Football: Daunting task for secondary in key Ivy game

While head coach Roger Hughes’ advice was directed to junior tailback Jordan Culbreath, it’s something all the Tigers (2-2 overall, 1-0 Ivy League) will need to take to heart when they take on Brown (2-2, 1-0) and its high-powered offense this Saturday in Princeton Stadium.

Princeton is looking to bounce back from a tough 27-24 loss to Colgate a week ago. Brown is in a similar situation, having lost consecutive non-league games to Rhode Island and Holy Cross.

While the Bears were defeated by Holy Cross last Saturday in a 41-34 shootout, Brown quarterback Michael Dougherty re-established himself as the league’s elite passer.

The senior gunslinger threw for an Ivy League record 526 yards and four touchdowns, while adding another 12 yards on the ground to secure the Ivy record for total offense as well. Last season, Dougherty threw for 360 yards and two touchdowns in Brown’s 33-24 victory over the Tigers.

“[Brown head coach] Phil [Estes] uses one quarterback to emulate [Princeton senior quarterback] Brian Anderson,” Hughes said. “We have to use about 12 of ours ’cause we can’t put enough balls in the air to give a good look at what Michael Dougherty has done.”

“He’s done a remarkable job, and I really feel he’s come into his own in this league,” Hughes added.

Princeton will have the benefit of a relatively healthy defense against Dougherty and the Brown offense. Junior linebacker Jeff Jackson returned to practice Wednesday, and Hughes said he’s hopeful that the Oklahoma native will be available for Saturday’s game.

Even with a healthy defense, the Tigers will need to change their defensive strategy from a week ago to account for the league’s leading passer.

“It’s a whole different mindset,” Hughes said. “Colgate wanted to fat you up and punch you in the face, whereas Brown is physical, but they want to finesse you a little more and get the ball out in space and let their athletes work for them.”

On the other side of the ball, it will be the Bears who need to find a way to solve Culbreath, the league’s leading rusher.

Brown owns the league’s second-most-potent offense and second-most-porous defense, gaining 373.8 yards per game on offense and the identical total on defense. That could spell trouble for the Bears in handling Princeton’s junior halfback.

Culbreath, who ran for 153 yards and scored a touchdown against Colgate, has averaged 103.5 yards on the ground per game and 5.5 yards per carry.

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“He’s really improved his quickness and his patience,” Hughes said. “He’s just a very smooth and efficient runner … He really embodies what we’ve been trying to build here in the last nine years.”

Hughes added that he hoped his junior tailback would get in the endzone with a little more regularity.

“The only thing we have to work on with Jordan is that when he gets inside the five, he tends to get tackled,” Hughes said. “He gets plenty of yards, but he just won’t get in the dang endzone.”

Despite working overtime because of injuries to other running backs, Culbreath said he always feels healthy and well-rested by the time Saturday arrives.

“During the week, coaches do a good job of letting me get back to full strength before the game,” Culbreath said. “And during the game, the adrenaline runs high enough to where you can’t feel the little bumps and bruises … I’m holding up pretty well.”

While Culbreath remains healthy, the same cannot be said for senior kicker Connor Louden, who pulled his groin while kicking a career-best 40-yard field goal during the first quarter of Saturday’s game.

“He’s in a lot of pain right now,” Hughes said. “We’ll just have to see.”

Louden was replaced by junior Ben Bologna, who averaged 60 yards on his five kickoffs against Colgate.

“I’m really excited about Ben Bologna, who’s sort of been an unsung hero,” Hughes said. “He’s really come in and done a great job of assimilating to the team … I’m not sure he has the range of Connor, but within his range he’s every bit as consistent.”

Bologna will likely play a crucial role in Saturday’s game, given the Tigers’ penchant for close contests and the similar talent levels of the two squads. Each of Princeton’s last three games has been decided by just three points, and both teams hold identical records in and out of league play.

“If you don’t play with passion and intensity every weekend, you have a chance to get beaten,” Hughes said. “But anytime you can remain undefeated, it’s a big deal, so we’re really focused on Brown.”