Unsung heroes: Special teamers key in football's 2-0 Ivy start

Post-game stat sheets feature offensive and defensive numbers prominently at the top of the page. Somewere near the bottom in small print are the words "special teams," followed by perhaps one statistic. So far this year for Princeton football, what has not appeared in bold font after the game has been the most crucial during the game.

The Tigers' special teams have been brilliant in Princeton's Ivy wins, especially the squad's first triumph — a dramatic 27-24 comeback against Columbia. Following a disastrous first half in which the Lions gained more than seven times as many yards as the visiting Tigers, Princeton's kicking game provided the spark, fuel and flame necessary to return home burning with victory.

Trailing 17-7, sophomore running back Cameron Atkinson fielded the opening kickoff on his own nine-yard line, surveyed the terrain and took off for a 42-yard return, before being tackled just beyond midfield.

Aided by such great field position, the Tigers scored on the next play from scrimmage, when junior quarterback Tommy Crenshaw hit sophomore wideout Patrick Schottel to pull within three points.

Though Columbia would counter with a touchdown of its own — stretching the lead back to double digits — Princeton's special teams would bail out the other units yet again.

With two minutes, 25 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, after the offense stalled on the 20-yard line, junior kicker Taylor Northrop drilled a 37-yard field goal to pull within seven.

"The ball just explodes off his foot," Princeton head coach Roger Hughes said of his kicker.

Still, Princeton needed the ball back in order to have chance of tying the game. To do so required the execution of an on-side kick.

Extra special

Despite the pressure, Northrop delivered flawlessly. His kick skidded along the Wien Stadium turf for a few yards before bounding — like a gymnast off a springboard — into the air, fooling the front row of Lions in the process.

Senior defensive back Taylor Smith plucked the ball away from the sea of hands that surrounded him and suddenly, Princeton had new life.

Princeton scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive, and Northrop's extra point sent the game into overtime.

In the extra session, Columbia's kicker — Dan Burghoff — faltered, as his 27-yard field goal try sailed wide left. Northrop, who has been named Ivy League Special Teams player of the week three times this season,was true on his 24-yard chip shot to win the game.

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This past weekend against Brown, the Tiger special teams also initiated Princeton's scoring spree.

Late in the second quarter Northrop drained a 28-yard field goal. Then, following a defensive stand, Brown set up to punt from within its own territory.

Princeton went for the block and Bears' punter Sean Jensen got off a low, line-drive kick. Sophomore punt returner Andy Bryant caught the 31-yard kick, followed a great shielding block by sophomore cornerback Paul Simbi and found a void in the middle of the field. Seconds later, Bryant scampered over the goal line, untouched by the Bears' coverage team.

"The kicking game had a huge impact [on the game]," Hughes said. "[Bryant's return was] a huge momentum swing. Our punt block team did a nice job. Paul Simbi did an unbelievable job blocking a guy who came down to tackle Andy on the punt return. Simbi's block is what actually got that play going."

Northrop also had a stellar performance against the Bears. In addition to scoring 13 points — on seven PATs and two field goals — Northrop, who doubles as the Tigers' punter as well, pinned Brown inside the 20-yard line on three of his four punts.

"[Northrop's] placement on punts and placement on the kickoffs let [Brown] start where they had to drive it a long way," Hughes said. "Conversely, our kickoff return team got us great field position."

Thus far special teams has proved invaluable in Princeton's two Ivy games — and must continue to contribute if the the Tigers are to take home their first league championship since 1995.