Trio triumphant in the trenches

Now, as they begin their senior season, the three friends form a defensive line that just might be the most experienced and dominant in the Ivy League.

“As a unit, we are more tightly knit [this season],” said Koch, the man in the middle and 2007 All-Ivy selection. “We talked as freshmen, but we did not have the experience to go off that we have now. As individuals we have gotten a little more mature — we’ve grown a little more.”

It is those qualities — the experience, the growth and the maturity — that make the defensive line so critical to the Tigers’ 2008 success. Methvin, Buchignani and Koch have seven years of starting between them, which in itself makes them leaders.

“We have to be [leaders],” Koch said. “We’re the big three returners on the defense.”

“We all started sophomore year, and we all started last year,” added Methvin, who holds down the left side of the line. “We have seen the grand scales of games — games that were really close, games that have gone to the last play. Being in those situations, we have to set the tone for the guys who have not been there, who have not started as much.”

Methvin, a six-foot, three-inch, 275-pound defensive end, opened the 2007 season with a bang — he made 17 tackles, forced two fumbles and intercepted a pass in his first four games — but was slowed by a leg injury the rest of the year. One of the team’s best defensive players in 2006, recording four sacks and 33 tackles, Methvin is healthy and ready for big things this season.

On the end opposite will be Buchignani, a two-time All-Ivy honorable mention. A starter since midway through his freshman season, the 6’3”, 255-pound Buchignani recorded a career-high 34 tackles last season. Ivy League teams have responded to Buchignani’s talent by double teaming him on the line, but an impressive offseason has Princeton coaches excited about Buchignani’s progress.

Matt Koch is also no stranger to double teams. The 6’0”, 255-pound tackle sees them almost every running play, but his nose for the ball and unrelenting power still make him a tremendous threat. Koch led the defensive line with 37 tackles last season, adding an interception, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

As their brotherhood grew on the field, Koch, Buchignani and Methvin became friends off it as well, a camaraderie that they claim is extremely beneficial.

“It is easier to approach [friends] or get the message across to fix something,” Methvin said. “Because we all like each other, we are all friends, it is easier to say something that needs to be said. We do not take it personally.”

“On the field it is just good knowing who is beside you,” Koch added.

The trio is also quick to point out, however, that a defensive line is more than three men and that the Tigers are also returning experienced players from last year’s team who add to the veteran line.

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Junior Joel Karacozoff, who spent time at defensive end last season, has proven his ability to perform at the college level. Filling in for the injured Methvin, Karacozoff recorded 34 tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery, and his speed and power will feature prominently on the defensive line this season.

After an impressive spring, seniors Mark Ethridge and Pat Gallagher, who recorded 13 tackles and a forced fumble last season, will also cycle into the rotation.

It is difficult to quantify exactly how critical the defensive line is to the Tigers. Sure the sacks, tackles and fumbles give a good idea, but so much of what they do extends beyond statistics. Drawing a double team opens the hole for a blitzing linebacker, and getting pressure on the quarterback results in more incomplete passes and interceptions.

Because of their proximity to the ball and to the opposing quarterback, the defensive line has the unique ability to make the rest of the defense better. Similarly, if it struggles, the rest of the defense will invariably struggle too. After all, a quarterback with too much time and protection makes for a very efficient offense.

Therefore, it should come as great relief to Princeton fans that the most experienced — and perhaps skilled — position on the field is also the most important. And though it must be difficult for the three seniors to avoid looking ahead 10 games to life after football, they are content to take it one contest at a time, always keeping in mind the ultimate aim.

“The end of the season will be a big release, but we’re not worried about that right now,” Buchignani said. “We are excited for our senior season. We have been waiting for this for a long time. We want to make the best of it, to return to the glory of a couple years ago … [An Ivy League championship] is the only goal.”