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Princeton University Athletics
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Football Friday: Bob Surace Recaps Opening Wins, Talks Lehigh & Winning On The Road
September 23, 2016 | Football
In the second installment of the Football Friday video series, Princeton head coach Bob Surace reflects on the opening day win over Lafayette, discusses an explosive Lehigh offense, and talks about the keys to winning on the road. You can watch the full interview by clicking on the play link above.
The Week 2 preview is below.
Who likes offense? If you fit that category (and most of you probably do), Saturday could be for you.
Last season, Princeton welcomed Lehigh to Powers Field in its 2015 home opener and scored 52 points, its highest point total over the last 20 games. Last weekend, Lehigh went to Penn and scored 49 points in a wild comeback win over the Quakers.
Princeton scored 35 last weekend in its season-opening win over Lafayette, but all members of the offense know they will need to be even sharper this weekend against a Lehigh team that has had two very strong performances in a row, including a near-upset at Villanova.
The defense also understands the challenge it faces. It made the key stops against Lafayette, but it also allowed several long scoring drives and far too many third-down conversions.
They say a football team's biggest improvement often comes between Week 1 and Week 2.
We'll all find out together.
Â
On The Road Again …
Following its successful home opener last weekend, the Princeton football team will play its first road game of the 2016 season at Goodman Stadium this Saturday at 12:30 against the Lehigh Mountain Hawks. Fans can watch the game live via the Patriot League Network, and you can listen to the Princeton broadcast on WPRB 103.3 FM.
Out Of The Gates
For only the second time in the last decade, Princeton opened its season with a victory; the Tigers rallied from three different deficits last Saturday night to defeat Lafayette 35-31 on Powers Field. The Tigers' only other opening-day win in the past decade was last season, when they also defeated Lafayette.
Climb The Mountain (Hawks)
Prior to last year's victory over the Mountain Hawks, Princeton had lost four straight games to Lehigh, as well as 12 of the 16 games played over the last two decades. Over that span, the Tigers have two wins at Goodman Stadium, a 14-10 victory during the 2006 Ivy League title season and a 17-14 win in 2009.
Point, Counterpoint
Princeton posted a 52-26 win over Lehigh last season, its most points scored against the Mountain Hawks since a 54-0 victory in 1934. Prior to the win last season, the Tigers had played 15 straight games in the series without even reaching the 30-point mark. The 52 points was also the most Princeton scored in a game, as well as over the span of 19 games, dating back to a 56-17 win over Davidson during Week 2 of the 2014 season.
We're All In This Together
For the ninth year in a row, college football coaches nationwide will join together in support of the Coach To Cure MD program, which will be held during games of September 24, 2016. The annual effort has raised more than a $1.2 million dollars to battle Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne).
On the weekend of September 24th, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) members will wear a Coach To Cure MD logo patch on the sidelines and college football fans will be asked to donate to research projects supported by Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the largest, most comprehensive nonprofit organization in the U.S. focused entirely on Duchenne. Many of those games will recognize a local Duchenne family on the field before or during the game.
Football fans can help support the fight to end Duchenne by either going online to www.CoachtoCureMD.org or by texting the word CURE to 90999 (a $5 donation will automatically be added to your next phone bill).
Happy Returns
Princeton hasn't experienced a happy return trip in far too long. The Tigers lost their last four road games last season, their longest road losing streak since losing losing 10 straight road games between 2010 and the beginning of the 2012 season.
Patriot Games
Bob Surace, the Charles W. Caldwell '52 Head Coach of Princeton Football, began his Tiger coaching career with a 2-7 record against the Patriot League. Since then, Princeton has gone 6-1, with the lone loss coming by a point at Colgate (2014); Surace can go over .500 against the Patriot League for the first time in his career with a win Saturday.
Cup Of Joe
Senior Joe Rhattigan, who earned All-Ivy honors last season when he rushed for 612 yards and seven TDs, led the Princeton offense last weekend against Lafayette. He posted career highs in both rushing yards (136) and touchdowns (three) in the 35-31 win over the Mountain Hawks. Rhattigan scored both of Princeton's second-half touchdowns in the victory, including a 17-yard run that provided the ultimate winning margin.
Two of Rhattigan's touchdowns last season came in the 52-26 win over Lehigh.
Lovett Or Leave It
Junior John Lovett reminded people of his importance to the offense after missing the final three games last season. Lovett rushed nine times for 27 yards and a pair of short-yardage touchdowns (2, 1) against Lafayette. He also caught four passes for 23 yards, including a 10-yard catch on 3rd and 9 late in the game to clinch the victory.
One of Lovett's most complete games last season came against Lehigh; he rushed five times for 59 yards, caught four passes for a team-best 71 yards, and he completed a 33-yard pass.
