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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
San Diego
Players Mentioned
Big Plays, Offensive Struggles Plague Football In 39-29 Loss At San Diego
September 20, 2014 | Football
BOX SCORE l POSTGAME INTERVIEWS
When Matt Costello caught a four-yard touchdown pass to cap the first drive of the second half and give the Tigers their first lead of Saturday's season opener at San Diego, it felt like maybe this team was finally going to get its rhythm back.
Instead, the Tigers next seven offensive drives ended with six punts and an interception, and San Diego capitalized with three touchdowns during that stretch to take control of a 39-29 victory at Torero Stadium. The result extends Princeton streak of season-opening losses to eight, and it will leave the Tigers looking for big, quick improvements heading into the Sept. 27 home opener against Davidson (6 pm, Ivy League Digital Network).
San Diego scored on touchdowns of 29 and 48 yards, and it set up its first score on an 82-yard pass to Reggie Bell, who terrorized the Tiger secondary with four catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns.
Princeton played from behind for almost the entire first half, but a late 34-yard field goal by Nolan Bieck before halftime and the four-yard touchdown pass to Costello gave the Tigers a 22-21 lead 1:07 into the second half. The Tigers would have two more drives after that with an opportunity to extend the lead, but neither materialized. The latter lost five yards and gave San Diego good field position, and quarterback Keith Williams took advantage by hitting Bell on a 48-yard post to give the San Diego a lead for good.
The offense had its highlights, including strong days for both Seth DeValve (9-123, TD) and DiAndre Atwater (10-82), but it never got in gear after the Costello score until the game was basically decided. Quarterback Quinn Epperly, the reigning Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year, completed 25 of 53 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns, but he also had two interceptions, including one that set up San Diego's final scoring drive.
Both Costello and Connor Kelley had four receptions, while Atwater and Dré Nelson both had three apiece. Princeton rushed for 100 yards, though more than half of them came on a 54-yard run by Atwater that set up the Costello touchdown.
Co-captain Mike Zeuli led the defense with nine tackles, including 4.5 for losses, and added two sacks. The run defense held up for the most part, allowing only 2.2 yards per rush despite spending nearly 37 minutes on the field, but it was the miscues in an experienced defensive backfield that left the Tigers in too deep a hole.
Luke Merrell had seven tackles for Princeton, while Matt Arends had five. As a team, Princeton had 13 tackles for loss, but it couldn't record a turnover and allowed San Diego three touchdowns and a field goal in four red zone appearances.