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Preview: Princeton at Fairfield

Fairfield RB Jordan Jackson (photo by: Shelby Frieszell /TriStateFootball.com)

As the page turns to the second half of the 2022 season and things get heated up more and more every Friday night, the Blitz 5 Game of the Week crew heads north to Fairfield. The Indians control their own destiny in the quest for the school’s first outright GMC title since 1999 (co-champs with Colerain in 2005). Visiting Princeton looks to spoil Fairfield’s visions of grandeur.

The trek to a crown won’t be easy as Fairfield. Mason and Lakota West also can currently stake the claim of “controlling their own destiny” to a conference championship at this point of the season. Princeton had its aspirations of an outright GMC title squashed last week by Lakota West. The Vikings are now on a quest to rain on some parade’s and battle their way back in the hunt to the top.

#6 PRINCETON VIKINGS (4-1, 3-1) at #4 FAIRFIELD INDIANS (5-0, 4-0)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m., September 16th
Alumni Stadium
Follow on Twitter: @TSFootball 

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Several seniors have made a big impact for Princeton. Riley Woods has thrown his hat into the ring for GMC Offensive Player of the Year with 481 yards from scrimmage on 30 touches (15 rush, 15 rec), 580 all-purpose yards, 11.7 yards per carry, 20.4 yards per reception with seven touchdowns (five rec, two rush). Quarterback RJ West II has amassed 988 yards of total offense (741 pass, 247 rush) and accounted for 13 touchdowns (nine pass, four rush). De’Andre Rutherford leads the team with 355 yards rushing and four touchdowns. He had 119 yards on the ground at the varsity level in two years prior to this.

The one-two punch of junior quarterback Talon Fisher and senior running back Jordan Jackson is arguably the best rushing duo in Ohio. Fisher leads the GMC with 715 yards rushing (including four contests of 150-plus yards rushing) and eight touchdowns. He also has 497 yards and three touchdowns passing. Jackson, a West Virginia commit, is averaging 120.3 yards per game rushing, with 625 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns (five rush, one rec) in four tilts. 

TEAM TRENDS: Princeton is a big-play machine. The Vikings have seven different players with runs or receptions of 40 yards-plus. All seven have found the end zone at least twice. The defense has 47.0 tackles for losses, 17.0 sacks and 12 takeaways.

Fairfield is churning out 416.6 yards of total offense per contest. The Indians are averaging 317.2 yards per game rushing, 8.4 yards per carry with 22 of their 25 total offensive touchdowns on the ground. Despite just having five takeaways, the defense has 20.5 sacks and 41.5 tackles for losses. 

HEAD COACHES:
Princeton: Andre Parker (15-3 at Princeton, second year; 92-38 overall, 13th season) 

Fairfield: Jason Krause (69-53 at Fairfield, 12th year; 154-121 overall, 26th year)

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)

Fairfield (13 appearances, 7-12) – 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2005, 2000, 1999, 1986 (State Champion), 1985 

PRINCETON’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Let the weapons on offense do their damage. Spread the wealth. This is a team where big plays are infectious. The contagiousness really shows itself on the Princeton sidelines. They genuinely thrive on it. If the Vikings can get that mojo jump started early on and use the tempo it creates to their advantage, they will have themselves in a position to win.

FAIRFIELD’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Stick to what you do best, run the football and let the clock be your friend on offense. The longer the Vikings’ defense is on the field the fewer the opportunities the multi-talented Princeton offense will have to put points on the board. The Indians’ defense needs to continue putting pressure on the quarterback. Princeton has a tendency to put the ball on the ground, go swatting and stripping. The defense must not be overzealous and let West step up, get out of the pocket and do damage with his feet.

Prediction: Fairfield 28, Princeton 24 

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