Football Ready For National TV Game Vs. Columbia Friday

Watch | Live Stats | Listen | Program | Game Notes | Tickets | Yearbook

By Craig Sachson
PrincetonTigersFootball.com

The Princeton football team begins its pursuit of a 14th Ivy League championship Friday night in front of both its home faithful and a national ESPNU audience, as the Tigers will host Columbia University at 7 pm on Powers Field at Princeton Stadium.

The last time these two teams met in Princeton under the Friday lights was Oct. 2, 2015, when family and the closest of friends were in attendance for one of the worst weather Princeton football games this century. In a windy, driving rainstorm, Princeton clawed out a 10-5 win in a game that saw nothing but a safety scored in the second half.

The weather was no picnic last weekend either, as the wind and rain played havoc in a 16-13 overtime home loss to Bryant. There were five total fumbles in the game, and neither team accounted for more than 280 total yards of offense in the game.

Friday's forecast isn't spectacular at this point, but head coach Bob Surace knows that can't matter right now. Winning an Ivy League title from an 0-1 hole is not impossible, but it basically eliminates all margin for error. Both Princeton and Columbia enter the games with matching 1-1 records this season, but one will feel much better about its prospects for the rest of the season by the end of Friday night.

And everybody will get to see it happen.

Week 3 Notes

Series History • Princeton leads the all-time season series 74-16-1 against Columbia, and it has won four straight games in a series that dates back to Nov. 14, 1874. The Tigers have won five of the last six games at home, including a 24-7 victory during the 2021 Ivy championship season.

Quick Start • This matchup has been the Ivy League opener for both teams throughout the 21st century, and Princeton has had the upper hand for most of the last decade. The Tigers have beaten Columbia in nine of the last 10 years, with the lone loss coming in 2017. Four times during that stretch (2013, 2016, 2018, 2021), Princeton built an Ivy League championship season following the Columbia win.

Last Meeting • Princeton limited Columbia to 235 total yards and didn't allow an offensive score in a 24-6 road win over the Lions last season. Wide receiver Jo Jo Hawkins, who was featured this week on GoPrincetonTigers.com, caught his first career touchdown pass during the game, while linebacker Will Perez had six tackles, including two for loss, one sack and one interception in the win.

The Defense Doesn't Rest • Friday night will feature two of the Ivy League's top rated defenses through the first two weeks of the 2023 season. Columbia ranks first in scoring defense, allowing only 12 points per game, while Princeton ranks first in total defense, allowing only 201.5 yards per game. Princeton has been stronger against the run (2nd, 34.5 yards/game), while Columbia has been one of the best against the pass (2nd, 142 yards/game).

Tackling The Issue • Princeton senior linebacker Ozzie Nicholas ranks second in the Ivy League and 16th nationally with 10.5 tackles per game this season. A co-captain and second-team All-Ivy selection last year, Nicholas matched his career high last weekend when he recorded 15 tackles against Bryant.

Triple Threat • The senior linebacker trio of Nicholas, Perez and 2022 Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year Liam Johnson have combined for 44 tackles and three sacks on the season. Each has at least one tackle for loss and one quarterback hurry as well.

Sack Exchange • Sophomore Bakari Edwards has made an immediate impact on a defensive line that lost multiple key starters last season. He has three sacks this fall, including two in the season-opening win at San Diego.

Running Them Ragged • Junior John Volker ranks second in the Ivy League with 240 rushing yards this season, and he posted a career-best 149 last weekend against Bryant. He has scored touchdowns in both games this season, including one on a 51-yard carry last weekend. His 240 rushing yards this season is already more than he had posted in his first two years combined.

Throw It Down • Senior quarterback Blake Stenstrom is Princeton's first two-year starting quarterback since Chad Kanoff (2016-17), and he has completed over 67% of his passes for more than 3,136 yards in his career. Stenstrom's career completion percentage would be a Princeton record (Cole Smith, 66.7%). He threw two touchdowns and completed passes to eight different receivers in last year's 24-6 win at Columbia.

Counting To 100 • Princeton has gone 72-28 over its last 100 games, dating back to a 33-6 road win at Columbia in Week 3 of the 2012 season. In the previous 100 games from that point, the Tigers had gone 44-56. The last time Princeton won as many as 72 games out of 100 came prior to the Great Depression.

O Captain, Our Captains • Princeton football has named four captains for the 2023 season, and each of the four earned either first- or second-team All-Ivy recognition last year: Liam Johnson, Ozzie Nicholas, Blake Stenstrom and Jalen Travis.

A Look Ahead • Princeton will play its final nonleague game of the season next Saturday when it welcomes Lafayette for a 1 pm showdown against the Leopards. Lafayette is currently 3-1 on the season, with its lone loss coming to Duke, which is ranked in the Top 20 in the latest FBS football polls. The Leopards defeated Columbia 24-3 in the Lions' season opener.

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results