Football Preview Week 6: Trenton vs. Princeton

It has been seven years since Trenton and Princeton came together on the gridiron. On that night at Eddie Allen Field in Princeton, both teams entered undefeated and state ranked at their respective class level.
This year’s match-up at C.F. Russell Stadium in Trenton will have a distinctively different feel. Both the Trenton Bulldogs and Princeton Tigers are winless halfway through the season. At 0-5, both teams view this week as an opportunity to turn things around and get into the win column.
“We’re approaching it just like it’s another game,” Trenton Head Coach Brandon Boswell said. “Obviously we are searching for that first win. We have tried to keep the intensity up like we normally do. We have had good practices, but we know we can’t play like we have and still win. We know this has to be the best game we have played all season.”
Trenton showed signs last week that the team is turning the corner, something the Bulldogs hope to complete this week against Princeton. Quarterback Dalton Ellis was able to crack into the top five all-time passing leaders in school history last week and Trenton’s offense found the end zone twice, breaking a 12-quarter scoring drought. The Bulldogs made some personnel changes and it appeared to benefit the team in week five.
“Princeton knows what we are doing now,” Boswell said. “Pembroke didn’t know what was coming last week because we hadn’t shown what we did all season. The element of surprise is gone and now it’s just down to your Jimmys and Joes being better than their Jimmys and Joes. It is nice that we got (the new offense) installed and we have ran it in practice for two weeks now. Our personnel changes did show some very good things and we are excited to go out and have another chance to continue to do what we are doing and, hopefully, get a win off of it.
“Jonathan Lamp came in and gave us some great reps running the football and Travis Leeper seems like he runs better outside, so we feel like we have some kids in place now that we feel can give us a little bit better of a chance to do some things.”
Key to stopping Princeton will be slowing down quarterback Brant Faulkner. The Princeton senior has been the primary source of offense for the Tigers this season and this week he will return a key target in receiver Cash Hartley, a Mercer product who has been battling an injury the past several weeks. Giving Faulkner an added target in the passing game makes containing him a tougher test, but one Trenton must pass.
“Brant Faulkner is a very, very good football player,” Boswell said. “He can throw the ball, but I am also kind of concerned with him making plays with his feet. If we are not very disciplined with our defensive line and our linebackers then he is going to be able to do a lot of damage. We have stressed that point that he is a very, very good player.
“The (Jason) McLain boy that they have at wide receiver has very good speed and they like to get him in one-on-one match-ups. We can’t give up the big play out there. I believe Cash Hartley is back and he is another good football player and a great athlete that gives them some more options.”
While both teams have athletes who can break big plays, Boswell feels like the game could come down to which team performs better up front.
“I think we both have kids that can make big plays,” Boswell said. “Ultimately, this game comes down to who wins at the line of scrimmage. If we can get to Faulkner and slow him down, then yeah, I like our chances of winning. But, if not, it’s going to be very hard for us. I think in the trenches is where this game will be decided.”
Homecoming festivities will begin at 6:20. The homecoming queen and her court will be introduced during this time. A pre-game tailgate will be held at Eastside Park prior to kick off at 5:30 p.m., sponsored by LAPD Dance.

Week Six Notables
Offense
Rushing – Bailey Owen, 30 carries, 181 yards, 1 TD. Travis Leeper, 37 carries, 180 yards, 1 TD.
Passing – Dalton Ellis, 18-45, 228 yards, 2 TD, 4 int’s.
Receiving – Aaron Anderson, 8 catches, 152 yards, 1 TD.

Defense
Tackles – Trey Shields, 69; Kail McCarter, 52; Anderson 30; Cree Mullenix, 30.
Tackles For Loss – Gavin Griffin, 3; Austin Burkeybile, 2; Tucker Franklin, 2.
Sacks – Griffin, 1, Leeper, 1; Nick Gass, 1; Franklin, 1.
Interceptions – Anderson, 2; McCarter 1.

Trenton Starters
Offense
QB 13 Dalton Ellis 5-10 158 Sr.
RB 11 Travis Leeper 5-11 154 Jr.
WB 25 Jonathan Lamp 5-11 163 Jr.
FB 16 Bailey Owen 5-11 153 Sr.
OT 51 Alex Davis 6-3 218 Sr.
OG 56 Trey Shields 6-1 169 Jr.
C 50 Tucker Franklin 5-7 225 Jr.
OG 54 Jeramiah Chipps 5-11 215 Sr.
OT 53 Nick Gass 6-0 189 Sr.
TE 24 Cree Mullenix 6-1 184 Jr.
WR 80 Aaron Anderson 6-1 161 Sr.

Defense
DE 50 Tucker Franklin 5-7 225 Jr.
NG 78 Ryan Hines 6-2 269 Jr.
DE 53 Nick Gass 6-0 189 Sr.
LB 11 Travis Leeper 5-11 154 Jr.
LB 24 Cree Mullenix 6-1 184 Jr.
LB 56 Trey Shields 6-1 169 Jr.
LB 21 Gavin Griffin 6-4 179 Sr.
LB 27 Austin Burkeybile 6-0 176 So.
CB 13 Dalton Ellis 5-10 158 Sr.
CB 80 Aaron Anderson 6-1 161 Sr.
FS 18 Kail McCarter 5-11 153 Jr.

Princeton Starters
Princeton does not provide height and weight for its players
Defense
DL 56 Remington Byers Sr.
DL 77 Drew Dailey Fr.
DL 63 Stephan Elliott So.
LB 57 Robert Phillips So.
LB 52 Josh Schoonover Jr.
LB 5 Cru Taff So.
LB 12 Hunter Boxley Jr.
DB 1 Jason McLain Sr.
DB 10 Brant Faulkner Sr.
DB 4 Jared Campbell Jr.
DB 8 Andrew Smith Fr.

Offense
QB 10 Brant Faulkner Sr.
RB 5 Cru Taff So.
OL 63 Stephan Elliott So.
OL 51 Chandler Anderson Fr.
OL 56 Remington Byers Sr.
OL 57 Robert Phillips So.
OL 52 Josh Schoonover Jr.
WR 12 Hunter Boxley Jr.
WR 4 Jared Campbell Jr.
WR 1 Jason McLain Sr.
WR 3 Cash Hartley So.