Farmers plow through Princeton
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| Princeton's Zach Smith catches a touchdown pass in the second quarter, despite the diving attempt of Farmington's Charlie Bagana to pull the Tigers within 13-7 at halftime in Friday's season opener at Bryant Field. (BCR photo/Kevin Hieronymus) |
PRINCETON — They haven’t won many football games at Farmington High School in recent years. They won just three last year after suffering a 33-game losing skid, so some Farmington students couldn’t help themselves after the Farmers 28-13 win over the Princeton Tigers at Bryant Field in Friday’s 2007 prep opener.
They drove along the field, honking their horns and waving Farmington flags, much to the delight of the Farmington football team.
Everyone, but coach Casey Martin, that is.
He said he was embarrassed and asked reporters to apologize to coach Dave Smith.
“I wished they wouldn’t do that,” he said. “I’m sorry ... that’s embarrassing.”
Martin said he’s been on the other of many defeats, and that’s why he wouldn’t let his team celebrate on the middle of Bryant Field.
“It’s their field,” he said, nodding to Princeton.
The Farmers did deserve to have their horns tooted, dominating the Tigers from the word go. They tallied 272 yards of offense, including 158 rushing, while holding to PHS 143 net yards, just 68 rushing.
“The strength of our team is we’re very big and very strong,” Martin said.
The Farmington coach also felt he had the element of surprise in using the shotgun for the first time on offense and coming out in a 4-3 defense.
“I’ve ran a 4-4 for 16 years, and I went to a 4-3 and I kept it quiet,” he said. “I thought with a new quarterback the element of surprise was a key. If they practice a 4-man front the whole summer, and if come out in a 3-man front, it’s a whole new look. I told the kids to keep their mouth shut. Mum’s the word.”
twice Princeton went for fake punts in the first quarter and twice they failed to convert, turning the ball over at the 44 yard line and 22.
But Farmington didn’t. Cole Chatten scored on a 25-yard run at the 7:19 mark and added a 10-yard romp with 4:43 to go to make it 13-0 Farmers.
The much discussed quarterback debate at Princeton may have got more interesting. Sophomore Drew Compton started, but gave way to classmate Brik Wedekind in the second quarter.
Wedekind, who caught a 4-yard pass from Compton in the first quarter, hit Compton for a 14-yard first down completion to the Farmington 4. Four plays later, Wedekind, found senior Zach Smith wide open in the right corner of the end zone. Wedekind added the PAT kick to make it 13-7.
Ironically, it was the same score of last year’s game, which the Tigers rallied for a 21-20 win as Farmington’s last-second pass fell incomplete in the end zone.
“I reminded them we had the lead at halftime and didn’t finish the job. I challenged the kids to finish the job,” Martin said.
And finished they did. Charlie Balagna added a 5-yard TD run and conversion, and later caught a 33-yard TD pass from quarterback Kody Wyant to give the Farmers a 28-7 lead late in the third quarter.
Senior Matt Holland checked into the PHS backfield and provided an instant spark with his speed. He gained 13 yards, then 18 before bulling in from a yard out with less than a minute in the game.
PHS used seven different ball carriers with Holland leading the pack with 36 yards on four attempts
Martin is a graduate of Farmington and played on their playoff football teams. He’s trying to reestablish that tradition.
“It’s always nice to get the first win in the first game,” he said. “Our immediate goal is to have more wins than last year. The ultimate goal is the playoffs. It’s no longer just to win a football game.”
• Tiger Tales: The Kittens won the soph prelim 18-13 with TD runs by Adam Fredenhagen and Tyler Tyne and a pass from Brock Schmidt to Zach Clark. ... The Princeton freshmen will kick off its season at 10 a.m. Saturday at Bryant Field vs. Elmwood Park. The two teams’ varsity will take to the Bryant Field turf on Sept. 7. ... PHS travels to Macomb for Week 2.
