The Blitz 5 Game of the Week road show heads to Fairfield for a Greater Miami Conference
rivalry game that has playoff implications for one team. The Princeton Vikings have a playoff
berth locked up but are seeking to capture the outright GMC conference title. The host Fairfield
Indians control their playoff destiny and are also seeking to snap a six-game losing streak –
including last year’s opening round playoff game – to the Vikings.
#4 PRINCETON VIKINGS (7-1, 6-1) at #22 FAIRFIELD INDIANS (4-4, 3-4)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Fairfield Alumni Stadium
Follow on X @TSFootball
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior Zion Neal is the straw that stirs Princeton’s offensive drink. The
fourth-leading rusher in the GMC with 511 yards, Neal is also the third-leading scorer in the
GMC with a total of 10 touchdowns (8 on the ground, 1 receiving and 1 return). He has also
spent some time behind center, going 15 of 32 for 202 yards in the air. Junior linebacker
Terrance Jones, meanwhile, is second in the GMC with 7 sacks to go along with 8 tackles for
loss and 3 passes defensed.
Senior quarterback Dominic Back has 877 yards of total offense thus far this season for
Fairfield, with 9 touchdowns (7 passing, 2 rushing). The Indians’ pair of running backs, freshman
Corrious Booker and junior Mason Wheeler, have combined for 756 yards rushing and 7
touchdowns themselves, forming a potent backfield trio with Back.
TEAM TRENDS: Princeton leads the GMC in scoring at 32.6 points per game, in addition to
having the top ground attack in the conference, averaging 179.5 yards per game. The Vikings
defense, meanwhile, is second in the GMC in rushing defense, allowing only 61.5 yards per
game on the ground to opposing offenses. Over the last three games, however, Princeton’s
defense has given up an average of 21.3 points per game, far above their season average of
15.5 per game.
Fairfield has scored 14 points or less in its last four games and is only averaging 225 yards of
total offense per game, second to last in the GMC. The squad finds itself in the bottom half of
the GMC both in rushing and passing offense. The Indians’ defense is only allowing 15.9 points
per game, good for fourth in the conference.
HEAD COACHES:
Princeton: Andre Parker (49-10 at Princeton, fifth year; 126-40 overall, 16th year)
Fairfield: Justin Roden (4-4 at Fairfield, first year; 67-61 overall, 11th year)
PLAYOFF HISTORY:
Princeton (20 appearances, 27-17) – 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2007, 2001, 1993,
1992, 1991, 1990 (State runner-up), 1988 (State Runner-up), 1987 (State Champion), 1985,
1983 (State Champion), 1982, 1980, 1978 (State Champion), 1972 (State runner-up)
Fairfield (16 appearances, 7-15) – 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016,
2015, 2013, 2005, 2000, 1999, 1986 (State Champion), 1985
PRINCETON’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Pounding the ball on the ground and winning in the
trenches. The conference’s leading rushing attack, spearheaded by seniors Zion Neal and
David Hambrick, should be able to take advantage of a Fairfield defense which allows 113.5
yards per game on the ground. Wearing down the Fairfield defensive line early and often will
lead to the Vikings scoring often.
FAIRFIELD’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Controlling time of possession and keeping the Princeton
offense off the field. The Indians do have enough of a rushing attack – averaging 126.1 yards
per game on the ground – to try to make this happen and not only keep the potent Viking
offense off the field, but allow the Fairfield defense, which has been sturdy thus far this season,
to remain fresh.
Prediction: Princeton 27, Fairfield 10
