For the second consecutive year, the football team made history in its Ivy League opener against Columbia — the kind of history that most on the squad would rather forget. Princeton’s (1-2 overall, 0-1 Ivy League) 42-14 loss to the Lions (2-1, 2-0) marked the Tigers’ first back-to-back losses to their Manhattan rivals in the history of the series, and Columbia’s 42 points were the most that the New York school has ever managed against Princeton since the two teams began playing in 1874.
The story of the game was one of mismatched offenses and poor defensive play, from the opening whistle until the clock ran out. Princeton started out strong and seemingly on track to make the game competitive, earning the first points of the day when senior running back and co-captain Matt Zimmerman rushed for a 4-yard touchdown early in the second quarter.
Over the next 20 minutes, though, Princeton seemed lifeless as Columbia scored touchdown after touchdown — both rushing and passing — to rack up 35 unanswered points and open up an insurmountable lead by the end of the third stanza.
“[It was] 0-0 at end of the first quarter, and I really liked the look,” head coach Bob Surace ’90 said. “We said we had to start fast, and we said we had to finish drives, and we didn’t do a good job of finishing drives. To have the touchdowns at the end of the first half — I really thought we made some good adjustments at halftime. Then to come out to start the second half, and the next thing you know, we’re down a lot of points. It was disappointing.”
Junior quarterback Tommy Wornham struggled to find his tempo throughout the game. He was sacked twice and threw for only one touchdown, to senior wide receiver Andrew Kerr in the third quarter.
“[Wornham] played OK,” Surace said. “There were some throws early that I’m sure he’d like to have back. But when you throw it 43 times, and [when you have] two sacks, when you’re throwing it that much, you’re going to have a few you want to take back. He’s one of the guys that’s in the foxhole — [one of the guys] that we’re counting on.”
Of even greater concern than Wornham’s questionable passes was the fact that he often found himself throwing on the run, with little or no protection provided by the offensive line.
“The [offensive line] was not good enough,” Surace said. “[The offensive line and defensive line are] two areas we’re struggling with. I have a lot of guys [injured] standing next to me from the O-line and D-line. We’re down three OLs and a few DLs, and we have to make sure we’re doing a good job overcoming that.”
Though Princeton had to toil to find any semblance of rhythm on Saturday, Columbia could hardly have played better. In throwing for five touchdowns, quarterback Sean Brackett tied a Columbia record set in 1942. The Lions totaled 528 total yards — a stark contrast to Princeton’s 333 — and scored on five of their six red-zone possessions.
Surace was disappointed with the lopsidedness of Saturday’s game and indicated that he found the Tigers’ effort and energy less than impressive.
“I really thought we came out and just didn’t finish things,” he said. “I thought, especially after last year, that we were going to come out and have even more energy than we had in the first two weeks. I’ll have to watch some film and see if I’m correct in my assessment, but it didn’t look like that was the case.”
Read More
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.
No. 3 men’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals after 19–18 loss to No. 5 Syracuse
Hayk YengibaryanWith the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
With the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
Preview: No. 3 men’s lacrosse plays No. 5 Syracuse in NCAA quarterfinals
Hayk YengibaryanShould the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.
Should the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.