Yardage Marker
Senior Isaiah Barnes entered Week 9 of the 2015 season with 287 receiving yards in his career. Over the next three games, including last weekend, Barnes has caught 15 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns. He opened his senior season against Lafayette by catching five passes for 102 yards, with four of those catches giving Princeton a first down.
Armed And Ready
Senior Chad Kanoff completed 13 of 24 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Lehigh last season, and he added 160 passing yards last weekend in the home win over Lafayette. Kanoff has 2,455 passing yards in his career, and he will move into the Top 15 all-time at Princeton with 37 more yards.
Go Fourth
Senior tri-captain Dorian Williams has started every game of his career, and he is the unquestioned leader of the defensive backfield this season. After starting at nickel cornerback during the 2013 Ivy championship season, Williams has started at free safety every game since the start of the 2014 season, and he recorded an interception in the win over Lafayette last weekend.
Williams has 216 tackles (133 solo), eight tackles for loss, four sacks and two interceptions over his impressive career. One of the best performances in his career came last season in the win over Lehigh, when he made 12 tackles (11 solo), forced two fumbles and recovered one.
Cool Hand Luke
Senior linebacker Luke Catarius went from a rotation player to an All-Ivy linebacker in the middle of last season when he became a starter following Rohan Hylton's injury. He ranked second on the team with 73 tackles, and he built on that last weekend with a team-best 13 stop against Lafayette. His presence was felt on special teams as well, as he had two solo tackles on kickoff returns that pinned Lafayette inside its own 20.
Staying At The Hylton
Of course, Princeton is thrilled to have Rohan Hylton back in the lineup. A 2014 All-Ivy League honoree, Hylton was well on his way to another postseason honor last year when he suffered a season-ending injury at Brown. He returned to the field last weekend, made 11 tackles and forced a fumble as the starting middle linebacker.
Turn The Paige
Senior RJ Paige scored the first touchdown of his career last season when he returned an interception 36 yards in the win over Lehigh. A three-year starter, Paige has 104 career tackles.
Cornering The Market
Princeton played with new starting cornerbacks for the first time in a 30-game span last weekend. Seniors Markus Phox and James Gales replaced the graduated pair of Anthony Gaffney and John Hill; Phox recorded seven tackles and his first career interception against Lehigh, while Gales had a career-best nine solo stops.
O Captain, Our Captains
Princeton will be led by a trio of captains this season. Returning quarterback Chad Kanoff and Joe Rhattigan represent the offensive side of the ball, while four-year starter Dorian Williams represents the defense.
I'm Honored
Princeton's Nolan Bieck was the first-team All-Ivy League placekicker in both the 2014 and 2015 seasons, and he is being replaced this season by freshman Tavish Rice, an all-county placekicker from Belen Jesuit Prep in Florida.
Rice had a strong debut in his starting role; he went 5 for 5 on PATs, helped Princeton post the second-best kickoff defense in the Ivy League, and he earned the Ivy League Rookie of the Week honor. It was the first such honor for a Princeton freshman since Charlie Volker claimed it in Week 4 of the 2015 season.
Double Trouble
Princeton head coach Bob Surace is one of two people to win the Ivy League championship as both a player and a coach. He was a senior All-Ivy center on the championship-winning 1989 Tiger squad, and he coached the record-breaking 2013 team to a title.
Poll Position
Princeton was picked to finish fifth in the Ivy League media preseason poll. The top three teams — Harvard, Penn and Dartmouth — all shared the 2015 Ivy League title, and each will be visiting Princeton Stadium during the second half of the 2016 season.
Working Sundays
Mike Catapano '13, Caraun Reid '14, and Seth DeValve '16 are each on NFL rosters this season, marking the first time three drafted Princeton players have all been on NFL rosters for the same weekend since the 1980s. Reid recorded his first sack for San Diego in the season opener and shared the team lead with two quarterback hits, while Catapano started at outside linebacker for the 1-1 New York Jets. DeValve, who became Princeton's highest-drafted player of the modern era (fourth round) last April, saw time on offense for Cleveland.
The Crystal Ball
Princeton will continue its three-game road trip next weekend in New York City with its Ivy League opener at Columbia (Oct. 1, 12 pm, Fox College Sports). Princeton leads the all-time series 69-15-1, and it has won each of the last five meetings, including a rain-soaked 10-5 win last season on Powers Field.
Home Sweet Home
Princeton returns home Oct. 15 for a 3 pm showdown with Brown. The first 1,000 students will receive a 'Tiger Up' t-shirt. Former head coach Bob Casciola will be honored at halftime of the game.
The Week 2 preview is below.
Who likes offense? If you fit that category (and most of you probably do), Saturday could be for you.
Last season, Princeton welcomed Lehigh to Powers Field in its 2015 home opener and scored 52 points, its highest point total over the last 20 games. Last weekend, Lehigh went to Penn and scored 49 points in a wild comeback win over the Quakers.
