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Princeton University Athletics
Saturday, November 2
Princeton, N.J.
1:00 PM
Princeton University
vs
Cornell
Jeffrey Sexton
Photo by: Sideline Photos, LLC
Football Ready For Cornell Saturday
November 01, 2024 | Football
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Game Notes
By Craig Sachson
PrincetonTigersFootball.com
The Princeton football team opens its final month of play with its first of three November home games this Saturday at 1 pm when it welcomes the Cornell Big Red.
The Tigers have won five straight in this series, including a 14-3 road win last season.
Both teams are coming off road losses in Ivy play (Princeton at Harvard, Cornell at Brown). Each has two losses in Ivy play, so both need a win to get back to the .500 mark and maintain hope to get back into the league race.
Cornell turned plenty of heads two weeks into the season when it upset preseason favorite Yale 47-23 in the first home game for new head coach Dan Swanstrom. The Big Red is a last-second field goal away from bringing a 2-1 record to Powers Field Saturday.
"Dan Swanstrom has brought a great energy to the Cornell program," Princeton head coach Bob Surace said. "They have a lot of experienced players that returned, and they are led by quarterback Jameson Wang, who is playing his best football."
The Tigers have faced a daunting road stretch through the first six weeks of the season, so they are looking forward to a two-week homestretch upcoming, which includes a showdown with reigning Ivy frontrunner Dartmouth next Friday at 6 pm on ESPN+. Princeton has done well on Powers Field in 2024, posting wins over both Howard (30-13) and Brown (29-17). Those are Princeton's two best scoring games this season in terms of both points scored and points allowed.
Two losses may seem like an overwhelming obstacle to overcome, but there is precedent. The last time the Ivy League champion posted a 5-2 record was all the way back in … 2023. Yes, last season, Dartmouth, Harvard and Yale all claimed Ivy titles following one of the wildest seasons in memory.
Princeton and Cornell don't need to know anything more. Hope will remain alive for one team Saturday night. The Tigers would love nothing more than to keep that hope on Powers Field, where they'll play two more times later in the season.
Week 7 Game Notes
History Lesson • This will be the 106th meeting between Princeton and Cornell in a series that dates back to Nov. 14, 1891. Princeton holds the series advantage 66-37-2, including five straight wins. The Tigers have won five of the last six home meetings, including each of the last two.
Deep Cut • Princeton defeated Cornell 14-3 last season, and both Tiger touchdowns came on long passes to Princeton receivers. Tamatoa Falatea opened the scoring with a 77-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter, while Luke Colella added a 33-yard score just before halftime.
Long Road Home • All four of Princeton's losses have been on the road this season, and it has been one of the toughest road schedules faced by any Ivy League team. The Tigers' four road opponents enter November with a combined record of 20-7.
Grounded • Despite missing a game due to injury this season, senior running back John Volker is tied for third in the Ivy League with four rushing touchdowns, only one behind co-leaders Malachi Hosley (Penn) and Grayson Saunier (Dartmouth). Volker rushed for 79 yards and two touchdowns, including one from 66 yards out, in the Tigers' last home game, a 29-17 win over Brown.
Catching On • Senior Luke Colella ranks ninth in the Ivy League with 53.5 receiving yards per game. He has touchdowns in both Princeton wins this season, including a game-clinching 12-yard score against Brown.
The Barber Shop • Senior wideout AJ Barber is on track to reach the 100-catch mark for his career. He has 88 catches as a Tiger and needs to average three per game over the final four weeks to hit the milestone. Barber did go over the 1,000-yard milestone for his career earlier this season.
More Milestones • While Luke Collella is 29 catches away from 100 for his career, he can surpass the 1,000-yard milestone this weekend with 53 receiving yards. He is also one touchdown catch away from the 10th of his career.
Coach Speak • Over the last two weeks, Bob Surace has faced opposing head coaches who were once his offensive coordinators (Brown's James Perry, Harvard's Andrew Aurich). Surace will see another familiar face on the opposite sideline this weekend, though on the other side of the ball. Cornell defensive coordinator Jared Backus served as Surace's defensive coordinator for his first three years at Princeton (2010-2012).
Watch Out • Freshman AJ Pigford, a two-time Ivy League Rookie of the Week this season, was one of 30 players named to the Stats Perform 2024 Jerry Rice Award Watch List, which honors the FCS Freshman Player of the Year. Past recipients of this honor include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders.
At A Loss • Marco Scarano ranks fifth in the league with seven tackles for loss this season. He was a key part of the Princeton defense that limited Cornell to three points last season; Scarano tied for the team lead with nine tackles in that game, and added a tackle for loss.
Just For Kicks • Senior kicker Jeffrey Sexton hit the longest field goal kicked by a Princeton Tiger this century when he made a 51-yarder last weekend at Harvard. The only other Princeton player to kick one at least 50 yards was Taylor Northrop, who did so during the 2000 season.
Crystal Ball • Princeton will remain home next Friday at 6 pm to take on Ivy League frontrunner Dartmouth on ESPN+. The last two Princeton-Dartmouth games, both of which were won by the home team, were decided by a total of five points.
