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HHS can't put away Princeton

September 29, 2007 @ 12:16 AM

HUNTINGTON -- Huntington High had Princeton on the ropes Friday night at Sang Field, but two defensive collapses by the Highlanders in the final quarter allowed the Tigers to prevail with a 21-14 win.

Coming into the game Huntington tweaked its game plan shifting the focus from the pass to the run. The Highlanders rushed a season high 33 times for 139 yards. Martequs Martin led Huntington in rushing with 67 yards on 15 carries The plan was semi-effective, but a sputtering defensive unit cost Huntington the win.

"This is a tough loss to take," Martin said. "We played well tonight, but we just can't seem to come up with a win."

Huntington's air attack was also a compliment to its new found running game. C.J. Crawford completed 11 of 20 passes for 140 yards and ran for 55 yards on 12 carries. Princeton out-gained Huntington 286 to 270 for the game.

The Highlanders also had a solid night on special teams. Kicker Aaron Burns was 2-for-2 on extra points and provided a huge 55-yard punt to pin Princeton back.

In the first half Huntington and Princeton traded a pair of touchdown runs on quarterback scrambles. The first score came with 12.9 seconds remaining in the first quarter when Crawford sprinted into the end zone on an 11-yard roll out to the left side.

The Tigers responded late in the second quarter when Princeton quarterback Jerrell Powell ran 26 yards to tie things up at 7-7.

In the second half Huntington couldn't find a way to keep Powell from busting outside of the pocket for big gains. Powell lit Huntington up with his legs, running for 145 yards on 20 carries. He also passed for 65 yards on 7 of 11.

Powell's ability to turn a broken play into a first down gave the Tigers a chance to increase the lead. Michael Tiber gave Princeton a 14-7 lead on a 1 yard-run with 6:53 remaining in the game.

However, Huntington didn't blink, as Crawford fired a pass across the middle to a streaking Dustin Young. Three broken tackles later, Young dashed into the end zone for a jaw dropping 67-yard touchdown to tie the game 14-14 with 5:56 remaining.

But with the game on the line the Highlander defense didn't produce a stop. Powell tucked the ball down and sprinted right up the middle just like he had all night long.

As Princeton took the ball into the red zone, Huntington once again had its back against the wall. Powell capped off his impressive outing in style by scoring on an 11-yard run.

Even when Huntington knew Powell was going to keep the ball the Highlanders still didn't stop him. The offense produced enough to win, but in the end it still wasn't enough.

PRINCETON 7 0 0 14 -- 21

HUNTINGTON 7 0 0 7-- 14

H -- C.J Crawford 11 run (Aaron Burns kick), 12.9

P -- Jerrell Powell 26 run (Trevor Sho-Johnson kick), 4:07

P -- Michael Tiber 1 run (Johnson kick), 6:53

H -- Dustin Young 67 pass from Crawford (Burns kick), 5:56

P -- Powell 11 run (Johnson kick), 4:29

P H

First downs 15 13

Total Net Yards 286 279

Rushes-yards 48-221 33-139

Passing yards 65 140

Comp-Att-Int 7-11-0 11-20-1

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-1

Penalties-Yards 3-25 6-45

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Princeton: Michael Tiber 22-61,; Jerrell Powell 20-145; Tevin Allen 5-15. Huntington: C.J. Crawford 12-55, Martequs Martin 15-67; Daniel Fuller 4-11; Willis Johnson 2-6.

PASSING -- Princeton: Jerrell Powell 7-11-0, 65 yards. Huntington: C.J. Crawford 11-20-1, 140 yards.

RECEIVING -- Princeton: Kriston Anderson 2-18, Todd Benners 4-17; Michael Taber 1-30. Huntington: Daniel Fuller 2-13; Dustin Young; 6-114; Brandon Stanley 2-11; Martequs Marin 1-2.

Huntington High's Chase Woodson fights off a Princeton defender during Friday nights game Friday, September 28, 2007, at Huntington's Sang Field.

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