Princeton scored 35 last weekend in its season-opening win over Lafayette, but all members of the offense know they will need to be even sharper this weekend against a Lehigh team that has had two very strong performances in a row, including a near-upset at Villanova.
The defense also understands the challenge it faces. It made the key stops against Lafayette, but it also allowed several long scoring drives and far too many third-down conversions.
They say a football team's biggest improvement often comes between Week 1 and Week 2.
We'll all find out together.
Â
| Week 2: Princeton Tigers (1-0) at Lehigh Mountain Hawks (1-2) |
| Date • Time • Location | Sept. 24 • 12:30 pm • Goodman Stadium |
| Watch Live | Patriot League Network |
| Tickets | Lehigh Ticket Office |
| Radio | 103.3 FM l WPRB.com |
| Game Coverage | Live Stats l @PUTigers l @PUTigers_Live l @PUTigerFootball |
| All-Time Series | Princeton leads 40-16-2 |
| Last Meeting • Current Streak | PRINCETON 52, Lehigh 26 (2015) l Princeton 1 straight win |
| Princeton Information | Game Notes l Roster l Schedule l Statistics |
| Lehigh Information | Game Notes l Roster l Schedule l Statistics |
| Last Week | PRINCETON 35, Lafayette 31 l Lehigh 49, PENN 28 |
| Next Week | Princeton at Columbia, Oct. 1, 12 pm (Fox College Sports, Fox Sports Go) |
On The Road Again …
Following its successful home opener last weekend, the Princeton football team will play its first road game of the 2016 season at Goodman Stadium this Saturday at 12:30 against the Lehigh Mountain Hawks. Fans can watch the game live via the Patriot League Network, and you can listen to the Princeton broadcast on WPRB 103.3 FM.
Out Of The Gates
For only the second time in the last decade, Princeton opened its season with a victory; the Tigers rallied from three different deficits last Saturday night to defeat Lafayette 35-31 on Powers Field. The Tigers' only other opening-day win in the past decade was last season, when they also defeated Lafayette.
Climb The Mountain (Hawks)
Prior to last year's victory over the Mountain Hawks, Princeton had lost four straight games to Lehigh, as well as 12 of the 16 games played over the last two decades. Over that span, the Tigers have two wins at Goodman Stadium, a 14-10 victory during the 2006 Ivy League title season and a 17-14 win in 2009.
Point, Counterpoint
Princeton posted a 52-26 win over Lehigh last season, its most points scored against the Mountain Hawks since a 54-0 victory in 1934. Prior to the win last season, the Tigers had played 15 straight games in the series without even reaching the 30-point mark. The 52 points was also the most Princeton scored in a game, as well as over the span of 19 games, dating back to a 56-17 win over Davidson during Week 2 of the 2014 season.
We're All In This Together
For the ninth year in a row, college football coaches nationwide will join together in support of the Coach To Cure MD program, which will be held during games of September 24, 2016. The annual effort has raised more than a $1.2 million dollars to battle Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne).
On the weekend of September 24th, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) members will wear a Coach To Cure MD logo patch on the sidelines and college football fans will be asked to donate to research projects supported by Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the largest, most comprehensive nonprofit organization in the U.S. focused entirely on Duchenne. Many of those games will recognize a local Duchenne family on the field before or during the game.
Football fans can help support the fight to end Duchenne by either going online to www.CoachtoCureMD.org or by texting the word CURE to 90999 (a $5 donation will automatically be added to your next phone bill).
Happy Returns
Princeton hasn't experienced a happy return trip in far too long. The Tigers lost their last four road games last season, their longest road losing streak since losing losing 10 straight road games between 2010 and the beginning of the 2012 season.
Patriot Games
Bob Surace, the Charles W. Caldwell '52 Head Coach of Princeton Football, began his Tiger coaching career with a 2-7 record against the Patriot League. Since then, Princeton has gone 6-1, with the lone loss coming by a point at Colgate (2014); Surace can go over .500 against the Patriot League for the first time in his career with a win Saturday.
Cup Of Joe
Senior Joe Rhattigan, who earned All-Ivy honors last season when he rushed for 612 yards and seven TDs, led the Princeton offense last weekend against Lafayette. He posted career highs in both rushing yards (136) and touchdowns (three) in the 35-31 win over the Mountain Hawks. Rhattigan scored both of Princeton's second-half touchdowns in the victory, including a 17-yard run that provided the ultimate winning margin.
Two of Rhattigan's touchdowns last season came in the 52-26 win over Lehigh.
Lovett Or Leave It
Junior John Lovett reminded people of his importance to the offense after missing the final three games last season. Lovett rushed nine times for 27 yards and a pair of short-yardage touchdowns (2, 1) against Lafayette. He also caught four passes for 23 yards, including a 10-yard catch on 3rd and 9 late in the game to clinch the victory.
