By Taylor Kennedy | Gazette-Mail
CHARLESTON — Friday night’s Week 1 clash between the Capital Cougars and Princeton Tigers kicked off the beginning of the Nathan Tanner era with the Tigers.
The Tigers have championship aspirations and are hoping to be one of the final two teams in their class playing at University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field.
The march towards the first weekend of December began on Friday as Princeton started fast and finished strong, capturing a 28-7 victory over the Cougars.
One of the objectives Tanner wanted to accomplish on Friday was establish physicality and disrupt any momentum Capital wanted, especially in the run game.
Part of that was honing in and eliminating any opportunity Cougars junior running back David Robinson Jr. got.
Robinson finished last season with more than 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns. On Friday, the junior finished with 89 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown to start the second half.
“Our kids executed the game plan,” Tanner said. “Kudos to Capital’s coaches. They came out after halftime, made adjustments, got in the formation we hadn’t seen and broke one loose. We teach our kids to read keys, and they caught us slipping right there. They ran a play that we weren’t prepared for, and we lost leverage, which led to the huge play.”
Capital falls to 0-1.
It’s the sixth consecutive season the Cougars have lost their opener.
“I saw a bunch of guys that played their tails off,” Capital coach Jon Carpenter said. “Anyone can see that I didn’t have them ready. I didn’t have them in the right places. Princeton is really good. We had a rough time. They are first-class. My hat’s off to them.
“I’m just as impressed at them as I am disgusted in myself.”
Carpenter had success in his first stint with the Cougars, winning one state title and producing four 10-win seasons.
The veteran coach understands what it takes to be at the top and get there. He’s optimistic his crew can reach those heights this season.
“The good thing is that you go in the locker room and there’s nobody looking for the portal,” Carpenter said. “We may not win another game, but there are some great guys in there. They’ll show up on Monday and work like crazy for us.”
Princeton got a big spark from all-around athlete Bradley Mossor.
Mossor accounted for two touchdowns in the 21-point victory on Friday.
His first touchdown was a receiving score, while he earned the other on the ground.
“I liked everything about him tonight,” Tanner said. “Brad is a baller. He’s a kid that you can put at tailback or anywhere and he’ll do great.”
Both sides stalled on their opening possessions as Princeton punted the ball away, but the punt allowed Capital to take over in Princeton territory.
However, the Cougars’ first drive resulted in a turnover on downs at the Tigers’ 25-yard line.
Princeton capitalized on its ensuing possession by going the length of the field and scoring the opening points of the game.
Quarterback Chance Barker scrambled out of the pocket and drew first blood with the 6-yard touchdown with 2:14 left in the first quarter.
Princeton extended its lead late in the second quarter as the dynamic connection between Barker and Mossor was on display.
Mossor played keepaway from the Cougars defense, as the Tigers’ Swiss Army knife weaved his way into the end zone for the 34-yard touchdown.
After a successful two-point try, Princeton led 15-0 with 4:21 left.
The Tigers were point-hungry late in the first half as they kicked an onside kick and recovered it.
Princeton marched down the field once more and Mosser got his second touchdown of the half, as he scored from 3 yards away.
The Tigers took a 22-0 lead into halftime.
Carpenter’s halftime speech must’ve done wonders to the Cougars during the break, as Robinson exploded for a 60-yard touchdown on the first play of the second half.
The junior running back was held to 26 rushing yards in the first half.
Princeton only scored three points in the third quarter on a 25-yard field goal from Anthony Meadows.
The Tigers chewed up 7:04 of game time on the drive that ended with a field goal.
Meadows wasn’t done as he drilled a 28-yard field goal in the early stages of the final quarter, closing the scoring at 28-7.
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