Listen
Live Stats
Tickets
Game Notes
By Craig Sachson
PrincetonTigersFootball.com
The Princeton football team opens its final month of play with its first of three November home games this Saturday at 1 pm when it welcomes the Cornell Big Red.
The Tigers have won five straight in this series, including a 14-3 road win last season.
Both teams are coming off road losses in Ivy play (Princeton at Harvard, Cornell at Brown). Each has two losses in Ivy play, so both need a win to get back to the .500 mark and maintain hope to get back into the league race.
Cornell turned plenty of heads two weeks into the season when it upset preseason favorite Yale 47-23 in the first home game for new head coach Dan Swanstrom. The Big Red is a last-second field goal away from bringing a 2-1 record to Powers Field Saturday.
"Dan Swanstrom has brought a great energy to the Cornell program," Princeton head coach Bob Surace said. "They have a lot of experienced players that returned, and they are led by quarterback Jameson Wang, who is playing his best football."
The Tigers have faced a daunting road stretch through the first six weeks of the season, so they are looking forward to a two-week homestretch upcoming, which includes a showdown with reigning Ivy frontrunner Dartmouth next Friday at 6 pm on ESPN+. Princeton has done well on Powers Field in 2024, posting wins over both Howard (30-13) and Brown (29-17). Those are Princeton's two best scoring games this season in terms of both points scored and points allowed.
Two losses may seem like an overwhelming obstacle to overcome, but there is precedent. The last time the Ivy League champion posted a 5-2 record was all the way back in … 2023. Yes, last season, Dartmouth, Harvard and Yale all claimed Ivy titles following one of the wildest seasons in memory.
Princeton and Cornell don't need to know anything more. Hope will remain alive for one team Saturday night. The Tigers would love nothing more than to keep that hope on Powers Field, where they'll play two more times later in the season.
Week 7 Game Notes
History Lesson • This will be the 106th meeting between Princeton and Cornell in a series that dates back to Nov. 14, 1891. Princeton holds the series advantage 66-37-2, including five straight wins. The Tigers have won five of the last six home meetings, including each of the last two.
Deep Cut • Princeton defeated Cornell 14-3 last season, and both Tiger touchdowns came on long passes to Princeton receivers. Tamatoa Falatea opened the scoring with a 77-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter, while Luke Colella added a 33-yard score just before halftime.
Long Road Home • All four of Princeton's losses have been on the road this season, and it has been one of the toughest road schedules faced by any Ivy League team. The Tigers' four road opponents enter November with a combined record of 20-7.
Grounded • Despite missing a game due to injury this season, senior running back John Volker is tied for third in the Ivy League with four rushing touchdowns, only one behind co-leaders Malachi Hosley (Penn) and Grayson Saunier (Dartmouth). Volker rushed for 79 yards and two touchdowns, including one from 66 yards out, in the Tigers' last home game, a 29-17 win over Brown.
Catching On • Senior Luke Colella ranks ninth in the Ivy League with 53.5 receiving yards per game. He has touchdowns in both Princeton wins this season, including a game-clinching 12-yard score against Brown.
The Barber Shop • Senior wideout AJ Barber is on track to reach the 100-catch mark for his career. He has 88 catches as a Tiger and needs to average three per game over the final four weeks to hit the milestone. Barber did go over the 1,000-yard milestone for his career earlier this season.
More Milestones • While Luke Collella is 29 catches away from 100 for his career, he can surpass the 1,000-yard milestone this weekend with 53 receiving yards. He is also one touchdown catch away from the 10th of his career.
Coach Speak • Over the last two weeks, Bob Surace has faced opposing head coaches who were once his offensive coordinators (Brown's James Perry, Harvard's Andrew Aurich). Surace will see another familiar face on the opposite sideline this weekend, though on the other side of the ball. Cornell defensive coordinator Jared Backus served as Surace's defensive coordinator for his first three years at Princeton (2010-2012).
Watch Out • Freshman AJ Pigford, a two-time Ivy League Rookie of the Week this season, was one of 30 players named to the Stats Perform 2024 Jerry Rice Award Watch List, which honors the FCS Freshman Player of the Year. Past recipients of this honor include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders.
At A Loss • Marco Scarano ranks fifth in the league with seven tackles for loss this season. He was a key part of the Princeton defense that limited Cornell to three points last season; Scarano tied for the team lead with nine tackles in that game, and added a tackle for loss.
Just For Kicks • Senior kicker Jeffrey Sexton hit the longest field goal kicked by a Princeton Tiger this century when he made a 51-yarder last weekend at Harvard. The only other Princeton player to kick one at least 50 yards was Taylor Northrop, who did so during the 2000 season.
Crystal Ball • Princeton will remain home next Friday at 6 pm to take on Ivy League frontrunner Dartmouth on ESPN+. The last two Princeton-Dartmouth games, both of which were won by the home team, were decided by a total of five points.
Players Mentioned
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