Princeton High Football Gets First Win

Despite going 0-10 last year, Princeton High football coach Joe Gargione honestly believed his team could - and probably would - win its season opener on Saturday.

Now, everyone believes it too.

Princeton scored on the first play of the game and never surrendered the lead on the way to a 20-14 win at Northern Burlington.

"This means something to pretty much everyone at Princeton High School," Gargione said. "The players all knew how important this game was. It was important to myself to get that first win."

No one had to wait long for a sign this might finally be Princeton's day. Eric Shorter returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown.

Princeton was up 6-0 just seconds into the game.

"Starting the game off with a touchdown like that was a lift to everyone," Gargione said. "It got our players and fans excited. It got everyone pumped up."

In the second quarter, Shorter caught a 40-yard pass from Alex Mitko to give Princeton a 13-0 lead.

Before the half ended, Princeton also scored on a 3-yard run by Mitko, the quarterback. Princeton finished the half up 20-7.

That big advantage didn't last very long.

Northern Burlington's Tosin Adeyemo returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown. With still nearly 24 minutes to play, Princeton was now clinging to a 20-14 advantage.

"In my head I was thinking, we have to get through this," Gargione said. "Let's not resort back to the old ways."

They didn't. When it needed to be at its best, Princeton's defense was.

"The kids buckled up and the defense really came through," Gargione said. "The kids showed a lot with their ability to fight."

According to Gargione, the win takes a huge weight off of their collective shoulders as Princeton will host Burlington Township at 2 p.m. in the home opener on Sept. 17.

"This is a big lift for the kids," Gargione said. "We're starting the season off on the right foot."

There is no longer a zero in the Princeton High football team's win column.

"I told the kids the entire week that this was a winnable game," Gargione said. "I believed that. They believed that. They worked hard and they won it."