GREEN LIGHT: Princeton High football player Jakob Green lines up at wide receiver in recent action. Last Saturday, sophomore standout Green was a one-man show for PHS making two interceptions, making a 69-yard touchdown reception, and kicking three extra points in a 46-21 loss to Winslow. The Little Tigers, now 2-4, play at WW/P-S on October 23. (Photo by John Dowers)

With the Princeton High football team trailing Winslow 12-0 early in the second quarter last Saturday, Jakob Green put on a one-man show to get the Little Tigers back in the game.

As Winslow marched deep into PHS territory looking to extend its lead, sophomore standout defensive back/receiver Green made an interception and returned the ball to the 31-yard line. On the very next play, Green got open on the sideline and hauled in a pass from Dave Beamer and rean 69 yards for a touchdown. The versatile Green then kicked the extra point to narrow the Winslow lead to 12-7.

The flurry of action understandably left Green winded. “I saw the quarterback going that way and I ran under the reciever and picked it off,” said Green, reflecting on his interception.

“I just saw there was no cornerback on me on the pass so I have got to get this and I got it. I was so tired and then I had to do the kickoff.”

Moments later, Green made a second interception and returned it to the Winslow 16. The Little Tigers cashed in on that turnover on a touchdown pass from Beamer to Rory Helstrom and went ahead 14-12 on Green’s extra point.

After the Eagles regained the lead 18-14, Green was at it again, making a 30-yard interception to get PHS into Winslow territory. Three plays later, PHS scored on a 44-yard pass play from Beamer to Helstrom and went up 21-18 after Green booted another PAT.

At that point, Green thought the Little Tigers had seized the momentum.

“I really felt like we had a chance to win but it just didn’t work out,” said Green.

Winslow scored a touchdown in the last minute of the second quarter to take a 26-21 lead at halftime and then reeled off 18 unanswered points in the second half to pull away to a 46-21 victory.

Green acknowledged that PHS ran out of gas down the stretch of the contest as it fell to 2-4 on the season. “In the second half, our offense collapsed and we didn’t have plays that could do anything,” lamented Green.

“We have seven players going both ways so we were tired and all that just got to us.”

In reflecting on the defeat, PHS head coach Charlie Gallagher noted that his defense got stretched thin.

“We are not getting it done at the defensive line; to rush the passer we have to send everybody,” said Gallagher.

“We are leaving a lot of guys in man coverage and they have some good ball players. Let’s not take anything away from them.”

PHS started the half by crossing midfield but then a bad snap on a punt set up a Winslow score as the Eagles took a 32-21 lead and never looked back.

“We had an initial drive there, we got on their side,” said Gallagher. “We want that first drive to be a drive that you score on. Sometimes that doesn’t work out and you are down by a few. We told them don’t hang your heads if it doesn’t work.”

The Little Tigers got some very good work from Green all over the field.

“Jakob is a good football player,” said Gallagher. “We are happy he is a sophomore; he has a bright future here.”

While Gallagher was disappointed by the outcome on Saturday, he sees a bright future for the PHS program.

“We have about 25 freshmen still suiting up, which is great,” said Gallagher.

“We will be playing them down the road; we are excited for the future.”

Gallagher is excited about the rest of the season, starting with a game at WW/P-S on the evening of October 23.

“We still have a couple of really important games left, we got a South game and we have two division opponents left,” said Gallagher.

“It is a night game so I am sure we will be juiced for that. We have a losing streak of two games in a row. I am sure they want to take advantage of that. We were in their shoes two years ago and it was not like we ever hung our heads. We still came out and played every game so I would imagine they are doing the same thing over there.”

Green, for his part, is thrilled to be getting the chance to do so many things this fall for the Little Tigers.

“It’s been really good that the coaches let me play,” said Green. “It is not many sophomores that get to do that. I like playing every play I can.”