Senior quarterback Chad Kanoff threw for 230 yards, junior quarterback John Lovett and senior running back Joe Rhattigan rushed for almost fifty yards apiece, and the Princeton Tigers (2-1, 1-0 Ivy) opened their Ivy League season in emphatic style by dismantling the Columbia Lions (0-3, 0-1 Ivy), 48-13.
Despite the final score, Columbia struck first to open the game. Lovett was picked off on the Tigers’ first drive, and the Lions marched back the other way for the score. However, Princeton would not trail for long. The Tigers put together a long drive midway through the first quarter, culminating in a Kanoff pass to Rhattigan that tied the game, 6-6.
As the second quarter began, Princeton turned on the heat. Kanoff and Lovett alternated behind center, engineering a quick scoring drive that put the Tigers ahead 13-6 after their first possession of the period. Princeton’s defense continued to stifle the Lions, and the offensive trio of Kanoff, Rhattigan, and Lovett was quick to find the end zone again to make it a 20-6 ball game. After a Columbia fumble on their next possession, Lovett fired a quick pass to Rhattigan for Princeton’s fourth unanswered score and a 21-point lead. However, the Tigers weren’t finished yet, forcing another punt from the Lions and putting together yet another punishing drive that ended with Lovett in the end zone and Princeton up at half, 34-6.
In the third quarter, Princeton slowly but surely strangled any chance of a Columbia comeback. The Tiger defense forced three consecutive punts on the Lions’ three possessions of the period, while Kanoff and Lovett converted two of Princeton’s own offensive possessions into scores that further extended their advantage. By the end of the third, the Tigers sat on a 48-6 lead and the game was all but over. Although Columbia would tack on one final score in throwaway time, they never built enough offensive cohesion to further challenge Princeton.
The Tigers showed poise and versatility on both sides of the ball, with their defense absolutely stifling the Lions and giving up less than 300 total yards. Offensively, the Tigers showed significant potential, with Kanoff throwing for three touchdowns and Lovett contributing to four more scores. It is to be hoped that this high-octane offense continues to show the balance between the running and passing game that served it so well in this contest.
Princeton will continue its season next Saturday as they take on non-conference foe Georgetown. They will resume Ivy League play when they face Brown at home on Oct. 15.
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