🏈 Tigers Claw Their Way to Semifinals in Thrilling Win Over Herbert Hoover, Now Set to Host Spring Valley

The undefeated Princeton Tigers kept their championship dreams alive this past Saturday, overcoming a resilient Herbert Hoover Huskies squad in a high-stakes Class AAA quarterfinal showdown. In a true test of their mettle, the No. 2 seeded Tigers (12-0) battled back from a halftime deficit to defeat the No. 7 Huskies (9-3) with a final score of 41-35 at Hunnicutt Stadium. 

The game was a back-and-forth affair, with the Huskies taking a 21-14 lead into the break, seizing all the momentum. However, a crucial halftime adjustment by Princeton head coach Nate Tanner shifted the focus to the ground game, igniting a powerful second-half surge.

The Tigers' rushing attack proved unstoppable, tallying over 300 yards in the game, with more than 200 coming in the second half. The undisputed hero of the night was Brad Mission, who scored a phenomenal five touchdowns. The dagger came late in the fourth quarter when, with the game hanging in the balance, a 29-yard touchdown run—his fifth score—sealed the victory for Princeton with just over a minute left on the clock. Though Hoover managed one more score, the subsequent onside kick was successfully recovered by the Tigers, cementing their ticket to the semifinals for the third consecutive year.

🐺 Upcoming Semifinal Showdown: Tigers vs. Timberwolves

The Tigers will face a familiar and formidable opponent in the Class AAA semifinals: the Spring Valley Timberwolves. The semifinal matchup is scheduled for Saturday, November 29th in Princeton at Honeycutt Stadium.

Spring Valley, coming off a 28-0 victory over Robert C. Byrd, will pose a serious threat to Princeton's perfect record. The Timberwolves boast a strong record of 9-3 and have a notable rushing attack led by Zeke Lewis (averaging 132.3 rushing yards per game). 

💥 Key Matchups to Watch:

• Princeton's Rushing Defense vs. Zeke Lewis: The Tigers will need to contain Spring Valley's star running back to prevent the Timberwolves from controlling the clock and dictating the pace. Kalum Kiser, Wyatt Cline, and Jojo Campbell will lead Tigers the defensive effort.

• The Tigers' Dynamic Offense: Princeton's offense, which averages nearly 48 points per game, will rely on the dual-threat capability of quarterback Chance Barker and the explosive playmaking of Mossor and Alex Cox to break down the Spring Valley defense, as Colby Justus will lead the charge with the big fellas upfront.

☠️ This semifinal contest promises to be a physical and intense battle between two of the state's best programs, with a trip to the state championship game on the line. The Tigers will lean on their experience and home-field advantage to continue their historic, undefeated run.