By BRIAN WOODSON

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

PRINCETON — The ‘YAC’ production really added up for Jay Palmer.

The Princeton senior quarterback accumulated 405 total yards in last Friday’s 67-32 win over St. Albans, and many of those came on ‘yards after contact’.

“That was probably one of the best games I have had in my entire career.” Palmer said. “First, I would like to recognize God in my life — without Him, I probably wouldn’t have been able to do anything — my coaching staff, everything they teach me, my parents for their support and my linemen played a great game. I have just got to give them a shout-out too.”

It was a night worthy of shouting. Palmer rushed for 192 yards on 20 attempts, including touchdowns of 40 and 86 yards (with two more called back by penalty). He also threw for 75 yards, including a 61-yard scoring toss, and added 138 yards on return yardage, including a 97-yard touchdown run to put the game out of reach by the break.

“They had just scored a touchdown which made it 28-7 and with 10 seconds to go in the half and they kick it to him and he runs it back,” Princeton head coach Randy Peek said. “That pretty much took the life out of them at halftime. It was a big play, it was over after that, it pretty much sealed the deal.”

It also sealed the Pocahontas Coal Association/Bluefield Daily Telegraph Player of the Week honors for the 6-foot, 195-senior quarterback, defensive back and whatever other position the Tigers need him to fill.

“It is a nice honor. I am proud of it and I am thankful to my coaches and my team.,” Palmer said. “It would not be my character if I was to claim all of that credit. God plays a big part in that for me, and my linemen did a great job and everything just came together and I couldn’t be more grateful to all of them.”

It may not have been too big of a surprise for Peek, who pulled Palmer aside earlier in the week and told him he needed three touchdowns and 200 yards to earn the award. He had that by halftime.

“I think he is very deserving, he is a leader on and off the field, he is a team captain, how Jay goes is really how our team goes because he is a two-way starter and he plays on special teams,” added Peek. “It is about yards after contact for him.

“It wasn’t the first tackler that brought him down. He made some moves and he made them miss tackles and he broke some tackles, every yard that he got he pretty much earned.”

So was the win, which snapped a five-game losing skid against a brutal schedule against opponents that currently have a combined mark of 25-6. No wonder the Tigers (2-5) were ready for what turned into a breather.

“We have got probably played three or four of the best teams in the state, three of them in the top 10,” Palmer said. “It is not much of an easy schedule, but it is definitely something you never back down from.

“You keep playing and you have pride within yourself and the team and just keep self-esteem up and keep trying to get better every week.”

Princeton unleashed its unusual triple-option attack against St. Albans, finishing with 498 on offense, including 423 on the ground. Four other backs also had at least 40 yards and four touchdowns.

“It was about time for us to get us a win,” said Palmer, who has run for 520 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, and thrown for 224 yards and four more scores. “That was a good one.”

He’s doing while getting most of the attention from opposing defenses, who currently don’t have to worry about talented Jordan Jones, who has been lost indefinitely with a sprained ankle.

“He was a big aspect of our team,” Palmer said. “When he went out a lot more of it went on my shoulders and I just had to be a senior leader and step up to the plate and do what I had to do.”

“With Jordan being out, they key a lot on Jay now,” added Peek, who credits offensive coordinator Chris Pedigo with calling plays so opponents can’t focus so much on Palmer. “Their goal is to stop Jay and Jay stepped up and so did our running backs and our offensive line did a heckuva job blocking and that is the key.

“You look at the film and Jay just had extra effort on every one of his runs. Most of his yards came after contact with him, a bunch of YAC yards.”

Princeton built a 13-0 first quarter lead, and then Palmer crossed the goal line three times in the second, starting with a 40-yard run, followed by an 86-yard dash to the end zone, and up next was a 97-yard kick return that came just seconds after St. Albans had gotten on the board.

He did all that, and still had the energy to hold for extra points.

“He is our holder on extra points and you see him taking deep breaths trying to get his wits about him and his breath before he actually handles the snap,” Peek said. “Pretty much he doesn’t come off the field. He is not in on the punting team, and that is it, he never comes off the field other than the punt team.”

Palmer, who completed a 61-yard scoring pass to Logan McKinney for another touchdown, was quick to deflect the credit elsewhere, from Kevin Phillips scoring twice, to Austin Fulp and Christian Shafer blocking on the return, and the young offensive line that includes junior guards Clayton Rickman and Houston Coburn, junior tackle Isaiah Edwards, sophomore center Garrison Hartwell, and sophomore tackle Nick Mason.

