Tigers roar late, erasing 14 point deficit for dramatic win at Milan

The Princeton Tigers scored 20 consecutive points over the final 7 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter, charging back from a 36-22 deficit to stun the Milan Wildcats, 42-36 on Friday night, in action heard on KTTN FM 92.3 from Cal Hubbard Field.

The Wildcats physical running attack controlled most of the game, with Milan taking an 8-0 lead midway through the opening quarter on a 1 yard sneak by quarterback Mallan Cole, with Deric DoPorto adding the two-point conversion.  Princeton tied the score with 7:56 to go in the second quarter, on a one-yard plunge by Eli Henke, with Henke adding the tying two-point conversion.

Momentum flipped back to Milan in a big way over a 76 second span late in the half, with a six yard and nine yard touchdown run by Darren DoPorto pushing the Wildcat lead to 20-6 with 2:25 remaining in the half.  However, a theme was beginning to develop in the contest, with Milan’s bruising attack picking up first downs and running clock, while the Tigers began to pick up big plays with its ground game.  In a critical score for Princeton, late in the first half, Henke galloped 58 yards, with Ben Berwanger adding the two-point run, all with 51 seconds to go in the half, cutting the Tigers halftime deficit to 20-16.

While Princeton had good momentum going into the break, it was Milan that controlled the third quarter, outscoring Princeton 16-6.  The Wildcats methodically drove the ball down the field on the opening drive of the half, with Deric DoPorto finishing off the nearly five minute drive with a four-yard scoring run.  Dominic Dabney added the conversion, as Milan led 28-16.  However, two minutes later, the Tigers struck back on a 68 yard bolt from Berwanger, cutting the lead back to 28-22.  Milan found breathing room before the end of the quarter, with a one-yard plunge by Deric DoPorto, and two-point PAT by Dabney, giving the host Wildcats a 36-22 lead.

Princeton remained down by two scores the first 4 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter, but the tide began to swing when the Tiger defense forced Milan into a 3rd-and-long deep in Wildcat territory.  A pass attempt from the Milan goal line was picked off by safety Justin Rhoades, who turned the play into a 43 yard “Pick 6”, as Henke’s run cut the lead to 36-30.

Buoyed by newfound momentum, the Princeton defense forced Milan into a 4th-and-short in Wildcat territory on the next drive, and, with both teams struggling with its punting game, Milan decided to roll the dice, with the Tiger defense cutting a stop on a run play.  A few plays later, Berwanger scored the tying touchdown from nine yards away, leaving the score at 36-36.

Princeton again stopped Milan on the Wildcats ensuing position.  This time, Wildcat coach John Dabney elected to punt, with Deric DoPorto pinning the Tigers back at the four-yard line.  However, the fatigued Wildcat defense found no answers for Princeton’s running attack, with a long gallop putting the Tigers in Milan territory.  With 90 seconds to go in regulation, Henke scored on a 40-yard run to give Princeton the game-winning score.  The Tiger defense stopped Milan on downs to clinch the dramatic win.

Adding to the victory for Princeton was the Tigers getting the job done without their head coach, as Nathan Powell was quarantined at home due to COVID-19 safety procedures: 

With the loss of a double digit fourth-quarter lead and falling short on their home field, it was a double whammy on the emotions chart for the Wildcats and head coach John Dabney: 

Princeton, now 8-2 on the season, will host the Penney High School (Hamilton, MO) Hornets this coming Friday night, with coverage on KTTN FM 92.3 and Hot Country Z 101.7 beginning at 6:30.  Penney, it its own road upset bid on Friday night, took down the #1 seed in District 7, winning at South Harrison 40-28, making it a successful homecoming for Hornet head coach and South Harrison alum Caleb Obert: 

Here is the football scoreboard from Friday, November 6, 2020 (District Semifinals) 

Class 1, District 5:

Adrian 46, Crest Ridge 36

Sweet Springs 42, University Academy 36

Class 1, District 6: 

Marceline 55, Fayette 20 

Harrisburg 46, Westran 8 

Class 1, District 8:

Mid-Buchanan 55, Polo 6

East Buchanan 11, West Platte 8 

Class 2, District 6: 

Palmyra 35, Clark County 8 

Monroe City 28, Bowling Green 26

Class 2, District 7: 

Butler 40, St. Michael 21

Warsaw 26, Hogan Prep 20 

Class 2, District 8:

St. Pius X 20, Brookfield 6

Lafayette County 21, Lexington 14

Class 3, District 7:

Odessa 35, Pembroke Hill 9 

Summit Christian 35, Oak Grove 0 

Class 3, District 8:

Richmond 62, Chillicothe 41

Maryville 41, Cameron 13

Class 4, District 7:

Lincoln Prep 62, Van Horn 27 

Grandview 13, KC Center 7

Class 4, District 8:

Smithville 42, Lafayette 0

Kearney 41, Winnetonka 34

8-Man, District 1:

Drexel 50, Jasper 0

Archie 52, Rich Hill 0 

8-Man, District 2:

Southwest Livingston 88, Concordia 22

North Shelby 1, Norborne/Hardin-Central 0 (NHC forfeits due to COVID-19 protocols) 

8-Man, District 3:

North Andrew 44, Pattonsburg 34

South Holt / Nodaway-Holt 53, King City 22

8-Man, District 4:

Stanberry 56, Rock Port 0 

East Atchison 60, Worth County 14