If you are a casual fan who wants to go see great playoff football on Friday night, buy yourself a ticket to the Blitz 5 Game of the Week. Princeton and Winton Woods are two teams that are loaded with Division I college talent. They feature speed and defensive prowess. This will be a battle well worth the price of admission.
#5 WINTON WARRIORS WARRIORS (9-2) at #4 PRINCETON VIKINGS (8-2)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m., November 7th
At: Alumni Stadium, Fairfield High School
Follow on X: @TSFootball
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior Bryshwan Brown leads the Winton Woods offense. He has thrown for 2,144 yards, ran for a team high 423 yards and accounted for 25 touchdowns (15 passing, 10 rushing). Classmate Jon’ir “Johnny Football” Travis is Brown’s top target. Travis has 58 receptions for an ECC best and school record 921 yards receiving and eight touchdown catches. He also leads the ECC in all-purpose yards – 1,538. Since returning to the lineup three weeks ago, junior Isaiah Garret has averaged 110.0 yards with five touchdowns rushing.
The Warriors secondary is led by Alabama commit Rihyael Kelley and Toledo commit Nate Dawson. When opponents have thrown away from the duo juniors Ka’Ronn Daugherty (4) and Christian Coston have made them pay with seven of the team’s 12 interceptions.
Derrick Jeffries (11.0), Jesse Proctor (10.5), Terrance Jones (8.5) and Nate Canady (8.5) have combined for 38.5 tackles for losses for Princeton. On offense, Zion Neal is a handful for opposing defense to deal with no matter where he lines up. The Vikings senior is averaging 9.6 yard per carry, has 625 yards rushing, 1,110 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns (10 rush, one rec, one KR).
TEAM TRENDS: These are two very staunch defenses. Winton Woods allows just 11.8 points per game. Princeton is holding foes to 13.8 points per contest.
Winton Woods has topped the 30 point mark in four straight games and six of the last seven. On the other side of the ball the Warriors are only allowing 10.0 points per contest over the last seven contests.
The Princeton defense has 95.0 tackles for losses 33.0 sacks on the year. Ironically, all of that pressure has only led to three interceptions and eight takeaways overall. The Vikings have excelled in the return game with five touchdowns (three KRs, two PRs). Gianni Simpson has taken two kickoff to the house.
HEAD COACHES:
Winton Woods: Chad Murphy (52-12 at Winton Woods, fifth year; 85-70 overall, 14th year)
Princeton: Andre Parker (52-11 at Princeton, fifth year; 137-46 overall, 16th year)
PLAYOFF HISTORY:
Winton Woods (17th appearance, 31-14) – 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 (State Champion), 2020, 2018 (Regional Champion), 2017 (State Runner-up), 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009 (State Champion), 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 1998
Princeton (21st appearance, 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)
WINTON WOODS KEYS TO VICTORY: Special teams have to bring their “A” game. Discipline is a must in this phase of action for the Warriors. The run game has sprung to life over the past few weeks. If Winton Woods can establish the ground game in this affair it will lead to a great outcome on the final scoreboard.
PRINCETON’S KEYS TO VICTORY: The Vikings can’t afford to come out sluggish after last week’s bye and loss to Middletown the Friday before that. They must come out sharp. Winton Woods is playing its best ball right now. They will make Princeton pay for mistakes and if those miscues come early in a game like this it could make for a very long night.
Prediction: Princeton 17, Winton Woods 14
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