(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) REVVING UP: Alexz Henriques lopes up the field last week during practice for the upcoming Sunshine Football Classic all-star game. Henriques, a record-breaking running back for Princeton High, will be playing on the East Squad in the game which will take place this Thursday at The College of New Jersey. Henriques rushed for a program-record 1,707 yards as a junior in 2005. He gained 1,130 yards last fall as a senior to set the program's all-time record for rushing with 3,582 yards.

Henriques Broke Records for PHS Football, Aims to Make Big Plays in Sunshine Classic

Bill Alden

When Alexz Henriques started his Princeton High football career as a freshmen in the fall of 2003, he didn't look at himself as a particularly special player.

"I was pretty good in the junior leagues but I wasn't anything great," recalled Henriques.

But PHS head coach Steve Everette saw something special in his young running back. "Coach believed in me from day one," said Henriques. "As a freshman he told me that if I would follow what he said, I could be one of the best players to ever play at Princeton High. I tried to listen to him; he helped me so, so, so much."

Henriques proved to be a good listener as he ended up helping PHS more than he could have imagined as a callow freshman.

In his junior year, Henriques rushed for a program-record 1,707 yards as PHS went 6-4, its first winning season since the 1990s. As a senior, the 5'9, 170-pound tailback found the going a little tougher but he still managed to gain 1,130 yards rushing as PHS recovered from an 0-4 start to end up with a 4-6 mark. Henriques ended his PHS career with the program's all-time record for rushing with 3,582 yards.

This Thursday evening, Henriques will be looking to help another team as he plays for the East squad in the 11th annual Sunshine Football Classic all-star game at The College of New Jersey stadium.

For Henriques, the chance to play in the Sunshine Classic is an enjoyable way to culminate his glittering high school career. "It's pretty fun to be playing with all these guys I went against," said Henriques. "I just want to win the game. I'm learning some stuff from being around these good players."

Henriques learned some stuff about character in his senior year as he dealt with being the marked man on a team that had graduated several offensive skill players and linemen from the 2005 squad.

In the 2006 season opener against Steinert, Henriques was repeatedly gang-tackled as he was held to 11 yards rushing in a 20-0 defeat.

That deflating experience prompted some soul-searching for Henriques and the Little Tigers' young offensive line. "I had a big year as a junior and they were gunning for me," said Henriques. "The next week, I had a talk with my offensive line. I couldn't show my frustration; I was a senior and a leader of the team."

The elusive Henriques showed his leadership by diversifying his game, making big plays as a receiver and on special teams return man. "In my junior year, we had more options so I could show what I could do as a running back," said Henriques. "As a senior, I had to play as hard as I could and do anything the team needed."

Although Henriques is proud of setting the school record in rushing, he showed his focus on the team in reflecting on the accomplishment.

"It feels good to hold the record," said Henriques. "When it happened, I was real excited. Now I hope someone breaks it soon."

This fall, Henriques will look to break some records as he heads to Dean College, a two-year junior college in Franklin, Mass.

"The program has a lot of calisthenics, stretching, and sprinting in addition to the weight lifting," said Henriques, who will start pre-season training camp on August 18. "I'm a little bit nervous, a little bit excited."

Henriques hopes to bring his brand of big-play excitement to Dean. "I just want to score on every play," said Henriques. "I don't want to get tackled or hit hard."

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