With three games remaining — including a visit Friday to Riverside — the Tigers are looking to finish strong, with an eye toward a 5-5 record.

“That is all we can shoot for, right now the biggest thing is to just take every game step by step, one game at a time, not worry about all of them, just make sure we get one after the other and get a good streak going,” said Palmer, who played the third quarter against St. Albans, and then took a much-deserved break for the rest the game.

“He had a great night and he is a great leader both on and off the field,” Peek said. “He is a great kid, we are going to miss him, he has been a three-year starter and he has meant a lot to this program.

Palmer, who has a 3.5 grade point average, expects to play at the next level, and Peek is confident that goal will become reality.

“They wouldn’t have to worry about his character or morals or anything, he wouldn’t ever cause them a ounce of trouble and he would always have the grades,” Peek said. “That is a kid that you can recommend without any doubt.”

No matter what the future holds for Palmer, he is simply trying to set an example that those who remain will carry on after his exit from the program.

“My biggest thing is just making sure I can teach some of these guys leadership,” Palmer said. “I am not a selfish guy, I am not the type of guy to leave and then say ‘I hope they don’t do as good’.

“I want them to be better. Anything I can do for them I am going to teach them things I have been taught to try to help them out because at heart, no matter where I go, I will always be a Princeton Tiger.”

bwoodson@bdtonline.com

/ Twitter @bdtwoodson.

Player of the Week Honorable Mention

Bland County (beat Narrows 12-0) — Dylan Jackson 31-112 rushing. Mason Christian 9-54, scored both TDs. Keith Miller 6-54 rushing. Dakota Wright intc. Isaiah Boyd intc.

Bluefield (beat River View 62-0) — D.J. Stewart 2 rushing TDs. Corey Coppola 2 TD runs. Mookie Collier 2 TD runs. Carlos Reed 42 yd TD run. Jason Edwards 45-yd fumble return for TD.

Giles (beat Augurn 42-7) — Brett Whitlow 162 yd, 4 TD rushing. Patrick Beidleman 5-98-1 TD. Mann 55 yd TD pass.

Graham (lost 38-27 at Grayson Co.) — Ben Meade 226 passing yd, 2 TD. Israel Harris, TD catch, TD run.

Grundy (lost 22-14 to East Ridge) — Dylan Wolford rushing TD, passing TD. Jacob McNutt 102 rush yds. Cole Street TD catch.

Haysi (beat Thomas Walker 54-6) — no information.

Honaker (beat Clintwood 42-27) — Casey Dye 11-13-168 yd-4 TD passing, 121 rushing, 1 TD. Casey Harmon 7-75-3 TD receiving.

James Monroe (lost 42-37 to Westside) — Reed McNeer 8-74-2 TD rushing, 10-22-102-1 TD passing, 45-yd intc return for TD. Grant Mohler 13-165 rushing, 3-46 receiving.

Montcalm (lost 45-0 at Tri-Cities Christian) — Dustin Williams 6-50 rushing. Travis Poynter 12-50. Colton Egnor 6-12.

Mount View (lost 50-12 to Meadow Bridge) — Sheman Harrison 65 yd TD run. Marlin Marrs TD reception.

Narrows (lost 12-0 at Bland County) — Drew Stowers 7-25 rushing. Jeffrey Russ, fumble recovery.

PikeView (lost 49-15 to Wyoming East) — Hunter Mitchelson 67 yd TD run. Ty Hoston TD run.

Princeton (beat St. Albans 67-32) — Jared Hamm 5-60-1 TD rushing. Zack Standifur 14-52-1 TD rushing. Kevin Phillips 2 TD including 42-yd intc return. Jacob Whittington 13 pts (2 FG, 7 XP). Logan McKinney 2-75-1 TD receiving. Jeyne Hearn 2-50 rushing.

Richlands (beat Tazewell 40-18) — River Michaels 296 total yd, 178 passing, 116 rushing. Chace Collins 2 TD receptions, intc. Griffin McCauley, punt block. Alex Bandy 8 pts (1 FG, 5 XP).

River View (lost 62-0 to Bluefield) — no information.

Summers County (lost 19-7 at Independence) — Greg Shrewsbury 115 yd rushing. Matt Ryan 15-10 rushing, 10-yd TD run, 80 passing yd.

Tazewell (lost 40-18 at Richlands) — Chris Hall 19-151-2 TD rushing, recovered muffed punt reception. Jesse Mountain, 16-yd TD reception, 55-yd kick return. Malik Davis 120 yd, 1 TD passing.

Wyoming East (beat PikeView 49-15) — no information.