STERLING After receiving what coach Mike Papoccia described as a kick between the eyes by an upstart Princeton squad, the Newman football team used its legs for other purposes in a dominating 44-21 victory Saturday night.

The host Comets fell behind 6-0 just 17 seconds into the game when Princeton returned the opening kickoff 95 yards, but they answered decisively with 44 consecutive points on the strength of a running game that racked up 316 yards on 54 carries.

Princeton entered the season on a 20-game losing streak, while Newman was riding high after last years romp through the Class 2A playoff field en route to the state championship.

However, the Tigers snapped that skid in Week 1, and strong-armed quarterback Jacob Reinhardt leads a strong junior class that looks to keep Princeton competitive for the next 2 years.

I was worried about their skill kids, Papoccia said. Their running back [Kai Tomaszewski] was really quick, the fullback [Jacob Smith] is a hard runner, and the quarterback [Reinhardt] is a good athlete.

Indeed, it was Tomaszewski that bounced outside to take the opening kickoff to the house for the Tigers, a turn of events that stunned the Newman faithful.

But that moment was fleeting, as it was all Comets for the rest of the next three quarters. Brady Rude, four-time medal winner at last years state track and field meet, showcased his athleticism with 147 yards on 15 carries. He also recovered a Princeton fumble in the end zone for a touchdown that gave Newman a 28-6 lead late in the second quarter.

Hes a full athlete," Papoccia said. "He can run, and he can block. Hes a leader even though hes a junior. Theres a kid that just works so hard. Hes an exceptional athlete, and he showed that again tonight.

Nolan McGinn rushed for 80 yards on 12 carries, with most of his damage coming in the first half. At halftime, the Comets had turned the 6-0 deficit into a 36-6 blowout, outgaining Princeton 259-44 in total yardage and owning an edge in time of possession of more than 6 minutes.

Newman was in such control it never needed to punt, thanks in large part to the effort of the young men up front. Senior Division I recruit Jacob Barnes, Newmans 6-foot-4, 250-pound left tackle, helped the Comets dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Papoccia noted that while Barnes and center David Rowzee are certainly the anchors of the offensive line, he believes everyone in the trenches has earned their stripes.

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Football: Comets cruise past Princeton