their freshman and sophomore years, I think we may have combined for three wins. They looked at it and put a little bit of onus on their own shoulders. They committed themselves when they really didn’t have to commit themselves. They could have just said this is who we are going to be. Between last year’s group and this year’s group, they really wanted to change the culture, which is awesome.”

In Gallagher’s view, the Tigers have an awesome foundation in place going forward due to the legacy left by the seniors.

“And now I look at it, a lot of these young guys, from Ellington Hinds to Zyair Mackey-Wright to Carmine Carusone to Andrew Foreman to Julian Frevert to Langston Hinds, they are going to reap the benefits of those guys,” said Gallagher. “I don’t think we are missing too many pieces. The future is very bright. I told them that the greatness of the Tigers is in its future.”

While the loss to Winslow stung, Gallagher believes his players will take some life lessons from the experience that will benefit them in the future.

“I said in an email last Sunday that you will be better people because you played in this playoff game,” said Gallagher. “I don’t know what the score is going to be. In 2014 the score was not great either and in 2024 the score was not where we wanted it to be. I think they all come out of this game with their chin held up high, standing up straight with their chest out and ready to take on the world, both athletically and, most importantly, as a good human beings and good citizens. The kids care about each other and hopefully will care about their future communities and families and all that.”