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Princeton University
1-0
Lehigh
0-3
Princeton Football Brings The Juice In 32-0 Shutout Over Lehigh
September 18, 2021 | Football
Cole Smith threw for 412 yards and three touchdowns while Jacob Birmelin and Andrei Iosivas combined for 256 yards receiving to highlight the offense. Cole Aubrey (two) and Uche Ndukwe (one) totaled three sacks to pace the defense.
"We moved the ball as well as we ever moved it for a first game," said Charles W. Caldwell Jr. '25 Head Coach of Football Bob Surace. "I also love how the defense ran to the ball. It was the fastest we've played and best we've tackled for a first game in a long time."
Princeton ended its first offensive drive in 665 days like it usually does with its high-powered offense.
A Collin Eaddy touchdown.
Surace's squad followed that drive with a big play touchdown to Iosivas to go up 13-0. Princeton ended the half with a Jeffrey Sexton field goal to take a 16-0 break into halftime.End of 1st: @presidenteaddy gets the Tigers on the board to start.#NA22AUBound pic.twitter.com/gouXR5xWX9
— Princeton Football (@PrincetonFTBL) September 18, 2021
Princeton ran up 279 yards of offense in the first half while Lehigh was a combined 0-6 on third and fourth downs.
Birmelin made two guys miss on his 42-yard touchdown scamper to put the Tigers up 22-0 early in the third quarter.
Princeton 22, Lehigh 0 | 11:34 3rd
— Princeton Football (@PrincetonFTBL) September 18, 2021
Birmelin makes not one, but two guys miss and takes it to the house!
?? - https://t.co/9vc87OdpHh#NA22AUBound pic.twitter.com/LOU5ec87hP
The dynamic duo of Birmelin and Iosivas registered another score as Iosivas ripped off a 52-yard run to pay dirt that made the score 28-0 halfway through the third frame.
Smith's 412 yards passing was only the 14th time in program history that a quarterback threw for over 400 yards in a game.
"The coaches have done a really great job of preparing the team," said Smith after his impressive outing. "My teammates really supported me and we had a really good game plan."
Princeton's defense took care of the rest. The Mountain Hawks converted just one of their 13 third and fourth down attempts. The Tigers gave up -25 yards rushing, the third-fewest for an opponent in a single-game. Lehigh finished with 92 total yards.
"The defense played like we trained," said Samuel Wright. "This whole time we spent off, we just kept working hard and today was a reflection of the work we put in.
Princeton has not lost a season-opening contest since 2014. The Tigers will welcome Stetson to Powers Field at Princeton Stadium next Saturday (Sept. 25). Kick-off is set for 1 p.m.
Team Stats
PRIN 6, LEHIGH 0
PRIN - Eaddy, C. 13 yd run (Sexton, J. kickfailed), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:08
PRIN 13, LEHIGH 0
PRIN - Iosivas, A. 34 yd pass from Smith, C. (Sexton, J. kick) 8 plays, 63 yards, TOP 3:19
PRIN 16, LEHIGH 0
PRIN - Sexton, J. 20 yd field goal 12 plays, 61 yards, TOP 2:51
PRIN 22, LEHIGH 0
PRIN - Birmelin, J. 42 yd pass from Smith, C. (Smith, C. passfailed) 1 plays, 42 yards, TOP 0:10
PRIN 29, LEHIGH 0
PRIN - Iosivas, A. 52 yd pass from Smith, C. (Sexton, J. kick) 3 plays, 76 yards, TOP 1:05
PRIN 32, LEHIGH 0
PRIN - Sexton, J. 20 yd field goal 12 plays, 77 yards, TOP 5:29
