Some people are just naturally good in the limelight: when the spotlight is on, and the music starts to play, something magical happens.
With the lights shining on the first Friday night game between Ivy opponents in the league's 50-year history and with the legitimacy of the Tigers' undefeated 4-0 start in question, the football team (5-0 overall, 2-0 Ivy League) proved itself with a 17-3 win over Brown (1-4, 0-2) thanks in large part to continued strong defensive play.
"I thought our defensive secondary played great against a very good corps of wide receivers," head coach Roger Hughes said. "Overall, our defensive effort was phenomenal."
After a first half marked by poor offensive play, the second half started equally slowly, with first Brown, then Princeton and then Brown again having unsuccessful drives. But the Tigers finally made something happen on the next play.
Brown lofted a short punt that gave the Tigers the ball on their own 43 with four minutes, 52 seconds left in the third quarter. A long pass to junior wide receiver Brendan Circle brought Princeton down to the Brown 38, and then fellow senior wide receiver Brian Brigham rushed down to the 30.
On second and eight, Circle again managed to make a quick catch in the center of the field and spun back the opposite way, against his own momentum, to fall forward to the 21.
A few miscues and a penalty brought the Tigers back to the 26 before Terrell completed a pass to junior fullback Rob Toresco who danced along the sideline to the 18. With the Tigers staring down third and seven in the red zone, Terrell found Toresco at the front of the end zone for seven points. Toresco spent a few minutes on the ground following a nasty hit, but he walked off under his own power.
"I was running up the center of the field and I saw the free safety hanging there," Toresco said. "Jeff released the football and I thought man, it was going to be tough to catch."
Defense steps up
On the ensuing drive, Princeton's defense showed the offense that anything it can do, the defense can do better. The Tigers held Brown to only one first down before junior inside linebacker Doori Song and sophomore defensive end Tom Methvin sacked Brown's quarterback hard on second down. Shaken up, he threw an incomplete pass on third down.
"We were able to shut down the running game early and then really ... go after [Brown quarterback Joe] DiGiacomo," Hughes said. "If your quarterback's not playing well in a passing offense, you've got problems."
Energized by the stop, the Tiger offense put away the game in short order. After senior wide receiver Brian Shields caught Brown's punt at midfield and fell forward to the 46, Toresco rushed on first down to the 40 to set up another big play.
On second and four, Terrell found Circle with a pass across midfield. Circle, making the reception at around the 25, broke a tackle on a quick move and dashed right into the end zone to make it 17-3 for the Tigers at the end of the third quarter.
It marked the end of a strong turnaround for the Tiger offense, which started the game slowly but managed to pull together at halftime.
"[The locker room at halftime] was like it's been all year — calm," Toresco said. "We just made sure everybody was on the same page."
First half struggles
Indeed, the Tigers couldn't break open the game in the first half. Princeton had the ball first, but its drive stalled out in Brown territory when senior quarterback Jeff Terrell took a sack on third and three to fall at the Brown 44.
But what was impressive about the first quarter was the Tiger defense. The Bears fumbled the snap on third and three and, though they recovered, senior defensive lineman Michael Meehan and Methvin were right there to stuff Brown with a tackle for a loss.
Princeton couldn't get much traction on its next drive and punted, but the defense was there again to stifle Brown. Senior free safety Tim Strickland nearly picked off a pass as the Brown quarterback threw an incomplete pass to Strickland's side on third down.
The Tigers capitalized with a field goal by sophomore kicker Conner Louden on their next drive, getting on the board first with a 3-0 advantage.
Though Brown managed to respond, scoring on a 45-yard field goal with three minutes until halftime, it would be the Bears' only notch on the scoreboard as the Tigers shut down the Bears, only allowing them one look in the red zone in the second half, which ended with an interception by senior linebacker Luke Steckel. That play, at about 10 minutes left in regulation, effectively killed Brown's comeback hopes.
Ivy league rival Harvard is due up next weekend. With the Crimson's 24-7 win over Lafayette on Saturday the stage is set for a meeting between two undefeated teams with 5-0 records. It is the first time since 1922 that the teams have met with those records. Whether or not the Tigers will steal the spotlight from Harvard — or vice-versa — remains to be seen.
The Tigers then travel to Cornell on Oct. 28 before hosting Penn on Nov. 4. Princeton then plays an important match at Yale on Nov. 11.
Read More
No. 7 women’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals against No. 1 UNC
Hayk YengibaryanWith the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
With the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
No. 3 men’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals after 19–18 loss to No. 5 Syracuse
Hayk YengibaryanWith the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
With the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
Preview: No. 3 men’s lacrosse plays No. 5 Syracuse in NCAA quarterfinals
Hayk YengibaryanShould the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.
Should the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.