Princeton limps into Lafayette

Getting back on the horse can be a challenge, especially when everyone is watching. The football team is beginning to understand this better than anyone.

After a distressing 32-21 loss to Lehigh last weekend, the Tigers (0-1 overall) will return to the gridiron and take on No. 22 Lafayette (3-0) in tomorrow's road opener.

The Leopards present a significant challenge for Princeton as it attempts to rebound from an error-packed outing last week. Senior quarterback Bill Foran — who threw a pair of interceptions against Lehigh to offset two touchdowns — will be back starting under center for the matchup with Lafayette. Foran and his offensive line will certainly have their work cut out for them, as the Leopard defense is ranked No. 1 among all Football Championship Subdivision schools.

"As a group, I think [our offensive line] can be a lot more dominating, a lot more confident," offensive line coach Gregg Perry said. "Those are probably the two things I'd like to see these guys demonstrate as they go through the next couple weeks."

Lafayette comes into the confrontation with the Tigers off a close, 8-7 victory over Penn. A last-minute field goal lifted the Leopards over Penn in what was a hard-fought defensive football game on both sides.

A trio of returning linebackers lead Lafayette's stellar defense. Andy Romans — an All-Patriot League selection last season and Lafayette's top tackler — is joined by fellow standouts Mark Plumby and Mark Leggiero.

"I think the [Lafayette] linebackers are very athletic," Perry said, "and I think they are very strong tacklers and, as a group, the front seven make a lot of plays and do a good job for them."

The Tiger defense, meanwhile, will be hampered by the potential absence of senior safety Kevin Kelleher, who is suffering from a heel injury.

Princeton is well aware of the challenge it faces this week and knows what needs to be corrected to succeed against the Leopards. One area that has been crucial for both teams this season has been special teams.

"I think probably the most disappointing thing [last week] was our kicking game," head coach Roger Hughes said. "We haven't had a special teams day like that, frankly, since I think we've been here as a staff. And the funny thing is, I don't know of a staff or program who works harder at special teams than we do."

In contrast to the kickoff and punt that the Tigers failed to recover against Lehigh, Lafayette boasts a return squad ranked sixth in the nation in punt-return average, including a punt returned 78 yards for a touchdown.

Hughes said he believes Murphy's Law was clearly in play during the first quarter of last week's game and that these early-season mistakes will be corrected this weekend.

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"We feel we have the right personnel in there, but if after correction the personnel doesn't do well, we have to look at other people to do those things," Hughes said. "The kids who made those mistakes, it was their first game doing what they were doing in a live situation, and you hope that they learn from that and I think that they have."

Perhaps the most intriguing similarity between the two teams is between the two signal-callers. Both Foran and Lafayettte quarterback Mike DiPaola are seniors with limited experience coming into this season, each having thrown their first career touchdown passes in their first starts earlier this season.

Lafayette head coach Frank Tavani has made clear to DiPaola that his position as a starter is contingent on his continued ability to rise above the pack and perform at a high level. Hughes continues to place his utmost confidence in Foran but believes that fellow senior Greg Mroz may continue to see time. Hughes believes the two have very different styles that can be used to Princeton's offensive advantage.

"Certainly, Greg has earned the playing time through his play in spring as well as his play in fall and, overall, his play last week," Hughes said. "I think we have the luxury of playing two guys who can play, and so I think it's going to be more of a gut feel."

The two head coaches also have similar backgrounds. Both Tavani and Hughes took over their respective programs in 2000 and, impressively, have retained much of their staff over the past six seasons.

The coaches' records are also nearly identical, with Hughes exactly at .500 and Tavani at 41-42 — looking for his equalizer this weekend against the Tigers.