Princeton football loses season opener against Bryant, 21–14

Princeton football (0–1 overall, 0–0 Ivy League) took to the road to open the season against Bryant (3–1, 1–0 Coastal Athletic Association). Despite demonstrating offensive promise, numerous miscues and missed scoring opportunities led to the Tigers’ shortcomings. 

Princeton had no trouble moving the ball on offense, and a few explosive plays helped them get deep into Bryant territory. However, the Tigers couldn’t convert on numerous red zone trips, leaving crucial points on the table. 

“We just got to score in the red zone,” first-year quarterback Wyatt Becker said to The Daily Princetonian. “That’s all we got to do. We were driving on them pretty well.”

Becker earned the starting role to lead the offense against Bryant. He is the first freshman starting quarterback for Princeton since 2000. 

Becker showed flashes of promise, demonstrating poise in the pocket and delivering on deep throws down the field under pressure. Becker’s legs also proved to be useful, as he would often scramble out to extend plays. On the day, he went 15/29 for 202 yards, notching his first touchdown throw but also conceding two picks.

On the first drive of the game, Princeton’s defense easily dealt with the Bryant offensive attack, nearly pouncing on a Bryant fumble and almost picking off Bryant’s quarterback.

After a Bryant punt, Princeton leaned on the ground game to get the party started. Senior running back Ethan Clark exploded for a 24-yard run to breach the Bulldogs’ red zone.

Just a few plays later, sophomore receiver Josh Smith hauled in the jump ball from Becker on an end-zone fade to put the Tigers up 7–0.

Following another defensive stop, the Tigers came storming back down the field. Becker stood in the pocket and connected with sophomore receiver Josh Robinson, who came down with a 32-yard contested catch. 

Robinson was a standout last year, earning the Phil Steele Ivy Freshman of the Year Award as well as being named Second Team All-Ivy. 

Looking to capitalize on their red zone trip, Becker tried to find junior receiver Paul Kuhner on an end-zone fade to the right, the same play that Princeton scored on earlier in the game. However, this time Kuhner could not come down with the ball, and Bryant came away with an interception.

The pick gave Bryant new momentum that fueled a subsequent touchdown drive, equalizing the score at 7–7. 

Despite the interception in the prior possession, the Orange and Black picked up right where they left off and calmly marched down the field into Bulldog territory. Becker showed off his mobility on a 15-yard scramble to move the chains, showing off one of the reasons he was such a highly touted recruit as a four-star out of high school.

When the drive came to a halt, Princeton set up for a 46-yard field goal attempt for senior kicker Esteban Nunez Perez, which would have been a career-long. However, Nunez Perez left it short, leaving the Tigers empty-handed. 

The missed field goal was one of two on the day, which could have proved to be crucial in the one-score game. 

“The operation was a little off, and it’s just a shock how good that unit was in camp,” head coach Bob Surace ’90 said to the ‘Prince.’ “We got to go back to work and figure it out.”

On Bryant’s following possession, Princeton senior safety Kyler Ronquillo undercut Bryant’s toss to come up with the interception and give the Tigers a chance to take the lead before the half. 

The offense found their way into the Bryant red zone again, which was followed by the second missed field goal of the day, keeping it 7–7 at the half. 

Unfazed by the setbacks of the first half, the Princeton offense continued to move the football down the field with ease. On the first play of the half, Becker connected with Smith on a short pass, and Smith exploded for a 53-yard gain. 

“He makes my job super easy … So you know, he’s a really special player, and always fun throwing him the ball,” Becker said of Smith. 

Yet, the drive ended with another failed field goal try after a botched snap that Nunez Perez didn’t even have a chance to kick. 

Bryant would respond with a touchdown to take a 14–7 lead. However, Princeton would finally answer back with a one-yard rushing touchdown from Clark after a successful drive to even the game. 

With two minutes left in the fourth quarter, Princeton found themselves down again 21–14 after an eleven-yard Bryant rushing touchdown earlier in the quarter. With two timeouts in the pocket, Princeton had plenty of time to make a push to tie the game. 

Following an offensive holding call and an incompletion, Princeton found themselves backed up into a third-and-long situation. Trying to go long, Becker overthrew his receiver and got picked off by Bryant to ice the game. 

Princeton will look to pick up the pieces and regroup for the next game against Albany (2–2, 1–1 Coastal Athletic Association), led by former Tiger Kai Colón ’25, on Sept. 26 at Powers Field for the home opener. 

Jordan Halagao is an assistant Sports editor for the ‘Prince.’

Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.