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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Harvard
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Harvard Knocks Off Princeton To Remain In First; Tigers Eye Cornell Trip
October 25, 2014 | Football
Harvard senior quarterback Conner Hempel missed four weeks with an injury, and he made his return in impressive style Saturday afternoon at Princeton Stadium. Hempel threw for more than 382 yards and accounted for five touchdowns in a 49-7 win for the undefeated Crimson.
Harvard, ranked 21st in the latest FCS poll, shares first place with Dartmouth at 3-0 in the league. Those two teams will meet next Saturday afternoon in Hanover, N.H., while Princeton, which only has one Ivy loss, will head to Cornell for a 12:30 pm showdown on FOX College Sports. Princeton still has to play Dartmouth, which will happen Nov. 22 in the season finale on ESPN3.
This game, also shown on ESPN3, got away from Princeton during the second quarter. Already ahead 7-0 off a scrambling touchdown pass to Joseph Foster, the Crimson scored three touchdowns in the second quarter, including a Hempel run from 14 yards out with 1:27 left in the half. He also connected with Seitu Smith on a 49-yard pass down the Harvard sideline during the quarter.
While the Harvard offense was putting up points, the Princeton offense simply couldn't put together many long drives. The second Tiger drive of the game accounted for 13 plays and 54 yards, but a fourth-down conversion attempt was stopped short of the marker. The next 12 drives ended in 11 punts and one turnover.
Princeton did get on the board late in the game on a two-yard touchdown run by Joe Rhattigan; unlike the last two Princeton-Harvard games, though, this late Tiger touchdown had no impact on the final outcome.
The Crimson outgained Princeton 698-244, which included 306 yards on the ground against a defense that came into the game ranked first in the FCS in run defense. Both Semar Smith (124) and Paul Stanton (105) reached triple digits in yards, most of which came during the second half.
Sophomore safety Dorian Williams had a career-best 13 tackles, while senior co-captain Mike Zeuli added 11 in the loss. Senior Garrit Leicht and freshman Joe Percival combined on the Tigers' lone sack, while freshman Kurt Holuba had a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry.
The Princeton offense, playing without injured All-Ivy starters Spencer Huston (OL), Seth DeValve (WR) and DiAndre Atwater (RB), used both of its quarterbacks fairly equally in the passing game. Senior Connor Michelsen, who threw two touchdown passes in the 27-16 win over Brown last week, completed 16 of 24 passes for 124 yards, while senior co-captain Quinn Epperly was 12 for 20 for 66 yards.
Senior Will Powers had 26 yards rushing, while classmate Matt Costello caught eight passes for 63 yards.