Flying Eagles run past Princeton
Princeton (14) vs. Woodrow Wilson (32)
Written: Aug 25, 2012
By CAM HUFFMAN
for the Daily Telegraph
BECKLEY — The question all week leading up to Friday night’s season opener between Woodrow Wilson and Princeton was whether the Flying Eagles’ starting quarterback, Andrew Johnson, would be ready to go after missing the last two scrimmages with shoulder and foot injuries.
Princeton now has the answer. He was more thanready.
The 6-foot-1 senior rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 97 yards and another score, answering a question mark with an exclamation point as WWHS downed the Tigers 32-14 at Van Meter Stadium.
“It was a pleasant surprise, because he hadn’t played in any of the scrimmages,” said Woodrow Wilson head coach John H. Lilly, who started his 13th year in charge with a victory. “We didn’t know what he would do, because he had a bruised rotator cuff. But we were lucky.”
The Flying Eagles (1-0) set the tone on the opening drive, marching 70 yards on eight plays, throwing only one pass and eating up chunks of yardage on the ground. Chase Hancock — who had a huge night for Beckley, as well, rushing for 62 yards on just nine carries — finished the drive with a 5-yard touchdown scamper, and the Eagles led the rest of the way.
Woodrow was able to bottle up Princeton’s new spread offense, and the Tigers had just 81 yards of production at the halftime break.
The Flying Eagles, meanwhile, ran around, over and through the Princeton defense. Hancock added his second score of the game early in the second quarter, finding the goal line from 6 yards out, and Johnson scored his first of two rushing touchdowns just 17 seconds before the half, putting WWHS up 19-0 as the teams went to the locker rooms.
Princeton did find some momentum in the second half as it took the opening drive 60 yards for a score, Sho-Johnson’s 24 yard dash to the end zone capping it off to bring the Tigers within two scores.
But the Flying Eagles calmly answered, taking their first possession of the second half 75 yards for another touchdown. Cole Williams — who joined Johnson in passing the century mark with 108 rushing yards on only eight totes — finished the drive with the play of the game, taking a handoff up the middle, busting through the line before dragging defenders the final 10 yards into the end zone for a 22-yard score.
This time, Princeton couldn’t recover.
Woodrow added another score on a nine-yard Johnson run, and Sho-Johnson’s second touchdown, a sneak from 1-yard out with 2 minutes left in the game, really didn’t matter as Woodrow celebrated a victory.
“I was really proud of our offensive line,” said Lilly, who watched his team rush for 383 yards. “I know those skill guys get their name in the paper, but the offensive line did a heck of a job.”
Sho-Johnson did finish with 133 yards on 15 carries, but he didn’t have the impact that Princeton coach Randy Peek had hoped to see in his coaching debut as the offense could never seem to find a rhythm.
Johnson completed nearly half of his passes, but an early interception kept the Flying Eagles from really putting the game away in the first half.
“I think you saw a little rust,” said Lilly. “But we’ll keep loosening that shoulder up, and I think you’ll see him get better.”
Woodrow Wilson (1-0) will be back in action Friday in Fairlea, taking on rival Greenbrier East. Princeton (0-1) will play at Bluefield.
Princeton..................................0 0 6 8 — 14
Woodrow Wilson......................7 12 7 6 — 32
First Quarter
WW: Chase Hancock 5 run (Andrew Johnson kick)
Second Quarter
WW: Hancock 6 run (kick failed)
WW: Johnson 1 run (conversion failed)
Third Quarter
PH: Tahj Sho-Johnson 24 run (kick failed)
WW: Cole Williams 22 run (Johnson kick)
Fourth Quarter
WW: Johnson 10 run (kick failed)
PH: Sho-Johnson 1 run (Johnson run)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — PH: Sho-Johnson 15-133, Jay Palmer 13-50, Lamont Lee 1-4, Aaron Saunders 1-4, Devin Allen 1-(-5). WW: Johnson 20-130, Williams 8-104, Hancock 9-62, Ramon Edwards III 5-87.
PASSING — PH: Sho-Johnson 6-15-0-1-48. WW: Johnson 6-13-0-1-97.
RECEIVING — PH: Sho-Johnson 1-0, Saunders 2-9, Chad Wyrick 1-8, Brett Carroll 2-13, Zen Clements 1-9, Eric Paskowski 1-9. WW: Edwards III 3-12, Tyhler Cook 1-59, Hancock 1-18, Williams 1-8.
TURNOVERS — PH: Nicholas Wood int. WW: Jacob Meadows int.
|