Football travels to upstate New York to play Colgate

One thing is for certain. Colgate running back Jamaal Branch will be carrying the football this Saturday — a lot. The question, then, is a simple one: Can the Princeton defense stop him?

If the Tigers (3-0 overall, 1-0 Ivy League) hope to leave upstate New York with a victory this weekend, the answer better be "yes." Last year, the answer was a resounding no, as Branch rushed for 191 yards and three touchdowns. Not surprisingly, the Raiders waltzed to a 34-3 win.

Then again, the Tigers weren't the only ones who got run over last year. Branch ran for Division I-AA season records of 2,326 yards and 29 touchdowns, carrying the Raiders to a 15-1 record and a spot in the national championship game.

This year, however, Colgate (2-2) and Branch have looked far more human. After entering the season ranked No. 4 in the country, the Raiders have been upset twice — by Massachucettes and Yale — and have dropped to No. 20 in the latest polls. Overall, Branch has picked up "only" 396 yards and five touchdowns.

Still, the slight drop-off in production hasn't changed the fact that Branch is the Raiders' workhorse. A big (225 lbs.), physical back, Branch is more than happy to pound away at a defense all afternoon.

"He's just as strong in the fourth quarter as he is in the first, he gives you just as much," Colgate head coach Dick Biddle said. "And maybe he's not the fastest running back, but he's got better quickness and speed then people think."

In other words, the Tigers likely won't stop him, but can only hope to contain him — head coach Roger Hughes used the term control to describe his team's mission. Princeton's results so far have more than validated Hughes' switch to a 3-4 base defense, but the scheme's one glaring weakness has been run defense up the middle. The Tigers are giving up an average of 172 yards on the ground per game and have yet to face a back of Branch's caliber. Part of the problem has been missed tackles, a mistake Hughes was quick to mention the need to avoid this week.

Colgate isn't completely one-dimensional on offense, however. The senior tandem of quarterback Chris Brown and wide receiver Luke Graham has proved effective, if not spectacular.

On the other side of the ball, the Raiders are extremely aggressive, loading the box with eight or nine defenders and constantly blitzing, according to Hughes.

"They come with a very unique scheme," Hughes said. "They want to create havoc, they want to create turnovers, they want to put you back on your heels."

Hughes also noted that Colgate varies its point of attack, often sending safeties and cornerbacks on blitzes. As a result, solid blocking by backs and receivers will be particularly important, to both the air and running games.

"With all the pressure they bring between the tackles, a lot of runs will bounce outside," wide receivers coach Scott Sallach said. "The guys that play outside are the difference between the run being four and 14 [yards]."

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Additionally, the blitzes can leave the Raiders susceptible to aerial attacks, which Hughes hopes to take advantage of. Senior quarterback Matt Verbit's decision-making skills will be critical; look for him to use junior tight end Jon Dekker, who caught five passes last week, as a safety valve.

Ultimately, though, the Tigers' hopes hinge most on their run defense. As well as they've played so far this season, a victory in Hamilton — where Colgate has won 14 straight games — would constitute a major upset. Then again, so is Princeton's current undefeated record.

"Our confidence has grown," Hughes said. "When you win, you expect good things to happen."