Spring Creek quarterback Darius “DJ” Deal throws under pressure from Princeton’s Mason Overman during their Neuse Six 2A football encounter in “The Swamp” on Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
SEVEN SPRINGS — Ron Wise had no definitive answers.
He may find them once he reviews the game film against Princeton. The second-year Spring Creek head football coach will probably skip over the first quarter and undoubtedly re-evaluate potential scoring plays.
A mistake-filled first 12 minutes gave the Bulldawgs plenty of momentum as they departed “The Swamp” with a 61-24 victory on the Neuse Six 2A Conference scene.
“We game planned for them … really can’t put it into words, was just not our best performance,” Wise said. “I don’t know what to say. I’m dumbfounded right now … lot in shock. I expected us to play a lot better football.”
Princeton received the opening kickoff.
Within 2 1/2 minutes, the Dawgs’ Teo McPhatter broke off a 34-yard touchdown run — one of his five end-zone cruises of the night.
The Gators fumbled the kickoff.
Quarterback Kaden Haire scored 16 seconds later from the SC 45-yard line.
The Gators turned the ball over on downs.
McPhatter answered with a 27-yard run. Just 14 seconds later, he added a 13-yard “scoop and score” on a fumbled kickoff.
Another turnover on downs enabled Princeton to score again — this time a 45-yard run from Haire. The Dawgs held a 27-0 advantage and a once-boisterous Gator crowd in town to celebrate senior night watched in stunned silence.
“[First quarter] was very crucial because I think that Princeton didn’t know what to do with us,” Wise said. “They were expecting the same old Spring Creek. We played differently. Once things started to unravel, Princeton figured out what they could do and scored.
“We caused ourselves a lot of problems that we didn’t need to cause.”
Three turnovers on downs and two lost fumbles enabled Princeton ring up 41 points on the scoreboard.
Spring Creek finally answered under the two-minute mark in the second quarter. Quarterback Darius “DJ” Deal and Brennan Chambers hooked up for a 53-yard strike.
McPhatter took the ensuing kickoff 79 yards to the house.
Chambers and Deal each tallied a second-half touchdown for the Gators, who endured their 10th consecutive defeat in the series and 14th overall in 17 meetings since 2004.
“We left several touchdowns on the field,” Wise said. “Our offense was working. There were just mental things that went on – dropped balls, slowing down in the running game. We needed to execute those plays.
“We didn’t make the tackles we were supposed to on defense.”
SC lost running back Malachi Moore to a stinging hit that wasn’t ruled a concussion. Wise didn’t comment on whether Moore will tote the pigskin next week.
He complimented the efforts of Rennie Street, who logged a pair of two-point conversions in the scoreboard. The stout running back churned out difficult yards against a gang-tackling Princeton defense.
Despite the loss, Wise hasn’t lost his positive outlook.
“We’ve got to hang on to what we’ve got,” Wise told his players in the post-game huddle. “[The] rebuilding phase is still taking place and things are coming together. I still believe that we have one of the best quarterbacks in the conference.
“We have to put all the pieces in place, finish the conference strong and begin building for next year.”
Spring Creek (1-6 overall, 0-3 Neuse Six) concludes regular-season play with back-to-back league games. The Gators travel to Goldsboro next Thursday. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Cougar Stadium.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
Princeton 61, Spring Creek 24
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
P — McPhatter 34 run (Johnson kick), 9:49
P — Haire 45 run (kick blocked), 9:33
P — McPhatter 27 run (Johnson kick), 7:48
P — McPhatter 13 fumble return (Johnson kick), 7:34
P — Haire 45 run (Johnson kick), 1:35
Second Quarter
P — McPhatter 66 run (Johnson kick), 7:03
SC — Chambers 53 pass from Deal (Street run), 1:53
P — McPhatter 79 kickoff return (Johnson kick), 1:40
Third Quarter
SC — Chambers 8 run (Street run), 4:12
P — Lewallen 1 run (Johnson kick), 0:00
Fourth Quarter
SC — Chambers 13 pass from Deal (P. Zapata run), 3:41
