Despite some strong offensive drives from Princeton Football (3–5 overall, 2–3 Ivy League) against Dartmouth College (6–2, 3–2), two early interceptions and a struggle to convert in the red zone sunk the Tigers on the way to a 20–17 loss on the road.
The game started off shaky with a quick interception to give Dartmouth solid opening field position. The Big Green effectively moved the ball and in just four plays found themselves within one yard of the end zone. After a quarterback rush, Dartmouth was up 7–0.
Princeton’s offense returned to the field looking to make up the deficit. Through two short passes, three rush plays from junior running back Ethan Clark, and a Dartmouth penalty, the Tigers were within the 20-yard line.
Following an intentional grounding call, senior quarterback Kai Colón launched the ball just shy of the hands of sophomore wide receiver Paul Kuhner. Dartmouth’s safety reacted quickly, pulling in the tipped ball for the second pick of the game.
“Errors happen,” Head Coach Bob Surace ’90 said to The Daily Princetonian. “The interception off the tip was an incredible play, and that happens.”
Coming into the match-up, Colón had thrown the lowest number of interceptions in the Ivy League — just three. But after the first two drives of Saturday’s game, that number nearly doubled.
“Tips and occasional overthrows happen,” Surace said. “[Colón’s] been great with the ball, great with the decision making. And you see how hard he fights and to the very end.”
Energized from their second turnover of the day, Dartmouth marched down the field to go up 14–0 at the start of the second quarter.
Trying to answer, the Tigers put together a solid drive of their own but stalled on Dartmouth’s 32-yard line. Junior kicker Esteban Nuño Perez, who has been reliable all year, drilled the right upright, keeping the Tigers out of the scoring column. Nuño Perez is a perfect 22/22 on extra points this season but is kicking 71.4 percent on field goal attempts following the game this weekend.
Princeton’s defense held strong to the end of the first half, forcing Dartmouth to punt on both of their next two drives.
With just over a minute left in the half, the Tigers began to put together a cohesive drive. With time winding down, Nuño Perez came back onto the field, and this time nailed a 36-yard field goal to make the score 14–3.
Dartmouth opened the second half with a strong seven play drive culminating in a 25-yard passing score. However, a slip-up with the snap for the extra point left the score at 20–3.
Princeton orchestrated a strong responding drive, successfully converting on two different fourth downs at fourth-and-one as well as fourth-and-eight. Despite the momentum, the Tigers eventually turned it over on downs just two yards shy of a score on a goal line stop by the Dartmouth defense.
After the defense forced a three-and-out, Princeton had the ball back. After a series of completions, sophomore running back Christian Lynch scored his first ever collegiate touchdown, breathing some life into the Princeton sideline heading into the final quarter. After an unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt, the score stood at 20–9.
“We struggled all game, but it made me feel good that I was the first one to start off the [effort to] come back,” Lynch told the ‘Prince’ postgame. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get the win, but hopefully we can make a mark for next week so we can get the win against Yale.”
Princeton kept fighting to the very end, delivering an impressive 80-yard drive in 11 plays. Robinson tied his season record of eight receptions during the drive, which resulted in a five-yard rushing touchdown from Colón. With a two-point conversion, Princeton was within striking distance with a score of 20–17.
Princeton attempted an onside kick in hopes of recovering the ball, but Dartmouth gained possession. The final whistle blew, ending play at Memorial Field in a 20–17 loss for Princeton.
“You tip your cap. We had some really good plays, and they did the same,” Surace told the ‘Prince.’
“We knew we were moving the ball up and down the field and just couldn’t punch it in until the end there,” Colón said. “We just wanted to keep fighting.”
The Tigers look to next Saturday’s game against Yale (6–2, 4–1) as they hope to turn the tides and secure a win at home for Senior Day.
Siena Sydenham is a Sports contributor for the ‘Prince.’
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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