One of Lovett's most complete games last season came against Lehigh; he rushed five times for 59 yards, caught four passes for a team-best 71 yards, and he completed a 33-yard pass.
Yardage Marker
Senior Isaiah Barnes entered Week 9 of the 2015 season with 287 receiving yards in his career. Over the next three games, including last weekend, Barnes has caught 15 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns. He opened his senior season against Lafayette by catching five passes for 102 yards, with four of those catches giving Princeton a first down.
Armed And Ready
Senior Chad Kanoff completed 13 of 24 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Lehigh last season, and he added 160 passing yards last weekend in the home win over Lafayette. Kanoff has 2,455 passing yards in his career, and he will move into the Top 15 all-time at Princeton with 37 more yards.
Go Fourth
Senior tri-captain Dorian Williams has started every game of his career, and he is the unquestioned leader of the defensive backfield this season. After starting at nickel cornerback during the 2013 Ivy championship season, Williams has started at free safety every game since the start of the 2014 season, and he recorded an interception in the win over Lafayette last weekend.
Williams has 216 tackles (133 solo), eight tackles for loss, four sacks and two interceptions over his impressive career. One of the best performances in his career came last season in the win over Lehigh, when he made 12 tackles (11 solo), forced two fumbles and recovered one.
Cool Hand Luke
Senior linebacker Luke Catarius went from a rotation player to an All-Ivy linebacker in the middle of last season when he became a starter following Rohan Hylton's injury. He ranked second on the team with 73 tackles, and he built on that last weekend with a team-best 13 stop against Lafayette. His presence was felt on special teams as well, as he had two solo tackles on kickoff returns that pinned Lafayette inside its own 20.
Staying At The Hylton
Of course, Princeton is thrilled to have Rohan Hylton back in the lineup. A 2014 All-Ivy League honoree, Hylton was well on his way to another postseason honor last year when he suffered a season-ending injury at Brown. He returned to the field last weekend, made 11 tackles and forced a fumble as the starting middle linebacker.
Turn The Paige
Senior RJ Paige scored the first touchdown of his career last season when he returned an interception 36 yards in the win over Lehigh. A three-year starter, Paige has 104 career tackles.
Cornering The Market
Princeton played with new starting cornerbacks for the first time in a 30-game span last weekend. Seniors Markus Phox and James Gales replaced the graduated pair of Anthony Gaffney and John Hill; Phox recorded seven tackles and his first career interception against Lehigh, while Gales had a career-best nine solo stops.
O Captain, Our Captains
Princeton will be led by a trio of captains this season. Returning quarterback Chad Kanoff and Joe Rhattigan represent the offensive side of the ball, while four-year starter Dorian Williams represents the defense.
I'm Honored
Princeton's Nolan Bieck was the first-team All-Ivy League placekicker in both the 2014 and 2015 seasons, and he is being replaced this season by freshman Tavish Rice, an all-county placekicker from Belen Jesuit Prep in Florida.
Rice had a strong debut in his starting role; he went 5 for 5 on PATs, helped Princeton post the second-best kickoff defense in the Ivy League, and he earned the Ivy League Rookie of the Week honor. It was the first such honor for a Princeton freshman since Charlie Volker claimed it in Week 4 of the 2015 season.
Double Trouble
Princeton head coach Bob Surace is one of two people to win the Ivy League championship as both a player and a coach. He was a senior All-Ivy center on the championship-winning 1989 Tiger squad, and he coached the record-breaking 2013 team to a title.
Poll Position
Princeton was picked to finish fifth in the Ivy League media preseason poll. The top three teams — Harvard, Penn and Dartmouth — all shared the 2015 Ivy League title, and each will be visiting Princeton Stadium during the second half of the 2016 season.
Working Sundays
Mike Catapano '13, Caraun Reid '14, and Seth DeValve '16 are each on NFL rosters this season, marking the first time three drafted Princeton players have all been on NFL rosters for the same weekend since the 1980s. Reid recorded his first sack for San Diego in the season opener and shared the team lead with two quarterback hits, while Catapano started at outside linebacker for the 1-1 New York Jets. DeValve, who became Princeton's highest-drafted player of the modern era (fourth round) last April, saw time on offense for Cleveland.
The Crystal Ball
Princeton will continue its three-game road trip next weekend in New York City with its Ivy League opener at Columbia (Oct. 1, 12 pm, Fox College Sports). Princeton leads the all-time series 69-15-1, and it has won each of the last five meetings, including a rain-soaked 10-5 win last season on Powers Field.
Home Sweet Home
Princeton returns home Oct. 15 for a 3 pm showdown with Brown. The first 1,000 students will receive a 'Tiger Up' t-shirt. Former head coach Bob Casciola will be honored at halftime of the game.
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