A dramatic six turnover matchup marked the end of Princeton’s (3–7 overall, 2–5 Ivy League) season, as the Tigers triumphed over Penn (4–6, 2–5). Down 17–10 at the half, the Princeton squad turned it around in the third quarter and closed out the game in the fourth to take the win.
The win solidified a three-way tie for last place in the conference, shared between Princeton, Penn, and Brown.
Amongst the rest of the league, for only the fourth time ever and second consecutive year, three teams — Harvard, Columbia, and Dartmouth — finished the season in a three-way tie for the title each with a 5–2 record.
On Senior Day, players were charged with emotion, some prepared to play their final snaps for the Tigers. Nevertheless, a strong team performance and key turnovers in the second half proved vital in the eventual win.
“I feel amazing,” senior guard Nick Hilliard told The Daily Princetonian. “To finish out with your brothers in the right way, to finish out the way you want to ... not only gives us older guys a nice way to go out but also gives the younger guys a little more momentum going into next season.”
Indeed, it took the Tigers one snap to take the lead, as senior running back John Volker took the ball all the way to the house from the 25-yard line for the score. It tied the longest rushing TD in the Ivy League this season at 75 yards, giving Princeton their earliest lead all season.
Volker ended the game with 170 all-purpose yards including 130 rushing and 40 receiving yards to give him his first 100+ yard game of the season and 2nd of his career. Volker would also prove pivotal in the final minutes as he iced the game for the Tigers under heavy pressure.
“It parted like the red sea,” Volker said to the ‘Prince’ about his touchdown. “I just ran and sprinted to the endzone. The O-line played a great game, it’s the best feeling in the world.”
Up 7–0, Princeton continued their dream start with a 3-and-out on defense, but couldn’t quite keep their momentum. The teams traded punts before Penn took the ball back. Despite first-year linebacker AJ Pigford’s tackles — five in the first quarter alone — the Tigers couldn’t stop back-to-back Penn 4th down conversions.
On 2nd-and-goal, Quakers quarterback Liam O’Brien found a receiver in the endzone for the touchdown to tie the score to end the first quarter. Penn built on this start, later forcing a Princeton turnover on downs, before following it up on the next drive with a field goal to give the Quakers their first lead of the game, 10–7.
The Tigers didn’t keep it like this for long, however, as Volker ran and received for 38 yards on Princeton’s next drive to get them in field goal range. Senior kicker Jeffrey Sexton nailed the 40-yard field goal attempt for his 7th consecutive field goal and 5th consecutive successful 40+ yard attempt.
Tied at 10, Penn responded once again for their final score of the night. Running up the field for 75 yards in just 1:22, Princeton weren’t able to contain O’Brien, as another touchdown gave the Quakers a 17–10 advantage.
The teams went into the half relatively even on offense — the Tigers completed 186 total yards to Penn’s 216 and both teams had around 15 minutes of possession. Princeton’s last defensive drive, however, cost them a touchdown as they couldn’t get organized on defense after the two minute timeout.
“I was really disappointed at the end of the half,” head coach Bob Surace ’90 told the ‘Prince’ about his halftime message. “We’ve only had a few really disappointing series on defense, but they completed a 20-yard pass to start where we’re in Cover 2 and it’s the two-minute drill — the corner has got to be deeper and we missed some tackles.”
“I just thought for whatever reason we had that lack of focus that series and we’re playing great defense so we have to stay focused,” Surace continued.
The second half saw Princeton fight for the win as the six-turnover contest went their way. The first of these came from senior defensive lineman Collin Taylor, who ripped the ball from the Penn running back for the fumble recovery.
On the following possession, the Tigers couldn’t go far up the field and kicked another field goal after a 3rd-and-9 incompletion to senior wide receiver AJ Barber. Kicking into the wind, Princeton got the score to cut the lead down to 17–13 and Sexton kept his record perfect for the season.
On the very next drive, Pigford forced a fumble and sophomore defensive lineman Caden Wright recovered it for the scoop-and-score. The Quakers couldn’t withstand the pressure and they succumbed to Princeton’s defensive onslaught — and with 5:38 left in the quarter, Princeton was back up 20–17.
The Tigers managed to see out the rest of the game despite a tense back-and-forth. Sophomore defensive back Evan Haynie got an interception in the Princeton endzone for a touchback while junior defensive back Tahj Owens recovered a fumble forced by junior linebacker Jalen Jones.
These big plays negated junior quarterback Blaine Hipa’s two interceptions, including one late in the fourth quarter, and ensured the Tigers came out on top. Volker’s late rushes and more receptions by senior wide receiver Luke Colella — who ended the game with 82 yards — eventually got Princeton over the line.
The game did not affect the Tigers’ place in the standings, however, it carried emotional significance for seniors at the end of their Princeton careers.
“Just last night I got a text from Zack Zambrano [’22] and Henry Byrd [’22],” Hilliard told the ‘Prince’ reflecting on his football journey here. “Both of those guys were pivotal in my development as a player and also as a man. Just getting those texts from those guys is one of those significations of this being not just [about] while you’re here, this is once you leave.”
“This is a culmination of everybody here and that is something that Princeton does so specially. Every part of your experience here is something to remember,” Hilliard concluded.
Alex Beverton-Smith is an assistant Sports editor for the ‘Prince.’
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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