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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Lehigh
Players Mentioned
Football Holds Its Own Fireworks Show, Routs Lehigh 52-26 To Stay Unbeaten
September 26, 2015 | Football
BOX SCORE l HIGHLIGHTS l INTERVIEWS
The 1950 Princeton football team, led by a runner destined to win the Heisman Trophy, won the program's 28th national championship.
That was also the last Princeton team to post a better offensive display over the first two games of the season than the current squad.
The Tigers improved to 2-0 on the season for the first time since 2006 with a 52-26 win over Lehigh Saturday night in the home opener. The Tigers, one week after routing Lafayette 40-7, thrilled the 15,023 fans at Community & Staff Day with another robust effort in every phase of the game.
Princeton has now scored 92 points this season, more than any former team since the 1950 squad began its journey to a national title with 100 points in two games.
In other words, as spectacular as the postgame fireworks display was, the one during the game was even better.
Princeton rushed for four touchdowns, forced four turnovers and changed the momentum of the game in 71 seconds during a thrilling 52-26 victory over Lehigh in the home opener Saturday night on Powers Field. One week after recording its first season-opening win since 2006, the Tigers defeated the Mountain Hawks for the first time since that same season, and now they will enter Friday night's Ivy League opener against Columbia (7 pm, NBC Sports Network) with major momentum.
The game changed late in the second quarter, about one minute after Princeton trailed for the first time all season. Down 13-10, sophomore John Lovett hit a long run and then connected with Isaiah Barnes for 33 yards to set up the second touchdown run of the game by junior Joe Rhattigan.
That gave the Tigers a 17-13 lead, and after the defense forced a 3 and out, Princeton went back on the move. Starting quarterback Chad Kanoff (13 for 24, 195 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT) hit Lovett down the middle of the field for 33 yards to get another drive going. Following a short pass to DiAndre Atwater, who had another spectacular effort against Lehigh, Kanoff hit Seth DeValve for a 26-yard touchdown. DeValve took one Lehigh defender for a ride into the end zone, and he sent his teammates into halftime feeling on top of the world.
Four second-half touchdowns later, including a 33-yard interception return for a score by RJ Paige, only had the Tigers feeling better afterwards.
“I love the effort that we've played these first two games with,” head coach Bob Surace said. “We need to get better. We need to clean things up. But effort can overcome mistakes, and we've shown incredible effort in every phase of the game.”
One week after rushing for 308 yards at Lafayette, the Tigers came back with 244 rushing yards against Lehigh. Rhattigan, Atwater and AJ Glass each rushed for touchdowns in the win, with Glass' being his first career score. Atwater ran for a team-best 93 yards in the win, while Lovett (the quarterback) led Princeton receivers with 71 yards on four catches.
While the offense was impressive, the defense did its part against a Lehigh team that put 42 points on the board against Penn last weekend. Junior Dorian Williams recorded 12 tackles, including 11 solo stops, forced two fumbles and returned one 39 yards to set up Atwater's touchdown.
That play came on a brilliant effort, as he tracked down Troy Pelletier from behind, ripped the ball away and ran across the field in search of running room. It reminded him of a near touchdown from the Davidson game one year earlier, but it also kept Lehigh from getting within two scores.
That may have been the highlight of the game, though Paige may have clinched that honor during the third quarter. He took a tipped pass 36 yards down the Lehigh sideline for the lone points of the third quarter. It was one of four turnovers forced by the defense, which also got an interception by Khamal Brown and a fumble recovery by John Hill.
Junior linebacker Rohan Hylton had eight tackles, while sophomore Kurt Holuba had six tackles, including two for losses, a sack and a forced fumble to continue his brilliant start to the season. Junior Henry Schlossberg had five tackles and two sacks, while classmate Birk Olson had five tackles and three quarterback hurries.
Princeton will return to Powers Field Friday night for its Ivy League opener against Columbia, led by first-year head coach Al Bagnoli. The Lions are 0-2, but have been highly competitive over the first two weeks and will present one of the league's best defensive lines to compete with this Princeton run game.
The game will be televised live on the NBC Sports Network. You can order tickets here or by calling 609-258-4TIX.
NOTES: This was the most points Princeton has scored against Lehigh since 1934 (54), and the largest margin of victory over Lehigh since 1935 (27-0) … over the last three seasons, Princeton has scored 50, 56 and 52 points during Week 2 wins … Nolan Bieck improved to 3 for 3 on the season with a 38-yard field goal in the first quarter … in the second and third quarters combined this season, Princeton has outscored its opponents 54-6 … Dré Nelson averaged more than 33 yards per kickoff return … Lovett ranked first on the team in receiving yards (71), second in passing yards (33) and third in rushing yards (59) … Princeton was over .500 on third-down conversions for the second straight game.