#23 Princeton Football Sets Offensive Record, Drives Into Ivy Stretch With 66-7 Win Over Lehigh

Saturday, October 6

Princeton, N.J.

1:00 PM

Princeton University

4-0

Lehigh

1-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Lehigh

Princeton

Photo by: Beverly Schaefer

#23 Princeton Football Sets Offensive Record, Drives Into Ivy Stretch With 66-7 Win Over Lehigh

October 06, 2018 | Football

Box Score

When the 23rd-ranked Princeton football team came to the sideline after 15 minutes, it seemed to be locked in a battle that would test the Tigers in the second half for the first time this season.

By the time the second half came, that battle had long been decided.

Princeton set a single-game record for total offensive yards (733) and improved to 4-0 for only the second time since 1995 with a 66-7 victory over Lehigh Saturday afternoon on Powers Field. The victory gives the Tigers a perfect record in their three non-league games, and now allows them to turn their total focus on the Ivy League championship chase. It matched the most points Princeton has scored in a game since the 1934 season opener, a 75-0 win over Amherst. Princeton did score 66 in a 1950 win over Williams; the Tigers won their 28th national championship that season and had a junior in its backfield named Dick Kazmaier.

A shovel pass to an in-motion Collin Eaddy went for a 10-yard score early in the second quarter, and, following a defensive stop, John Lovett connected with Tiger Bech on a wide — WIDE — open 70-yard strike on the first play of the ensuing drive to open a 21-7 lead. Another stop and a one-yard scoring run by Charlie Volker, his second of the game, and Princeton was back where it's been for most of the 2018 season — well in control.

He was ... open? Tiger Bech's 1st catch of the season is a 70-yard score, and Princeton leads 21-7 w/ 9:15 left in Q2. Watch live: https://t.co/D888Fo4I1L pic.twitter.com/ngO6TPasm9
— Princeton Football (@PUTigerFootball) October 6, 2018

From the start of the second quarter, Princeton scored on eight of nine drives, including seven touchdowns, to blow the game wide open. Two of the final three touchdowns came via Ryan Quigley, while Jesper Horsted added to his Princeton record with his 21^st career touchdown reception and freshman Dylan Classi caught his first career touchdown catch.

Meanwhile, the defense allowed only one Lehigh score the entire game, and that came on a short field after Princeton's first turnover of the season. A stripsack by Joey DeMarco that was recovered by Jay Rolader and an interception by freshman Christian Brown ended two of Lehigh's drives, while a swarming defense limited All-American running back Dominick Bragalone to only 2.4 yards per carry. Ben Ellis led Princeton with seven tackles, while DeMarco added six and a pass breakup to go along with his stripsack. Once again, head coach Bob Surace was able to use the majority of his roster during the second half, as 17 different players had multiple tackles in the win.

The defense rises again! Joey DeMarco with the strip sack, Jake Strain with the recovery! Princeton ball in Lehigh territory, leading 21-7. Watch live: https://t.co/D888Fo4I1L pic.twitter.com/VKi2yoqLHm
— Princeton Football (@PUTigerFootball) October 6, 2018

Two-time reigning Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week John Lovett was as spectacular as ever, completing 20 of 28 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns, while he also rushed 12 times for 111 yards and a score. Both Quigley and Volker rushed for a pair of touchdowns; the second Volker score moved him into eighth place on Princeton's all-time touchdown rushes list with 25 scores. Steve Carlson caught seven passes for a game-high 112 yards, while Horsted added five catches for 59 yards; his receiving yards made him the fourth player in Princeton history to record more than 2,000 career receiving yards.

Princeton will remain home next Saturday to resume Ivy League play with a 1 pm home game against Brown, the highlight event for Alumni Weekend on campus. You can watch the game live on ESPN+.