OFF AND RUNNING: Princeton University football player Ethan Clark races upfield last Saturday as Princeton played at Bryant University in its season opener. Senior running back Clark rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown in a losing cause as Princeton fell 21-14 to the Bulldogs. The Tigers host the UAlbany (2-2) on September 26 in its home opener. (Photo by Brian Foley, provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)

By Bill Alden

Playing at Bryant University in its season opener last Saturday, the Princeton University football team did a lot of good things.

Princeton gained 320 yards of total offense, piled up 20 first downs, and only punted once.

But committing some key miscues at inopportune times, the Tigers ended up falling 21-14 before a crowd of 3,411 at Beirne Stadium in Smithfield, R.I.

Princeton had two drives end on interceptions, had one field goal attempt blocked and another botched due to a bad snap, and was derailed by a holding penalty on its final possession of the game.

Princeton head coach Bob Surace saw some positives but rued the lack of execution at critical points.

“Offensively from the 20 to the 20, that is about as good as we have looked in a while; we struggled a little bit in the red zone, we had some opportunities but we were just slightly off,” said Surace. “In the play-to-play, base stuff, we were really good. We had three long yardage situations on defense that we weren’t as crisp as we needed to be. We have to get that cleaned up because you are off the field and that is probably a couple of scores. We didn’t tackle well in space but that is just the nature of football today. You are not tackling as much anymore. That should improve as we play more games.”

The Tigers did produce a really good first drive as they marched 55 yards on eight plays, culminated by a 13-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Wyatt Becker to Josh Smith as they jumped out to a 7-0 lead.

“Every drive we did a good job of getting first downs, moving the ball, doing all of those little things,” said Surace. “The first drive finished on a really nice connection between Wyatt and Josh.”

In getting the starting nod at QB, Becker beat out three veterans.

“Our quarterback play in camp was really good, it was relatively close,” said Surace. “I thought he really came on down the stretch. He adds a mobile element as well. He was really good in the run game. He is a freshman, he is going to be hit with some new things. He has handled that terrifically.”

In Princeton’s next possession, Becker threw an interception and Bryant proceeded to put together an 80-yard scoring drive as it knotted the game at 7-7.

The Tigers got a chance to take the lead late in the half as Kyler Ronquillo made an interception to give Princeton the ball at its 46-yard line. Marching to the Bryant 14, the Tigers attempted a field goal with four seconds left in the quarter which was blocked.

In the third quarter, Smith made a 53-yard reception to get Princeton deep in Bryant territory. The march stalled and the Tigers attempted another field goal but came away with nothing due to a botched snap.

“We struggled with our field goal operation,” said Surace. “It was not the kicker, it was the operation piece that was so good in camp.”

The Bulldogs responded by putting together a 79-yard drive which ended with a one-yard TD run as they went ahead 14-7.

With Tiger senior running back Ethan Clark carrying the load, Princeton produced a 67-yard scoring march that was capped off by a one-yard TD run from Clark six seconds into the fourth quarter to knot the game at 14-14.

Bryant broke the tie as it went ahead 21-14 after an 11-yard TD run that culminated another 79-yard drive.

The teams exchanged punts and then Princeton got the ball at its 42 with 1:50 left in regulation. That possession ended with an interception and Bryant ran out the clock as it improved to 3-1.

“We get the ball back and we are in a two-minute situation,” said Surace. “We got called for holding and we just got thrown off rhythm. We tried to get half of it back and had an incompletion. Then we had to throw one up and they got it.”

It made for a long trip back to New Jersey. “You are dying on the bus ride home because you do so many good things,” said Surace. “I just takes some small errors that prevent you from second drive touchdowns versus interceptions or a couple of things we should have converted and had to kick field goals and we didn’t make the field goals. Defensively on the three scoring drives, it was not getting off the field where we had opportunities. We have to bear down on that.”

The Tigers got good play from Becker in his debut as he connected on 15 of 29 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 26 yards.

“He was excellent; for a young guy, he has a maturity and a poise,” said Surace. “He is getting better and better. In the number of throws he had there is probably only three decisions that he will get better at. The game moves faster and the only way you are going to get better is experience.”

Clark had an excellent game as he rushed for 69 yards and the TD.

“He is really good,” said Surace. “We had a fourth and medium and swung the ball to him, he is great in space in the passing game. He blocked pretty well. On the whole it was a really good performance.”

Senior linebacker Chase Christopher spearheaded the defense with a good performance as he had a game-high 11 tackles.

“He was a little bit in the shadows of older guys, this is the first time he really had to call the defense,” said Surace. “I thought he really took charge out there. He did a good job with it.”

The Tigers will need to a better job to get a win as it hosts UAlbany (2-2) on September 26 in its home opener.

“They are good, it is a new coach, we know the coach really well,” said Surace, noting that former Princeton quarterback Kai Colon is starring for the Great Danes. “Kai transferred there and he has played really well. The first game, they ran it for a million yards. Defensively they present a lot of different looks. They are very athletic, they don’t give up big plays or haven’t at least. They are very disciplined on the back end.”

In Surace’s view, playing with more discipline is the key to a breakthrough for the Tigers.

“I thought our effort was terrific,” said Surace.”We just have to tighten things up.”