Honda's Career Day Leads Football Over Columbia, 35-7

Saturday, October 3

New York, N.Y.

12:00 PM

Princeton University

2-1 , 1-0

Columbia

2-1 , 0-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Princeton	7	14	0	14	35
Columbia	0	7	0	0	7

Kai Honda

Photo by: COPYRIGHT (c) KANKOJEEPHOTOGRAPHY

October 03, 2026 | Football

Box Score

NEW YORK – Kai Honda ran for 219 yards and four touchdowns as the Princeton Football Team dropped the Columbia Lions, 35-7, at Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Honda is the first 200-yard rusher for Princeton since Collin Eaddy vs. Yale on Nov. 10, 2018. His four touchdowns are also a first for the Tigers since Eaddy at Brown on Oct. 16, 2021. He also broke the single-game record for most rushing yards per carry (15.6) previously held by William A. Tryon, vs. Lafayette on Oct. 20, 1951. He is also the program's first player to rush for 200 yards and four touchdowns in the same game since Keith Elias vs. Lafayette on Sept. 26, 1992.

Columbia started the contest by driving into red zone but faced a 4th and 1 at the 20-yard line. Rocco Marcelino sliced through the offensive line and stopped Columbia's Griffin Johnson before the first down marker to end the drive.

After moving methodically down the field, Honda rushed down the far sideline and avoided stepping out of bounds before making a 40-yard house call to give Princeton the first score.

TOUCHDOWN @Kaihonda25!

He makes a house call from 40 yards out! Tigers go in front!

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— Princeton Football (@PrincetonFTBL) October 3, 2026

Columbia tied the game a few possessions later on a 7-yard touchdown reception by Bryce Coleman.

On the next drive, Ty Ciongoli found Josh Smith for 22 yards and followed up with a 35-yard pass to Landon DePrima to get to the Columbia eight-yard line. On the next play, Honda touched paydirt for the second time.

TOUCHDOWN @Kaihonda25 x2!

His second of the game gives the Tigers the lead again!

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— Princeton Football (@PrincetonFTBL) October 3, 2026

Columbia answered by getting back into the red zone, but was turned away on 4th and two on an incomplete pass.

Before the end of the half, Honda sprinted for his third score of the day on a 53-yard scamper to put Princeton ahead 21-7.

HONDA x3!@Kaihonda25 becomes the first player since @onlyeaddy in 2021 to score three times in a game!

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— Princeton Football (@PrincetonFTBL) October 3, 2026

In the second half, the Lions got into the red zone again, but Nate Stohl turned away Johnson on 4th and two from the Tigers' 7-yard line.

A few drives later, Honda put the exclamation point on his signature day with a 70-yard touchdown run to go up 28-7.

It's @Kaihonda25's world and we're just living in it.

He's got FOUR touchdowns on the day!

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— Princeton Football (@PrincetonFTBL) October 3, 2026

After another turnover on downs from Columbia, Ciongoli threw to an open Aidan Besselman who went 55 yards to the end zone.

Princeton 35, Columbia 7 | 6:27 4th @CiongoliTy finds a wide open @aidanbessy for SIX!

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— Princeton Football (@PrincetonFTBL) October 3, 2026

Torian Roberts put the finishing touches on the contest with an interception on Columbia's last drive.

Honda is only the second FCS player to rush for at least 200 yards and four touchdowns (Eli Gillman, Montana). Connor Cronin led the Tigers with 10 stops on the defensive side while the squad also produced four sacks highlighted by Jake Moore and AJ Pigford producing a 1.5 sacks each.

Princeton improves to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the Ivy League while Columbia dropped to 2-1 and 0-1 in the conference. The Tigers finish off non-conference play at Wagner next Saturday (Oct. 10). Kickoff is set for 12 p.m.