Football: Emotional season ends with statement

A topsy-turvy season came full circle for the football team, as the Tigers defeated Dartmouth, 23-11, on Saturday to round out their third consecutive 4-6 season.

The game started slowly, with the Tigers taking a 6-0 lead into halftime. In the second half, Dartmouth mounted a comeback, scoring five points on a safety and a field goal in the third quarter. But Princeton held firm and put the game away with 17 unanswered points. Dartmouth scored its lone touchdown with six minutes, 32 seconds remaining, and it missed the extra point.

The Tigers were led offensively by junior running back Kenny Gunter, who followed up his dominating performance against Yale with an even more impressive game, finishing with 26 carries for 173 yards. He also scored two touchdowns on the day, extending Princeton’s lead from one point to 15 in the second half. Though Gunter is a junior, he has exhausted his NCAA eligibility, and it was fitting that he had two great games to finish his career.

“Kenny was my host when I came here [on my official visit],” sophomore quarterback Tommy Wornham said. “And there was a lot of talk about him being a really good athlete. The fact that he got the opportunity and used it to that level was awesome. It was so nice to be able to count on the running game. Having a running game really opened up so much in the passing game. Their defensive ends were slower coming off the snap because they did not know what to expect.”

The Tigers moved the ball well in the first half, but they were unable to put many points on the board. Princeton forced a three-and-out on Dartmouth’s first possession before mounting a long drive of its own. The Tigers overcame personal-foul and false-start penalties on consecutive plays, when Wornham hit sophomore wide receiver Harrison Daniels for 20 yards on third-and-17. The play moved the ball into Dartmouth territory, where the drive stalled four plays later at Dartmouth’s 18-yard line. Princeton then attempted a 35-yard field goal, but senior kicker Ben Bologna’s attempt sailed wide right.

Dartmouth picked up a first down for the first time in the game on its next drive, but it was then forced to punt following its subsequent set of downs.

The Tigers mounted a 13-play, 73-yard drive on their next possession, a drive that was highlighted by consecutive completions to Daniels for 16 yards and junior wide receiver Trey Peacock for 17 yards. On third-and-goal from the Dartmouth two-yard line, Wornham threw an incomplete pass intended for junior fullback Matt Zimmerman, and Princeton was forced to settle for a field goal. Bologna’s 19-yard attempt sailed true this time.

The Big Green was again unable to do much with the ball, punting after picking up one first down. Princeton responded with a 12-play, 75-yard drive, highlighted by a gutsy fourth-down play. On fourth-and-two from the Dartmouth 35, Wornham hit Peacock for 21 yards and the first down. The Tigers appeared poised to score their first touchdown of the day, but Wornham fumbled the ball on the Dartmouth five-yard line following a nine-yard run on first-and-10.

Princeton’s defense continued its stout play, forcing yet another three-and-out. The Tigers regained possession at the Dartmouth 43, and they quickly entered Big Green territory following an 18-yard completion from Wornham to junior tight end Harry Flaherty. The drive stalled quickly thereafter, but Bologna converted a 42-yard field goal. It was the longest kick of his career, and it put Princeton ahead, 6-0.

Dartmouth then mounted a brief drive before punting once again, and the Tigers ran down the clock to end the half.

The start of the second half provided the most intrigue of the game. The Tigers opened the half with the ball on their own 20-yard line, and they picked up a first down when Wornham ran for three yards on third-and-one. Princeton appeared to have picked up another first down two plays later, but a nine-yard carry by Gunter was nullified by a holding penalty. Wornham then had an eight-yard run nullified by another holding penalty.

Two plays later, on third-and-25, Zimmerman ran for 17 yards, moving the ball to the Princeton 34 and giving the Tigers a good comfort zone from which to punt. On fourth down, freshman punter Joe Cloud could only watch as the snap sailed over his head. Cloud kept his composure, picking the ball up in the end zone and run out of bounds for a safety. He prevented the Big Green from scoring a touchdown, but he also ensured that Dartmouth would have another possession.

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Egged on by the big play, Dartmouth took possession on its own 48 following the Tigers’ free kick. The Big Green drove 29 yards on seven plays before converting a 40-yard field goal to close the lead to one point.

That’s when Gunter took over.

A good return by junior kick returner and running back Meko McCray gave the Tigers the ball on the Princeton 40. After an incomplete pass, Wornham handed off to Gunter twice. The first went for 14 yards and moved the ball into Dartmouth territory. The second went for 46 yards and a touchdown.

Dartmouth responded with another relatively long drive, but the Tigers’ defense held firm and halted the drive at the Princeton 21. Dartmouth kicker Foley Schmidt then missed a 39-yard field goal.

The teams traded possessions before Princeton put together its most impressive drive of the day. Starting with the ball on their own 19-yard line, the Tigers ran eight consecutive times for 81 yards. Gunter capped the drive off with a six-yard dash for the score, putting Princeton up, 20-5. Wornham ran three times for 31 yards on the drive, while Gunter added five carries for 50 yards.

“We really attacked their weak side alley,” Wornham said. “Kenny ran downhill hard, and the line opened the holes big time.”

Big Green kick returner Shawn Abuhoff fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and the Tigers recovered at the Dartmouth 18-yard line. Princeton was forced to settle for a field goal, extending its lead to 23-5.

Dartmouth finally found the end zone on its next possession, when quarterback Connor Kempe found wide receiver Tanner Scott for a two-yard touchdown pass to cap off an eight-play, 60-yard drive. The teams then traded possessions twice before time ran out.

Wornham finished 18-of-29 for 211 yards. He did not throw a touchdown or an interception for the second consecutive week, but he did fumble twice. The sophomore quarterback also added 49 yards on seven carries.

Zimmerman carried nine times for 46 yards, spelling Gunter when needed. Peacock led the receivers with five catches for 86 yards, and Flaherty finished with four catches for 40 yards. Daniels added 50 yards on three receptions, and junior wide receiver Andrew Kerr finished with three catches for 24 yards.

As they have been all season, the Tigers were led defensively by behemoth inside linebacker, Steve Cody. The junior roundedout a sensational season with nine tackles, two tackles for a loss, two broken-up passes and a 10-yard sack. Senior defensive back Dan Kopolovich finished out his career with eight tackles sand two broken-up passes. Sophomore safety Matt Wakulchik finished with seven tackles and half a tackle for a loss, and senior safety and co-captain Wilson Cates added six tackles and two broken-up passes.

Dartmouth was led offensively by its pair of quarterbacks. Kempe finished 17-of-34 for 185 yards and a touchdown. His counterpart, Greg Patton, added 117 yards on 10-of-17 passing, and he also carried 20 times for 39 yards. Scott led the receivers with seven receptions for 72 yards, and junior tight end John Gallagher added 92 yards on six catches.

Another 4-6 record was surely not what Princeton had in mind entering a year that initially seemed to promising. But considering the devastating injuries suffered by some of the players, most notably senior running back Jordan Culbreath and senior linebacker Scott Britton, the Tigers can rest assured that what they accomplished was at least acceptable, if not impressive.

“We were put in situations where it was tough to succeed and bounce back, but we did,” Wornham said. “Finishing the season this way was important for seniors, ’cause they gave us, great leadership, and good for us because we got a lot of talent on this team. While the time off is going to be well-taken, it’s exciting because people will want to get back into it next year.”

While Princeton’s late surge was somewhat impressive, it was not enough for head coach Roger Hughes to hang on to his job. Having compiled a 47-52 career record, Hughes was relieved of his duties following Princeton’s win over Dartmouth.