Football Preps For ESPNU Contest Vs. Brown Friday

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By Craig Sachson
PrincetonTigersFootball.com

It was a quiet, crushed locker room that Bob Surace walked into one Friday night twelve years ago. A double-digit lead had evaporated in a last-second loss to Georgetown, and the Princeton head coach knew he couldn't let a third straight season get away from his alma mater.

There was plenty of doubt on the outside. Princeton was 2-20 since the start of the 2010 season. The Tiger offense, which was being coordinated by one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play in the Ivy League, had scored over 30 points only twice in that 22-game span.

But Surace and that coordinator were seeing the improvements, and they believed better days were ahead. Maybe they didn't expect what was to come over the next five games, though; Princeton went 4-1 over that stretch and averaged more than 32 points per game (including 39 in a wild comeback win over Harvard). A decade that could stand with any over the last century of Tiger football had begun.

Surace and his 2012 offensive coordinator, James Perry, will meet again on Powers Field at Princeton Stadium Friday at 7 pm, though this time they will do so on opposite sidelines. Both are head coaches at their alma maters, and both will begin a six-game Ivy League sprint in front of a nationally televised (ESPNU) audience.

Brown enters the weekend with a 2-2 record, but its 31-28 comeback win over Harvard in Week 2 was easily one of the wildest games of the early season. The Bears trailed 28-10 midway through the third quarter, but they scored the final three touchdowns, including a 27-yard pass from Jake Wilcox to Mark Mahoney in the final seconds for a 31-28 win.

Princeton is 1-3, and its Ivy margin for error is minimal following a loss at Columbia two weeks ago. The Tigers battled Top-10 Mercer on the road last weekend, and they are looking to test their progress against a very talented Brown squad.

"Brown has played terrific football this year," Surace said. "They have always been excellent in the pass game, and this year is no different. They are strong and physical on both lines, and that is paying dividends in their run game and run defense. They are well rounded, including their special teams."

A Princeton victory would do more than end a two-game losing streak and move the team to .500 in Ivy League play. It would send the Tigers into the second half of the season with momentum and belief, and it would keep them in the pack of the Ivy League race.

Plenty has changed since Bob Surace first coached a Princeton football game on a Friday night. Back then, he had only won two games as a Tiger. He enters this matchup with four Ivy League championships, tied for the most in program history. And just like that day in 2012, he believes early struggles can turn into a strong finish for this year's team.

Week 5 Game Notes

History Lesson • Princeton holds a 60-29 lead over Brown in a series that dates back to October 29, 1896. The Tigers had won six straight in the series prior to last year's 28-27 overtime loss in Providence.

Friday Night Lights • Princeton is 10-5 on Friday nights during the 2000s, including a 5-2 mark at home. Two of those home wins came over Brown, including a 35-19 victory in 2022 that included two touchdowns apiece for Dylan Classi and Ryan Butler.

Coaching Tree • Princeton head coach Bob Surace will face two of his former offensive coordinators over the next two weeks. James Perry served as the Princeton offensive coordinator for seven seasons and helped the Tigers win the 2013 and 2016 Ivy League titles. Next week, the Tigers face Harvard and its new head coach Andrew Aurich '06, who spent eight seasons as an assistant coach, including offensive coordinator in 2019, and helped win three Ivy League titles.

Strength vs Strength • The top-ranked passing offense in the Ivy League (Brown, 255.5 passing yards/game) will face the top-ranked passing defense in the league (Princeton, 183.0 yards/game) Friday night. Brown quarterback Jake Wilcox has thrown for at least 270 yards in three of four games this season, while only one quarterback has thrown for over 200 yards against Princeton this season.

I'm Honored • Freshman AJ Pigford earned Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors following the Mercer game last Saturday. The linebacker recorded four tackles, including three for losses, and added a sack and a fumble recovery.

Fresh Faces • Pigford wasn't the only underclassman to impress against 7th-ranked Mercer. Sophomore running back Ethan Clark rushed for 117 yards on 21 carries against the top-ranked rush defense in the FCS. Clark scored his first career touchdown in the game as well.

Barber Shop • Senior wideout AJ Barber, a two-time All-Ivy League honoree, caught seven passes for 74 yards and a touchdown in Princeton's Ivy League opener at Columbia. He needs 17 receptions over the final six games to reach the 100-catch mark for his career.

Double Trouble • The senior receiver duo of Barber and Luke Colella have combined for 24 catches for 337 yards and three touchdowns this season. The only other Princeton player with a receiving touchdown this season is senior tight end Tyler Picinic. Both Barber and Picinic had touchdown catches last season against Brown.

Crystal Ball • Princeton will travel to Boston next weekend for a showdown against Harvard (3 pm, ESPN+). Princeton leads the rivaly 60-48-7 over Harvard in a series that dates back to April 28, 1877. The Tigers have won each of the last six meetings, their longest win streak since a seven-game run between 1947-1953.

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AJ Barber

Ethan Clark

Luke Colella

Tyler Picinic

AJ Pigford

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