(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) LONG-ARM JURISDICTION: Princeton University senior defensive lineman Jake Marshall pressures Columbia quarterback Chris Hormann in the Tigers' win at Columbia earlier this season. Last Saturday, Marshall and his mates on defense turned in another superb effort as they came up with several key stops in Princeton's 27-26 overtime win at Columbia. Princeton, now 4-0 overall and 1-0 in Ivy League play, hosts Brown (1-3, 0-1 Ivy), under the lights this Friday.

PU Football Edges Colgate in OT Thriller, Ready for Friday Night Lights With Brown

By Bill Alden

For the Princeton University football team, recent trips to Colgate have proven to be fruitless journeys.

The Tigers haven't won at Andy Kerr Stadium since 1997, having lost five of the last six games overall in the series with the perennial Patriot League power.

Last Saturday, Princeton looked like it was following the same script as it fell behind the home-standing Raiders 7-0 in the first quarter. Tiger head coach Roger Hughes experienced an unpleasant feeling of deja vu as his team struggled early in the game.

"We haven't had a lot of success up there, they really have a home-field advantage," said Hughes. "They feel like they are up by 10 points before they even start; they play with a lot of emotion there. We came out flat and fell behind."

But with Princeton bringing an undefeated record into the contest and having shown a knack for making clutch plays, the Tigers wrote a stirring new chapter in the rivalry as they pulled out a thrilling 27-26 overtime win before a crowd of 4,220.

For Hughes, the win was further testament to the grit his club has displayed in a special fall that has seen the Tigers climb into the Top-25 in the Division 1-AA polls.

"The kids could've folded but they didn't," said Hughes, who has Princeton at 4-0 for the first time in his seven seasons guiding the program. "I'm really proud of how they rallied."

The Tiger rally started in the second quarter when the Princeton offense went into its no-huddle offense to change the tempo of the game. R.C. Lagomarsino ripped off a 33 yard run to get Princeton into Colgate territory. PU quarterback Jeff Terrell then hit Rob Torseco for a 14-yard gain. Going for the jugular, Terrell then hooked up with Brendan Circle for a 33-yard scoring strike as Princeton knotted the game at 7-7 with 11:33 left in the half.

Keeping up the pressure, Princeton scored on its next possession with a 33-yard field goal by Conner Louden culminating a 5-play, 51-yard scoring march.

Colgate, though, answered with a long drive of its own. Sparked by hard running from star sophomore Jordan Scott, who gained 48 yards on the possession, the Raiders regained the lead as quarterback Mike Saraceno plunged in two yards for a touchdown to cap the 77-yard march. In a play that would loom large, a big rush from Princeton special teams ace Bill Foran helped thwart Colgate kicker Jacob Stein as he missed the extra point attempt, leaving the Raiders ahead 13-10 at the half.

Late in the third quarter, the Tigers regained the lead. Taking over at its 49, Princeton moved down the field as Terrell used his legs and arm to get the offense rolling. The senior quarterback ran twice for nine yards to get Princeton into Colgate territory. After Rob Toresco made a two-yard run on a fourth and one, Terrell hit Brian Brigham for an 18 yard gain. Pete Ploszek burst 21 yards on a draw to get the Tigers to the one. Toresco bulled in from there for the touchdown and Louden converted the extra point to give Princeton a 17-13 lead.

But showing why it rarely ever loses at home, Colgate went to the air as it got back into the lead. With the ball at the Princeton 42, Saraceno fired to Anthony Pumilio for a 41-yard gain. Two plays later Saraceno ran in for the score as the Raiders took a 20-17 lead with 6:20 left in regulation.

Taking over at its 35, Princeton again was sparked by big plays from Terrell. The lefty found Circle for a 20-yard pass play that got Princeton into Colgate territory. After running for nine yards, Terrell hit Brian Shields on an 18-yard pass play that moved the Tigers to the Raider 19.

The drive stalled and Louden came on to kick a clutch 34-yard field goal to knot the topsy-turvy contest at 20-20 with 4:02 to go in the fourth.

The Tiger defense then needed to make the big plays after a big kickoff return and a 15-yard penalty gave Colgate possession at the Princeton 45. Colgate made one first down but then the Tiger defense stiffened as it stopped Scott for losses on two straight plays and Tiger linebacker Brig Walker wrapped up a Colgate receiver in bounds in the waning seconds. A rushed Colgate field goal attempt went awry and the game went into overtime.

Princeton had possession first and gained nine yards to the Colgate 16 where it faced a fourth and one situation. Hughes was leaning toward going for a field goal until Terrell got the coach to change his mind.

"At first I thought it was one and one-half yards and I called for the field goal," recalled Hughes. "Jeff came over and said it was just inches. We decided to take a timeout and they had a lot of confidence that they could make it. Jeff made the play and then got the touchdown."

Terrell's four-yard run and Louden's extra point gave Princeton a 27-20 advantage but there was still plenty of drama remaining in the game. After getting stuffed for a loss, Scott got open on a swing pass and raced 26 yards for a touchdown. Colgate then decided to go for an all-or-nothing two-point conversion. Saraceno tried to scamper into the end zone on a quarterback draw but he was corralled for a loss which gave Princeton the hard-earned victory.

"I was surprised by it," said Hughes, reflecting on Colgate's decision to opt for the two-point attempt. "I was preparing the offense for the second overtime. We felt the quarterback draw was the likely play and the guys all stayed at home. Tom made a big play."

It was the latest in a series of clutch plays from Princeton's bend-but-not-break defense. "We gave up some long plays, some big runs and passes," said Hughes, who got a sparkling 12-tackle performance from senior linebacker Tim Boardman as the defense held Colgate to just 3-of-13 third down conversions.

"But the defense made the big plays; up to this point the defense has made the big plays when we have needed them. There were a lot of quarterback hurries and pressure, Boardman had a huge game; probably his best ever."

Princeton also got a big game from quarterback Terrell, who recovered from a shaky effort against Columbia to hit on 17-of-32 passes last Saturday for a career-high 293 yards.

"I thought Jeff was much sharper this week," said Hughes, who also got a career game from receiver Circle, who had a personal best 116 yards on four catches. "He had no interceptions and he read his progressions really well."

While Princeton may not have been at its sharpest as it lost two fumbles and surrendered some big plays, Hughes didn't mind the drama since his team came out on the right side of things.

"We certainly made it exciting," said Hughes with a laugh. "It's a four and a half hour ride but it seemed shorter."

Now, Princeton, which is 1-0 in Ivy League play, hopes to start its ride to an Ivy title as it hosts a rare Friday night game against defending league champion Brown (1-3, 0-1 Ivy) in a game which will be televised by ESPNU.

"The atmosphere couldn't be better; we hope the place will be rocking," said Hughes, who has guided the Tigers to six straight road wins, the longest such streak for Princeton since the 1964-65 seasons when legendary coach Dick Colman's teams won seven straight away games.

"Brown may not have a good a record as they had hoped but they still have a lot of weapons. DiGiacomo is a good quarterback and that Lonnie Hill is a great receiver. We have our work cut out out for us."

But with the way Princeton has been taking care of business so far this fall, it appears ready to shine in prime time.

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