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Preview: Princeton at Anderson

Anderson WR Brandon Pitts (photo by: James Bates/TriStateFootball.com)

If this game is anything like last year’s entertaining shootout between these two school’s then the Blitz 5 Game of the Week is destined for great things this fall. Princeton outlasted Anderson to kickoff the 2021 season in a contest where the two teams combined for 103 points and 1,187 yards of total offense (767 by Princeton). The scoreboard operator and the statisticians are going to earn their money on Friday night. 

#4 PRINCETON VIKINGS (0-0) at #16 ANDERSON RAPTORS (0-0)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m., August 19th
Brown Stadium
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PLAYERS TO WATCH: It all starts up front for Princeton with senior OL Phillip Daniels, a Pitt commit and junior OL Jaylen Eberhardt leading the way. The Vikings are loaded at the skills positions but will have many new faces looking to make their marks including talented juniors WR DJ Williams, slot man Tyson Beach, and ATH Solomon Farrell. Seniors WR Riley Woods, WR/LB Breeon Ishmail and QB RJ West will also play prominent roles on offense. Classmate DB Caleb Clark-Glover, a Marshall commit Marshall commit will have his hands full versus the pass happy Raptors.

Princeton DB Caleb Clark-Glover (photo by James Bates/TriStateFootball.com)

Senior QB Griffin Scalf, a first team All-Ohio selection last season, leads the charge for Anderson. He threw for 3,895 yards, ran for 506 yards with 38 passing and five rushing touchdowns in 2021. He has plenty of options to throw to including classmates WR Santos Alvarez, WR Brandon Pitts, WR Miles Haven, TE/DE Chandler Starks as well as sophomores WR Trace Jalick and TE/DE Caden Piening. Alvarez caught 73 balls for 848 yards and four touchdowns a year ago. Piening has offers from Akron, UConn, Eastern Kentucky, Indiana, Kentucky, Pitt, Vanderbilt and West Virginia. 

TEAM TRENDS: Riley Woods (two) and De’Andre Rutherford (two) are the only two players on the roster that have scored a touchdown in a Princeton uniform. Vikings newcomers Beach (24), West (five), Zion Mason (four) and Ishmail (four) have combined to find the end zone 37 times in their careers.

In 68 games under Evan Dreyer, Anderson has scored 40 points or more 36 times. The Raptors are averaging 38.4 points per game with Dreyer as the head coach. 

HEAD COACHES:
Princeton: Andre Parker (11-2 at Princeton, one year; 88-37 overall, 12 years)

Anderson: Evan Dreyer (49-19 at Anderson, six years; 93-47 overall, 13 years)

PLAYOFF HISTORY:
Princeton (17 appearances, 22-14) – 2021, 2020, 2019, 2007, 2001, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990 (State runner-up), 1988 (State Runner-up), 1987 (State Champion), 1985, (State Champion), 1982, 1980, 1978 (State Champion), 1972 (State runner-up)

Anderson (15 appearances, 18-14) – 2021, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2009, 2008 (State Runner-up), 2007 (State Champion), 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1996, 1994, 1992

PRINCETON’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Look for the Vikings to take advantage of their speed and athleticism. The Vikings will get the chance to showcase their depth and talent. Finding the right mismatches will make life difficult for Anderson.

ANDERSON’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Don’t get down early and don’t turn the ball over. The Raptors coughed the ball up five times versus Princeton a year ago. The Anderson defense was on the field for 34-plus minutes in that affair. If that happens again it is going to be a long night at Brown Stadium for the home team.

Prediction: Princeton 42, Anderson 31 

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