Orion knocks Tigers out of playoff picture

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Princeton’s Jared Peterson wraps up Orion’s Brad Walker Friday at Bryant Field. It was one of the few times the TIgers managed to keep Walker under control, who had three TDs in the Chargers’ 35-0 win. (BCR photo/Kevin Hieronymus)

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PRINCETON — Friday’s season finale at Bryant Field went much like the season in a whole for the Princeton Tigers — a lot of missed opportunuties and a lot of penalties.

The Tigers turned the ball over seven times, including five fumbles and two interceptions. They also committed nine penalties for 60 yards and sputtered offensively in a 35-0 loss to Orion.

The reality of having to turn in their helmets and shoulder pads sunk in as the players walked off the field for the final time. A group of seniors returned for a group picture on the gridiron where they sweated and bled together the past four years.

“It’s really tough. It’s our last game ever. It’s about the worse feeling there is,”  said senior captain Adam Fredenhagen, his No. 51 covered with mud.

Despite the many disappointments throughout the season, the PHS seniors will take away lot of good memories, Drew Compton said. The Tiger captain said he will look back at all the game videos and show them to his children one day.

“We went 4-5 and didn’t make the playoffs, but we played hard,” he said. “I love each and every one of these guys.”

PHS head coach Dave Moore declined comment.

Orion came to play in the wake of tragedy with the loss of a Orion sophomore this week. He was not a member of the football team, but a good friend to the sophomore players, Orion coach Chip Fuller.

“We’re a close-knit community and they were a close-knit class,” Fuller said.

Fuller said his team has responded well to adversity all season, having seen former coach Jason Van Houtte dismissed for being charged for a sexual assault and Fuller taking over just as fall practice started.

“It’s pulled them together and really bonded them,” Fuller said.

The Chargers, who are heading for a return trip to the playoffs held a 14-0 halftime lead, and put the game away with two more scores in the third quarter.

Senior fullback Brad walker had the honors for three Charger touchdowns, including a 7-yard run in the first quarter and a 5-yard reception and a 46-yard run to put the Chargers up 28-0 with 1:34 to play in the third quarter.

Evan Viager capped the Chargers scoring with a 62-yard TD burst with 8:06 to play in the game.

It may have looked like Fuller was calling the dogs off when he had reserve quarterback Colton Schulenberg take a knee four straight plays with four minutes remaining in the game.

He said he was actually protecting his  players from the extracurriculars going on on the field, which included two personal fouls called on Princeton.

“Princeton took some some cheap shots. Unfortunatey they had some bad apples out there, but I’m sure their staff will take care of it,” Fuller said.

“We had to protect our players. I never had to be talked into taking a knee before. Our d coordinator said to take a knee and I said, ‘What are you talking about.’

• Tiger tales: PHS has now been out of the playoffs for six seasons, last appearing in 2003. ... The same schools will reassemble back at Bryant Field at 3 p.m. Saturday for the sophomore game. The game was postponed Friday due to the death of the Orion student.

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