Despite the lopsided result, Princeton (0-2, 0-1) managed to rack up impressive defensive statistics for the second-consecutive game. The hard-hitting Tigers forced four fumbles on the night, recovering two. Freshman linebacker Atray Dixit, senior linebacker Gordon Scharf and junior linebacker Robert Addis combined for two sacks. The Tigers blocked an extra point midway through the first quarter and also blocked a punt early in the fourth, which the Tigers recovered on the Army three-yard line.
“Once again, the defense was our forte, despite giving up so many points,” senior center and captain Rich Hagner said. “Our special teams also performed quite well. We had some sizable returns and were at times just a block away from returning a kickoff for a score.”
Unfortunately for Princeton, the Tigers didn’t have the only capable defensive squad on the field Friday night. The Black Knights managed to counter every Princeton offensive threat. By the end of 60 minutes of play, the Tigers had racked up -14 yards of total offense.
“Very little worked offensively against them,” senior quarterback Drew Dixon said. “They stuffed most of our runs and brought a lot of pressure with their pass rush.”
The heavy pressure from Army’s defensive front destroyed all hopes of pocket protection for Dixon and freshman quarterback Mark Tanner. The Black Knights recorded four sacks on the night to go along with four forced fumbles of their own.
“They were blitzing early on and aggressively,” Hagner said. “We were having trouble picking up the blitz and adjusting our offense to it.”
With the Tigers behind 23-0 at the end of the first quarter, head coach Tom Cocuzza made some tactical adjustments to try to get the ball bouncing Princeton’s way.
“Their defense was keying on our speed sweeps and adjusting to the wide receiver motion, so we countered by running backside and throwing behind the blitzing backers,” Dixon said.
Those adjustments, however, seemed to have very little effect. The Tigers finished the night with 11 three-and-out drives.
The closest the Tigers came to the endzone was early in the fourth quarter following the blocked punt by Dixit, which gave the Tigers the ball on the Army three-yard line. On first and goal, Dixon took the snap and rushed for two yards to the one-yard line. A false start penalty on Princeton followed by a passing interference call on the Black Knights, however, brought the Tigers back right where they started: first and goal on the three-yard line. Dixon was sacked on the following play for a loss of three yards, and a subsequent fumble on a run play was recovered by the Black Knights.
“Like last week against Penn, we just couldn’t get our offense going,” Hagner said. “After we fell behind early, we tried to make some blocking adjustments against their defense and determine which plays were working for us and which ones weren’t.”
While the Black Knights’ talent and athleticism must be recognized, it must also be noted that the Tigers were set back by injuries on both sides of the ball. On offense, the Tigers operated without junior running back and wide receiver Anthony Soroka, who left in the second quarter of the Penn game with a high ankle sprain and isn’t expected back for another two weeks. On defense, the absences of junior linebacker Mike Schoder as well as senior defensive back Mykel Kulkarni were felt heavily as the Black Knights marched down the field time and again, picking apart the secondary for three touchdown passes.
Despite unfavorable results for the Tigers thus far, a freshman phenom has emerged over the Tigers’ first two games to assume a key role on the team. Dixit led all players on the field with 12 tackles Friday night. He also recorded one-and-a-half tackles for loss and blocked the punt that gave the Tigers their best field position of the night.
Princeton’s last victory against Army came in 1979, when the Tigers shut out the Black Knights 14-0 en route to a 4-2 season.
Next up on the schedule for Princeton is Cornell (1-2, 0-1) this Friday at home.
Read More
Women’s ice hockey names Courtney Kessel as new head coach
Lily PampolinaFollowing the resignation of Cara Gardner Morey, Princeton appointed Courtney Kessel as head coach.
Following the resignation of Cara Gardner Morey, Princeton appointed Courtney Kessel as head coach.
Former women’s basketball forward Parker Hill ’25 signs professional contract in Switzerland
Doug SchwartzAfter a successful senior season, women's basketball forward Parker Hill signed a contact to play professional basketball in Europe, following in the steps of her past teammates.
After a successful senior season, women's basketball forward Parker Hill signed a contact to play professional basketball in Europe, following in the steps of her past teammates.
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.