FAST HONDA: Princeton University football player Kai Honda speeds upfield in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, sophomore running back Honda rushed for 67 yards on 10 carries and also made three catches for 33 yards to help Princeton defeat Brown 40-21. The Tigers, now 3-2 overall and 2-0 Ivy League, host No. 14 Harvard (5-0 overall, 2-0 Ivy) on October 25. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)

By Bill Alden

Coming off an uneven performance in a disappointing 38-14 loss to Mercer, the Princeton University football team focused on execution as it prepared to face Brown last Saturday.

“They have practiced well, they have really been attuned with what we are asking them to do,” aid Princeton head coach Bob Surace. “We just had to clean some things up. Mercer really exposed some things that maybe we got away with early on.”

Looking sharp, Princeton cleaned up at Brown as it pulled away to a 40-21 win over the Bears before 4,304 at Richard Gouse Field in Providence, R.I., improving to 3-2 overall and 2-0 Ivy League.
The Tigers displayed some complementary football in the win, excelling in all phases of the game.

“We ran it well, we threw it effectively,” said Surace. “I thought we were better on third down. We were terrific in the red zone. Special teams was huge. It was a good, complete performance. We were better in our two-minute and our third downs. We still have a little ways to go; third downs and red zone are two areas that we have to improve.”

Princeton started well on Saturday, taking the opening kickoff and driving 85 yards in 15 plays with Kai Colon hitting Jackson Green for a three-yard touchdown pass as the Tigers jumped out to a 7-0 lead.

Brown responded with a TD run to make it 7-7. The Tigers then edged ahead 10-7 on 37-yard field goal by Esteban Nunez Perez late in the first quarter.

The Bears regained the lead in the second quarter on another touchdown run. Princeton struck back with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Colon to Josh Robinson to go up 17-14. The Tigers never looked back from there, adding a 29-yard field goal from Nunez Perez to lead 20-14 halftime.

In the second half, Princeton utilized an interception and the recovery of a muffed punt to turn the game into a rout.

“We did a really good job up front,” said Surace. “We ran the ball hard, we pass protected well, we threw it and caught it well. That is a good front and I thought we did as well as anybody against them in terms of how we played up front. That was really good. To sustain those drives and finish those drives on offense was good. We got the ball back a number of times on defense, a couple of times on interceptions.”

Senior quarterback Colon produced a really good performance, connecting on 19-of-29 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns.

“In the first half, our pass protection was really good; when that happens, we feel that our intermediate pass game and things down the field we could get to,” said Surace. “We executed them very well. He has played well all year. At times we have faced some good d-lines where we have our quarterbacks under duress. He wasn’t under duress most of the game and that was a huge factor and allowed him to execute his reads.”

The Tiger receiving corps was a key factor as well with Robinson making eight catches for 91 yards and one TD, Green making two receptions for 19 yards and one TD, Aidan Besselman making three catches for 28 yards, and Paul Kuhner making two grabs for 25 yards.

“It has been a complete group, we have 15 different guys who have caught passes and a number of them have eight 10 catches,” said Surace. “We are halfway through the year and we may wind up with 10 guys making 20 catches.”

Princeton excelled on the ground as Kai Honda rushed for 67 yards on 10 carries and also made three catches for 33 yards while Ethan Clark gained 120 yards on 17 carries.

“Brown had not allowed a 20-yard run before our game and Kai had a 34-yarder,” said Surace. “We had a lot of eight-12 yard runs which Brown just hasn’t given up. That was outstanding. I thought Ethan and Kai did well. We balance it out. Kai had 100 yards exactly. Ethan was above that. They really ran hard, they hit the holes hard. There is some confidence there that they have and they should. They are good players.”

On defense, the Tigers closed up holes as they contained a potent Bear offense.

“They do it with such tempo,” said Surace of the Brown offense. “The communication has to be on point. It was really disappointing after the Mercer game because of the errors that we made. I thought Columbia and Lafayette, we improved in those areas in a good way. We just took a step back against Mercer with that. With Brown’s tempo, the different formations, the motions, I thought we handled that about as well as you can.”

Midway through the regular season, the Tigers are handling things well as they have gotten back on the winning track after going 3-7 in 2024.

“I think we have played really hard,” said Surace. “We took steps in games two and three, but last week wasn’t a step forward that we needed. We really honed in on some areas that we have to improve, some things technically up front on both sides, some communication areas on the back seven on defense. Those were really good positives. We are going to have to continue to grow during the year. We are a young team. I think we had close to 30 freshman and sophomores play against Mercer. There are some young guys that are really growing and some really good veteran leaders like Nasir Hill and Marco Scarano and some other guys.”

Hosting a powerhouse Harvard team this Saturday that comes into the clash at 5-0 overall, 2-0 Ivy and ranked No. 14 nationally, the Tigers will need to continue that growth to overcome the Crimson.

“They have been dominant in their games, it is reflected by the scores and reflected by the play,” said Surace. “They have really been explosive on offense. They are creating a lot of turnovers on defense, I think they have scored three times on defense. When I am watching them, you see the challenges you face with a disciplined, fast back seven. They are just creating a lot of havoc back there. They put a lot of pressure on offenses.”

In Surace’s view, keeping disciplined will be key in dealing with that pressure.

“We have to make good decisions and take care of the ball,” said Surace. “We are going to have to play with really good efficiency, poise, execution, and technique offensively. It is what you work for, to play these games. They are the fifth team that we have played that is either ranked in the Top 25 or receiving votes. You can’t be winning the way they are winning without being really good.”

In addition, Surace wants his players to simply enjoy the challenge of taking on the Crimson.

“I thought we played with a lot of joy on Saturday; last week, I felt we were a little tight and we got out of sorts,” said Surace. “We have to play loose and play with joy when you know what you are doing, you play faster. We have a lot of youth and youth usually plays with energy so let’s really bring some good energy. What you don’t want to do is play tight in those games. You get these moments and you have to have confidence in yourself and just play the play. It is go out there in the game, play as hard as you can, know what you are doing and have fun doing it.”