Princeton Outlasts Willmar 39-38 in Shootout Fashion
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PRINCETON, MINN– I am certainly glad I picked this one as my Minnesota Game of the Week on a last second decision, because it was one of the biggest nail bitters I have covered in my five seasons with Prep Redzone. To say this game was a back and forth game would be an understatement as Princeton was able to outlast Willmar by a very slim margin where only a few plays made the difference between both teams and in the end, it was the Princeton Tigers getting the win.
1ST QUARTER
PRINCETON– Princeton senior linebacker Ben Ostendorf Ben Ostendorf 6'0" | 195 lbs | LB Princeton | 2024 MN started the wave of scoring for the Tigers in this one, when he got in his hands on a pick-six and took the ball 69 yards for a Princeton Tigers touchdown. Princeton 7, Willmar 0
WILLMAR- After the Tigers got their score on defense, it was the start of the Cullen Gregory show, as pounded his first touchdown of the game right up the A-gap for a 3-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game at 7. Princeton 7, Willmar 7
PRINCETON- With just under 8 minutes left in the quarter, the Tigers started brewing their rushing attack with their first offensive touchdown of the game which came from junior tailback Eli Gibbs who escaped to the outside for a 30-yard rushing touchdown and his dominance in the running game maintained consistent all game long. Princeton 14, Willmar 7
WILLMAR- One of my favorite Willmar Cardinals running backs in senior Ramero Trevino Ramero Trevino 5'10" | 210 lbs | RB Willmar | 2024 State MN got the next touchdown for Willmar to close out the quarter with score of 14 all after quarter number one. Princeton 14, Willmar 14
2ND QUARTER
PRINCETON- To start the second quarter, the production of junior Eli Gibbs flourished again, as junior quarterback Brady Kok found Gibbs for a 59-yard receiving touchdown, the extra point was no good however this time. Princeton 20, Willmar 14
WILLMAR- Remember what I said about senior quarterback Cullen Gregory earlier? He consistently used his 6’2 225 pound downhill and with plenty of yards after contact, and got another rushing touchdown this time from seven yards out. Willmar got the extra point, giving them their first lead of the evening with 5:41 left in the first half. Willmar 21, Princeton 20
WILLMAR- The Cardinals took a bigger lead into halftime with the kicking leg of senior Carter Dirkes, who kicked a 25-yard field goal to close out the half with a Cardinals lead. Willmar 24, Princeton 20.
3RD QUARTER
PRINCETON- The back to back scoring slowed down a bit in the third quarter, but with about 5 minutes left in the quarter, it was the power running of Tigers fullback Garrett Sautter that got the Tigers their lead back from 1-yard out. Princeton 26, Willmar 24
WILLMAR- Touchdown number three came long this time from Willmar senior quarterback Cullen Gregory, as he found the outside of the open field for a 52-yard scamper for a touchdown. The Cardinals went right back to their main man Cullen Gregory for the 2 point conversion as well getting their lead back. Willmar 32, Princeton 26
4TH QUARTER-
PRINCETON- The Tigers went right back to the top performer that dominated in the 1st half in the running game, as senior Eli Gibbs got his third touchdown of the night to get the lead right back for the Tigers with a one-point lead. Princeton 33, Willmar 32
PRINCETON- Although there were several plays that were fun to watch in this one, I thought this Princeton touchdown was the play of the game in my eyes. Princeton did an excellent job selling the run with their Wishbone offense up the middle of the field, but no one from the Willmar defense saw until he was walking into the end zone in senior running back Eli Gibbs on the outside edges of the field with a 28-yard touchdown with just around 4 minutes left in the game. Princeton 39, Willmar 32
WILLMAR- The Cardinals got their fourth touchdown of the night from Cullen Gregory from 16 yards out, however the Princeton linebacking core on the two point conversion made their play of the game when Ben Ostendorf Ben Ostendorf 6'0" | 195 lbs | LB Princeton | 2024 MN , Caden Johnson Caden Johnson 6'2" | 240 lbs | TE Princeton | 2025 State MN , amongst others stuffed Gregory from getting the 2 point conversion to seal the deal for the Tigers. Princeton 39, Willmar 38, Final.
NEXT UP: We will take a look at our Big Dogs of the Game from Willmar and Princeton as there are several players on each roster that I believe will be playing on Saturdays.