PRINCETON, W.Va. — Nathan Tanner knew the exact number of weeks since he was named Princeton’s head coach back in the spring. 31 weeks later, his Tigers have the opportunity to cap a perfect season on the state’s biggest stage.
Princeton (13-0) shutout Spring Valley, 27-0 in the Class AAA semifinals at Hunnicutt Stadium.
“I just thought about all the time we put in. Next week will be week 32 since I got here. These kids have laid it on the line. They bought in. Coaches have bought in and laid it on the line,” Tanner said.
“I told my wife, ‘Honey, if somebody is going to beat us, they are going to have to beat us, beat us. These kids, they dig, scratch, claw for everything they get.”
Princeton’s first shutout of the season came against a Spring Valley (9-4) ball-control, powerful rushing offense that averaged 26 points per game in the regular season.
“I told the kids that it was going to be one of the most physical games that we played this year. These kids listened and they executed the game plan to the best of their ability.”
Senior wide receiver Brad Mossor scored three of the four Princeton touchdowns. His 22-yard touchdown run in the first quarter opened the scoring. In the second quarter, Mossor reeled in an 80-yard touchdown toss on a screen pass from Chance Barker, doubling the lead to 14-0.
“It is just another way to get your most dynamic kid the football, throwing it to him, handing it to him, tossing it to him, snapping it to him. He has capitalized on his opportunities this year.”
Mossor capped the scoring with a 6-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. He also played a significant part in preserving the shutout. Mossor tracked down Zeke Lewis after a 60-yard gain to the Princeton 15-yard line. The Tiger defense would then make one of their three fourth-down stops in the red zone.
“My favorite play of [Mossor’s] tonight was running down 45 on the toss play. And then we held them out.”
Jake Belcher had a 5-yard touchdown run late in the first half to give the Tigers a 21-0 lead at intermission.
Princeton will face No. 5 Nitro (12-1) in the WVSSAC Class AAA Championship Saturday, December 6 at 7 p.m.