Prep football: Princeton mauls Capital in opener

The march towards the first weekend of December began on Friday as Princeton started fast and finished strong, capturing a 28-7 victory over the Cougars.

One of the objectives Tanner wanted to accomplish on Friday was establish physicality and disrupt any momentum Capital wanted, especially in the run game.

Part of that was honing in and eliminating any opportunity Cougars junior running back David Robinson Jr. got.

Robinson finished last season with more than 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns. On Friday, the junior finished with 89 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown to start the second half.

"Our kids executed the game plan," Tanner said. "Kudos to Capital's coaches. They came out after halftime, made adjustments, got in the formation we hadn't seen and broke one loose. We teach our kids to read keys, and they caught us slipping right there. They ran a play that we weren't prepared for, and we lost leverage, which led to the huge play."

Capital falls to 0-1.

It's the sixth consecutive season the Cougars have lost their opener.

"I saw a bunch of guys that played their tails off," Capital coach Jon Carpenter said. "Anyone can see that I didn't have them ready. I didn't have them in the right places. Princeton is really good. We had a rough time. They are first-class. My hat's off to them.

"I'm just as impressed at them as I am disgusted in myself."

Carpenter had success in his first stint with the Cougars, winning one state title and producing four 10-win seasons.

The veteran coach understands what it takes to be at the top and get there. He's optimistic his crew can reach those heights this season.

"The good thing is that you go in the locker room and there's nobody looking for the portal," Carpenter said. "We may not win another game, but there are some great guys in there. They'll show up on Monday and work like crazy for us."

Princeton got a big spark from all-around athlete Bradley Mosser.

Mosser accounted for two touchdowns in the 21-point victory on Friday. Mosser finished with 193 yards of offense, including 160 coming off catches.

His first touchdown was a receiving score, while he earned the other on the ground.

"I liked everything about him tonight," Tanner said. "Brad is a baller. He's a kid that you can put at tailback or anywhere and he'll do great."

Both sides stalled on their opening possessions as Princeton punted the ball away, but the punt allowed Capital to take over in Princeton territory.

However, the Cougars' first drive resulted in a turnover on downs at the Tigers' 25-yard line.

Princeton capitalized on its ensuing possession by going the length of the field and scoring the opening points of the game.

Quarterback Chance Barker scrambled out of the pocket and drew first blood with the 6-yard touchdown with 2:14 left in the first quarter.

Princeton extended its lead late in the second quarter as the dynamic connection between Barker and Mosser was on display.

Mosser played keep away from the Cougars defense, as the Tigers' Swiss Army knife weaved his way into the end zone for the 34-yard touchdown.

After a successful two-point try, Princeton led 15-0 with 4:21 left.

The Tigers were point-hungry late in the first half as they kicked an onside kick and recovered it.

Princeton marched down the field once more and Mosser got his second touchdown of the half, as he scored from 3 yards away.

Barker finished throwing 18-of-29 (62%) through the air for 216 yards and one touchdown. The Princeton quarterback threw an interception in the first half.

The Tigers took a 22-0 lead into halftime.

Carpenter's halftime speech must've done wonders to the Cougars during the break, as Robinson exploded for a 60-yard touchdown on the first play of the second half.

The junior running back was held to 26 rushing yards in the first half. Robinson finished his first game as a junior with 89 yards rushing.

He had two runs of more than 20 yards.

"They're so big," Carpenter said. "You'd have to get an aerial shot because they're so big. You can't see it from the sideline. They came after us. It's hard to get that option going. I knew there were going to be growing pains with it. We just have to get better."

Princeton only scored three points in the third quarter on a 25-yard field goal from Anthony Meadows.

The Tigers chewed up 7:04 of game time on the drive that ended with a field goal.

Meadows wasn't done as he drilled a 28-yard field goal in the early stages of the final quarter, closing the scoring at 28-7.

The Achilles heel for the Tigers on Friday was the number of penalties called against them.

Princeton was called for 16 penalties for 115 yards.

"I got to go back and look at the film. There were several, several holds," Tanner said. "I got to see if it's a lack of technique. Sometimes with the lack of technique with holding it's something as simple as being lazy with your feet."

Princeton 28; Capital 7

Capital;0;0;7;0;--;7

Princeton;7;15;3;3;--;28

First quarter

P -- Barker 6 run (kick good) 2:14

Second quarter

P -- Mosser 34 pass from Barker (2pt good) 4:21

P -- Mosser 3 run (kick good) 1:58

Third quarter

C -- Robinson 60 run (kick good) 11:50

P -- Meadows 25 field goal 4:23

Fourth quarter

P -- Meadows 28 field goal 10:51