LION TAMER: Princeton University linebacker Rohan Hylton is fired up during a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, sophomore standout Hylton contributed five tackles to help Princeton top Columbia 38-6 in the Ivy League opener for both teams. The Tigers outscored the Lions 28-0 in the second half to turn the contest into a rout. Princeton, now 2-1 overall and 1-0 Ivy, plays at Colgate (3-2 overall, 2-0 Patriot League) on October 11. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Anticipating a rainy day for its trip to Columbia last Saturday, the Princeton University football team prepared accordingly.

“Since we started practice on August 24, I think we had a drizzle once,” said Princeton head coach Bob Surace. “We got tubs of water out last week because we knew the weather forecast so we were throwing with a wet ball.”

In the early going on Saturday in the Ivy League opener for both squads, the Tigers looked all wet as they repeatedly mishandled the ball in a downpour. On their first possession, there was a dropped pass by senior receiver Matt Costello. Senior quarterback Quinn Epperly fumbled on Princeton’s next drive but was able to recover the ball. The Tigers lost 10 yards on the play, though, and had to settle for a field goal.

Minutes later, junior back Kedric Bostic lost a fumble which led to a Columbia field goal as the Lions knotted the contest at 3-3. Early in the second quarter, sophomore running back Joe Rhattigan fumbled the ball away to Columbia and the hosts converted that into a field goal to take a 6-3 lead.

“It was terrible weather for both teams,” said Surace, reflecting on his team’s shaky start. “We didn’t handle the elements well, we were sloppy with the ball.”

But in the waning minutes of the half, the Tigers got a handle on things, marching 98 yards in 14 plays. The drive culminated with a one-yard quarterback plunge by Epperly as Princeton took a 10-6 lead into halftime.

“I gave the same speech at halftime as before the game, I told them to play fast and physical on offense and be relentless on defense,” said Surace, recalling his message at intermission.

Taking Surace’s message to heart, the Tigers never looked back as they routed Columbia 38-6 before a crowd of 3,321 at Wien Stadium, improving to 2-1 overall and 1-0 Ivy.

“Once we stopped putting the ball on the ground, I thought we executed really well,” said Surace.

After intermission, the Tigers didn’t waste any time jumping on the Lions as junior Di Andre Atwater raced for a 51-yard TD run in the first minute of the third quarter to put Princeton up 17-6.

Later an Anthony Gaffney interception and accompanying 25-yard return gave the Tigers the ball at the Columbia 46-yard line. Three plays later, Princeton found paydirt as Epperly scored on another 1-yard touchdown run to make it a 24-6 game.

The Tigers ended the quarter with a 14-yard TD pass from Epperly to senior Connor Kelley as they increased their cushion to 31-6.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Princeton produced another scoring march. Going 80 yards on 10 plays in 5:09, the Tigers got the final points of the afternoon on a 19-yard touchdown run by senior Will Powers.

“Those last five drives we were finishing our runs, finishing our blocks, and putting defensive pressure on them,” said Surace, whose team outgained Columbia 472 yards to 231 with Epperly passing for 170 yard and Atwater rushing for 107 and Kelley making four receptions for 66 yards.

“It was play after play with good execution. From the last two minutes of the first half to the end of the game. That was as encouraging as we have played all year.”

Surace was encouraged by the defensive effort against Columbia as the Tigers held the Lions to 1.0 yards a rush (27 yards on 28 carries) and got two interceptions from junior star Gaffney.

“Defensively we have to do a little better on screens and shovel  passes,” said Surace.

“I thought Columbia ran efficiently against two top-25 teams earlier this season, they had efficient runs half the time. I think they had one or two efficient runs on us. We struggled on pass defense against San Diego. We had tighter coverage against Davidson but their quarterback got the ball in tight windows. On Saturday, we were much better on the ball.”

The Tigers will have to play even better this Saturday if they are to win at perennially tough Colgate (3-2 overall, 2-0 Patriot League)

“They are kind of a mirror image of us,” said Surace of the Raiders, who are bringing a three-game winning streak into the October 11 contest.

“They have an athletic quarterback who makes plays. They run the ball extremely well. Their defense is a big and strong group. They are playing well on special teams. They lost a close one to Ball State, an FCS team. They were ahead of Delaware 25-14 and then lost 28-25.”

While Surace was pleased with how Princeton righted the ship in the second half against Columbia, he cautions that the team can’t rest on its laurels and has to ratchet things up this week in its preparation for Colgate.

“We have had some guys turn it on in practice lately and it is translating into games,” said Surace.

“Momentum is how we go through our meetings and how we practice, starting on Tuesday.”