Football Opens 2024 Home Campaign vs Howard Saturday

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By Craig Sachson
PrincetonTigersFootball.com

The Princeton football team left Goodman Stadium last weekend disappointed with the result and some of the critical mistakes along the way, but it also recognized that there was a lot to build on against a team in its fourth game of the season.

Head coach Bob Surace has been pleased with the progress over this week and is anticipating a more complete effort tomorrow at 3 pm when the Tigers play their 2024 home opener on ESPN+. He also knows they will need that complete effort, because a tough, physical Howard team is coming to town.

The Howard Bison (2-2) will make their third trip to New Jersey this young season to take on Princeton (0-1) Saturday afternoon on Powers Field. Howard, which has already played at Rutgers Stadium (44-7 loss at Rutgers) and MetLife Stadium (35-21 win over Morehouse College), is coming off a tight 27-20 loss to Hampton last weekend, but it brings a lot of returning talent to the field.

"Howard is returning a lot of quality players from a conference championship team that went to a bowl," Surace said. "They played Rutgers near even for 29 plus minutes. They are big and physical on both sides of the line and linebacker. They have tremendous skill talent. Howard has as good a secondary that we've played in my 14 seasons, dynamic wide receivers, two excellent running backs and they have started 2 quarterbacks that have both won conference player of the week honors.

"In addition, they are very well coached and have a terrific scheme with multiple formations, blitzes and coverage disguises." Surace added. "They are an outstanding team. Fans who love aggressive and exciting football will get plenty of that Saturday in our home opener."

Both Howard and Princeton showed impressive fight in defeat last weekend. The Bison trailed 14-0 late in the first half, but fought back to tie the score in the third quarter. They rallied again late in the fourth, but a pair of third-down conversions by Hampton on the final drive cut short a final effort to tie the score.

Princeton found itself down multiple scores twice against Lehigh, but touchdown catches by both Luke Colella and Tyler Picinic got the Tigers within a touchdown. Jaden Green iced the game for the 3-1 Mountain Hawks with a late score, but Surace saw enough to feel his preseason optimism was warranted.

His team has waited long enough to play their home opener, and they also believe that a better performance is coming.

WEEK 2 GAME NOTES

History Lesson • This will be the first ever meeting between Princeton and Howard. Princeton has never played against a MEAC team, while Howard is 0-4 all-time against the Ivy League.

Home Sweet Home • Princeton has won eight of its last nine home openers, though the Tigers are looking to get back on the winning side after dropping a 16-13 overtime game to Bryant on Powers Field in the 2023 home opener. Prior to last season, Princeton had won 18 of its last 19 home games, but the Tigers went 2-3 on Powers Field last year.

Opening Act • Junior Blaine Hipa completed 16 of 38 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns last weekend against Lehigh. Hipa entered the game having thrown one pass in his career, but he completed touchdown throws to two of his top returning options, Colella and Picinic.

Cool Hand Luke • Senior wide receiver Luke Colella played seven varsity games and caught three passes during his first two seasons at Princeton. Since the start of the 2023 season, Colella has caught 52 passes for 706 yards and seven touchdowns, including a highlight reel diving score last weekend. Colella is one of four returning All-Ivy League players for Princeton (AJ Barber, Brady Clark, Nasir Hill).

Barber Shop • Two-time All-Ivy League receiver AJ Barber needs 28 catches the rest of the season to reach the 100-catch mark. Last year, he caught 42 passes for 582 yards and three touchdowns.

King of the Hill • Junior Nasir Hill, a second-team All-Ivy selection in 2023, led all returning defensive players in tackles (62), interceptions (3), and pass breakups (5) last season. He returned to form last weekend, posting a team-high seven tackles and a half sack against Lehigh.

O Captain, Our Captains • Princeton announced five captains for the 2024 season, as voted on by the team: Nicholas Hilliard, John Volker, Collin Taylor, Tommy Matheson and Mason Armstead.

Coach 'Em Up • Head coach Bob Surace is in his 14th season as the Princeton head coach at Lehigh, the longest run of consecutive seasons for any head coach in program history (Hall of Famer Bill Roper coached 17 years over three different stints). He needs one more win to pass his own head coach, Steve Tosches, and stand alone in second place in all-time program wins (79). He is currently 11 behind Roper for the all-time program lead, and his four Ivy League titles matches the Princeton record set by Hall of Famer Dick Colman.

A Look Ahead • Princeton will play its 2024 Ivy League opener next Saturday at noon when the Tigers travel to Wien Stadium in New York City to take on the Columbia Lions. Columbia posted the most notable Ivy League win of Week 1 when it defeated #14 Lafayette 31-20.

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