Catfight set for Hunnicutt
Written: Sep 15, 2011
 By JIM NELSON
for the Daily Telegraph
PRINCETON — With matching two-game winning streaks on the line, Princeton and Capital collide at Hunnicutt Stadium tonight in an important Mountain State Athletic Conference football matchup. They also bring similar offensive philosophies into the contest.
Capital, which was idle last week after back-to-back wins over Greenbrier East and Riverside in the first two Football Fridays of the season, relies on a run-first attack that spotlights tailback James Richmond.
He has rushed for nearly 300 yards to date and is averaging more than 10 yards per carry. Slotback R.J. Symns’ 67 yard touchdown run helped to secure the Cougars’ week one 42-26 win over comeback-minded Greenbrier East.
“Capital is a strong, fast, well-coached football team,” Princeton coach Ted Spadaro said. “They have some outstanding backs who have great vision. When they see a gap, they hit it at hard.”
Capital can add variety to its attack as well. Quarterback Tyler McClaskie became the second Cougars’ quarterback to throw for 200 yards in the team’s past 27 games when he went 12-16 through the air.
Princeton also brings a strong group of running backs and a solid offensive line into the contest. Halfbacks Tre’ Hopkins and Tajh Johnson have been game-breakers in the Tigers’ wins over Bluefield and Oak Hill as the team bounced back from a season-starting loss to Woodrow Wilson.
Last week, fullback Corey Mann gained 42 yards during a key fourth quarter drive that locked up the win at Oak Hill. Quarterback Storm McPherson has kept defenses honest, throwing for a pair of touchdowns to wideout Euneke Diaz over the past two weeks.
The Tigers have seen several key players sidelined by injury in the first three weeks of the season, and they enter the Capital game with the availability of starters Corey Quick, Cody Blankenship, and Jeremy Midkiff (hand) questionable because of injuries incurred in the last two games.
Tonight’s game begins at 7:30, with radio coverage (STAR 95-FM) starting at 7:15.
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