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Princeton University Athletics
Backups Rally Columbia Past Football Team In Scrimmage 15-14
September 07, 2002 | Football
Sept. 7, 2002
PRINCETON, N.J. - A pair of late touchdown passes by freshman quarterback Joe Winters led Columbia to a come-from-behind 15-14 victory over the Princeton football team during Saturday's preseason scrimmage. The Tigers shut down the Lions' offense for nearly three and a half quarters, but an early safety and the two late scores were enough to propel Columbia to the win.
"I thought our defense looked good," head coach Roger Hughes said. "Our offense looked good at times but made some mistakes with some penalties, missed assignments, dropped balls. We saw a lot today, and now we have to get back to work and get better and get ready for Lehigh."
Nearly the entire first half was dominated by the two defenses, and it looked like the two teams would enter intermission even at 0-0. A quarterback keeper by sophomore Matt Verbit ended up going for a 66-yard touchdown with six seconds remaining in the half, giving Princeton the 7-0 lead. Columbia almost tied it midway through the third quarter, but Princeton produced a goalline stand to keep the Lions out of the end zone. Three runs were stopped short, and Paul Simbi deflected Columbia's lone pass attempt. Columbia responded quickly, recording a safety when Cody Hess recorded a tackle in the end zone.
Princeton opened the lead to 14-2 on a 37-yard rush by freshman running back Greg Fields, who broke through the line, went down the right sidelines and made one final cutback five yards short of the end zone to elude the final tackle attempt. The ensuing extra point gave Princeton a 12-point lead with 12:03 remaining.
Columbia used solid performances by a pair of freshmen to rally for the win. Winters found classmate Jeff Coles on a 52-yard touchdown pass at the 8:48 mark, and on the next drive found Coles again on a 50-yard pass to get Columbia deep in Princeton territory. Coles scored the winning touchdown on a 17-yard pass with 2:21 remaining. Princeton got into Columbia territory on its final drive, but could not convert on a fourth down attempt with less than a minute remaining.
Princeton opens its regular season on Sept. 21 at No. 2 Lehigh. The game will begin at 1 p.m.