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Saturday, October 7
Princeton, N.J.
1:00 PM
Princeton University
2-2 , 1-0
9
vs
12
Lafayette
5-1 , 1-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Lafayette
3
7
0
2
12
Princeton
9
0
0
0
9
AJ Barber caught seven passes for 156 yards in Princeton's 12-9 loss to Lafayette.
Football Falls To Lafayette 12-9
October 07, 2023 | Football
It's not always easy to put together epic game-winning drives. If it was, then they wouldn't be epic.Â
One week after a game-winning 20-play, fourth-quarter drive gave Princeton a win over Columbia, there would be no sequel against Lafayette. Taking over on its 4-yard line with 2:08 to go and down a point, Princeton was unable to get into field goal position, or even close to it. Blake Stenstrom was sacked in the end zone for a safety, Lafayette recovered the onside kick, and Princeton ever got the ball back as the Leopards won a defensive struggled 12-9 on Powers Field at Princeton Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Lafayette took the opening kickoff and drove nine plays and 52 yards before Jack Simonetta kicked a 40-yard field goal. The Tigers then took the kickoff and went seven plays and 57 yards before Jeffrey Sexton tied it from 29 yards away.
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The Tigers took the lead with 54 seconds left in the first half, when Blake Stenstrom threw a perfect strike in the back corner of the end zone to Luke Colella, who caught it and just got his foot down inbounds for the touchdown. The extra point was no good, though, and Princeton had to settle for a 9-3 lead at the break.
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Lafayette took a 10-9 lead in the final minute of the third quarter, when Dean Denobile connected with Mason Gilbert for a 15-yard touchdown pass and Simonetta hit the extra point.
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Princeton took the second half kickoff and controlled the ball for 16 plays and nearly nine minutes, but that drive ended at the Lafayette 14 when Stenstrom was sacked. Princeton also had a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but a 38-yard field goal attempt went wide right.
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Lafayette sacked Stenstrom in the end zone with 1:57 to go to make it 12-9. Princeton did not get the ball back.
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WHAT THE BOX SCORE TELLS YOU
* Stenstrom completed 26 of 35 passes for  310 yards, the touchdown to Colella and no interceptions.
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* AJ Barber caught seven passes for 156 yards, an average of 22.3 yards per catch.
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* Ozzie Nicholas made 12 more tackles, seven unassisted, while Liam Johnson had eight and Will Perez seven.
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* The teams combined for 91 rushing yards, of which 88 came from Lafayette.
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* Both quarterbacks punted during the game.
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* The teams combined for six fourth-down conversion attempts, successfully converted three of them.
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WHAT THE BOX SCORE DOESN'T TELL YOU
* Lafayette is now 5-1 for the first time since 2009. The win snapped a 12-game Lafayette losing streak against Princeton.
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* Barber's big day came after he had eight catches for 84 yards for the season prior to the Lafayette game.
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* Stenstrom threw for 310 yards after having 301 yards the last two weeks combined.
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UP NEXT
Princeton now finishes the season with six straight Ivy League games, beginning this coming Saturday at Brown.
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One week after a game-winning 20-play, fourth-quarter drive gave Princeton a win over Columbia, there would be no sequel against Lafayette. Taking over on its 4-yard line with 2:08 to go and down a point, Princeton was unable to get into field goal position, or even close to it. Blake Stenstrom was sacked in the end zone for a safety, Lafayette recovered the onside kick, and Princeton ever got the ball back as the Leopards won a defensive struggled 12-9 on Powers Field at Princeton Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Lafayette took the opening kickoff and drove nine plays and 52 yards before Jack Simonetta kicked a 40-yard field goal. The Tigers then took the kickoff and went seven plays and 57 yards before Jeffrey Sexton tied it from 29 yards away.
Â
The Tigers took the lead with 54 seconds left in the first half, when Blake Stenstrom threw a perfect strike in the back corner of the end zone to Luke Colella, who caught it and just got his foot down inbounds for the touchdown. The extra point was no good, though, and Princeton had to settle for a 9-3 lead at the break.
Â
Lafayette took a 10-9 lead in the final minute of the third quarter, when Dean Denobile connected with Mason Gilbert for a 15-yard touchdown pass and Simonetta hit the extra point.
Â
Princeton took the second half kickoff and controlled the ball for 16 plays and nearly nine minutes, but that drive ended at the Lafayette 14 when Stenstrom was sacked. Princeton also had a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but a 38-yard field goal attempt went wide right.
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Lafayette sacked Stenstrom in the end zone with 1:57 to go to make it 12-9. Princeton did not get the ball back.
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WHAT THE BOX SCORE TELLS YOU
* Stenstrom completed 26 of 35 passes for  310 yards, the touchdown to Colella and no interceptions.
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* AJ Barber caught seven passes for 156 yards, an average of 22.3 yards per catch.
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* Ozzie Nicholas made 12 more tackles, seven unassisted, while Liam Johnson had eight and Will Perez seven.
Â
* The teams combined for 91 rushing yards, of which 88 came from Lafayette.
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* Both quarterbacks punted during the game.
Â
* The teams combined for six fourth-down conversion attempts, successfully converted three of them.
Â
WHAT THE BOX SCORE DOESN'T TELL YOU
* Lafayette is now 5-1 for the first time since 2009. The win snapped a 12-game Lafayette losing streak against Princeton.
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* Barber's big day came after he had eight catches for 84 yards for the season prior to the Lafayette game.
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* Stenstrom threw for 310 yards after having 301 yards the last two weeks combined.
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UP NEXT
Princeton now finishes the season with six straight Ivy League games, beginning this coming Saturday at Brown.
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Team Stats
LAF
PRI
Total Yards
265
313
Pass Yards
177
310
Rushing Yards
88
3
Penalty Yards
45
50
1st Downs
12
14
3rd Downs
7
3
4th Downs
1
2
TOP
29:56
30:04
1st Quarter
LAF 3, PRI 0
LAF - Simonetta,Jack 40 yd field goal 9 plays, 52 yards, TOP 03:37
LAF 3, PRI 3
PRI - Sexton,Jeffrey 29 yd field goal 7 plays, 57 yards, TOP 02:48
LAF 3, PRI 9
PRI - Colella,Luke 11 yd pass from Stenstrom,Blake () 5 plays, 74 yards, TOP 01:58
2nd Quarter
LAF 10, PRI 9
LAF - Gilbert,Mason 15 yd pass from Denobile,Dean (Simonetta,Jack kick) 10 plays, 46 yards, TOP 02:30
4th Quarter
LAF 12, PRI 9
LAF - Meite,Blamassi 0 yd safety
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
26
TD
1
YDS
310
INT
0
CMP
0
TD
0
YDS
0
INT
0
Players Mentioned
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