With the loss of their first-team All-Ivy League senior quarterback Kyle Newhall-Caballero to a season-ending wrist injury two weeks ago, the Brown Bears may have less bite in store for the Princeton football team on Saturday.
This weekend, Princeton (1-3 overall, 0-1 Ivy League) will look to snap a three-game losing streak against Brown (2-2, 1-0). Both teams are coming off non-conference losses, though the Tigers’ heavy-handed 44-10 defeat by Colgate last weekend far overshadows the Bears’ 17-13 loss to Holy Cross. With only league play ahead, Princeton is especially hungry for a win. A second Ivy League loss would essentially be the last nail in the coffin for the Tigers’ title hopes, as no team has claimed the Ancient Eight crown with two conference losses since 1982.
According to Brown head coach Phil Estes, Princeton shouldn’t be ruled out yet as a contender for the league title.
“Princeton’s a very dangerous football team; I think they have very good team speed,” Estes said. “The thing with them is, if they get a win, it puts them right back in the hunt.”
Brown had high expectations for the season at the outset, as the team boasted a quarterback who set Ivy League and Brown records last year and ranked second in the nation in completions, making 259 of 413 passes for 2,709 yards and 18 touchdowns. Newhall-Caballero, however, played little in the first two games due to a hand injury. In his first start of the season, a 27-24 overtime loss to Rhode Island on Oct. 2, the senior quarterback was hit as he was throwing on the last play of regulation and fell on and broke his wrist.
For three out of four games this season, the Bears have relied on other options at quarterback. On Saturday, senior Joe Springer started as Brown’s quarterback but was taken out of the game after a tepid first quarter — none of the three drives resulted in a first down gained. Sophomore Patrick Donnelly was more effective in his first-ever significant period of playing time at the college level, picking up 217 passing yards and adding a touchdown to his name.
If Estes intends to make a choice between Donnelly and Springer anytime soon, he didn’t let on.
“They’re two different types of quarterback,” Estes said. “Joe is a traditional drop-back guy, and Patrick is the type of guy who likes to be on the move and do things with his feet when he gets in the pocket, and he definitely can run. So we’ll continue to [keep the two in rotation] — if one gets hot, we may stay with him, but that’s still something in the making right now.”
The Tigers, too, have been plagued by injury to key players this season. In addition to senior inside linebacker and co-captain Steve Cody, whose season was ended due to a broken leg in the season opener, sophomore lineman Caraun Reid — another opening-day starter — sat out last Saturday. Whether he will play against Brown or not is still undetermined, said Craig Sachson, a spokesman for the athletics department.
“In Caraun’s case, as it was last week, it looks like his status will be undecided until game time,” Sachson said in an e-mail.
Head coach Bob Surace ’90 said that Brown is a well-balanced team despite the recent instability at the quarterback position.
“I am so impressed with the play of their offensive line and the physical nature with which they play,” Surace said. “As an old offensive line coach, it’s probably the first thing that jumps out at me on that side of the football. Defensively, they’re a physical team, they tackle well, and both their safeties are terrific football players. Their D-line plays hard, [and] the freshman kicker they have is a terrific football player.”
“It’s a team that, at the end of the day, you really like watching on film because they’re so well coached and they’re a talented group,” he added.
In praising the Bears’ coaching staff, Surace also indirectly complimented his colleague, offensive coordinator James Perry. Perry, a 2000 Brown graduate and the all-time leading passer in Ivy League history, came to Princeton this year after spending three years as offensive coordinator at his alma mater.
Estes suggested that Perry’s familiarity with both teams will not benefit either Princeton or Brown.
“I don’t even know who James Perry is. He used to be a Brown Bear, and now he’s a Princeton Tiger, so I don’t even know him that well,” Estes said. “Being familiar with the kind of sets that he uses and the kind of offense he’s put in there, he knows the same thing about us. He knows our offense and what we do, [and] he knows our defense and has been going against it for the last few years in practice, so I think that goes two ways.”
“[Perry’s] just as familiar with us as we are with him, and I’m sure he’s going to put some wrinkles in there to change that up, just as we’ll do the same thing,” Estes added.
Though Princeton is coming off a tough loss, Surace is optimistic about Saturday, as he said he saw great improvements from one half to another in last week’s game.
“I noticed a much more resilient group [in the second half],” Surace said. “I thought we went right back to practice Sunday and in meetings with a group that was very energetic, which was encouraging to see.”
Read More
With Pierce to sit out the year, men’s basketball loses last senior standing
Harrison BlankSenior forward Caden Pierce announced today that he will be sitting out his senior season of basketball at Princeton in the interests of maintaining his final year of eligibility.
Senior forward Caden Pierce announced today that he will be sitting out his senior season of basketball at Princeton in the interests of maintaining his final year of eligibility.
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.