JACOB’S LADDER: Princeton University football player Jacob Birmelin heads upfield in recent action. Last Saturday at Brown, junior receiver Birmelin produced a career day, making 12 catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns as Princeton pulled away to a 65-22 win over the Bears. The Tigers, who improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 Ivy League in extending their winning streak to 15, host Harvard (4-1 overall, 2-0 Ivy) on October 26. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Serving as the offensive coordinator for the Princeton University football program from 2010-16, James Perry played a key role in turning the Tigers into a scoring juggernaut.

Installing a no-huddle, up-tempo system, Perry helped Princeton win the Ivy league title in 2013, averaging a league record 43.7 points. Three years later, the Tigers won another league crown, scoring 34.6 points a contest.

So with Perry taking the helm of his alma mater Brown this season after two years guiding Bryant program, there figured to be some offensive fireworks when Princeton traveled to Providence, R.I. last Saturday to take on the Bears.

“We knew they are a really good offense, James does a great job of coordinating,” said Princeton head coach Bob Surace.

“His nephew [E.J.Perry] is their quarterback and he is dynamic. I can’t recall facing a guy who can run as well as he does and throw as well as he does. They are very deep at receiver and they play at tempo.”

Brown set the tempo early, putting together a 75-yard scoring march as it took a 6-0 lead but the Tigers responded with 17 unanswered points. Early in the second quarter Brown culminated another 75-yard drive to score and make it a 17-12 game.

But at that point, Princeton seized control of the contest, outscoring the Bears 34-7 over the rest of the quarter to take a 51-19 lead at halftime and never looked back on the way to a 65-22 victory.

The passing combination of senior quarterback Kevin Davidson to junior receiver Jacob Birmelin fueled the second quarter surge as the Tigers improved to 5-0 overall, 2-0 Ivy League and extended their winning streak to 15.

Davidson hit Birmelin with a 28-yard scoring strike to put Princeton up 24-12 and then found him again for a three-yard TD in the waning moments of the quarter as the Tigers extend their lead to 51-19. Davidson ended the game hitting on 27-of-35 passes for 379 yards and five touchdowns while Birmelin produced a career day with 12 catches for 186 yards and two TDs along with 61 yards on three punt returns.

“Kevin did a really good job managing the game and making the right decisions and making some big time throws,” said Surace.

“Jacob was left on a few occasions in situations where he was going to get the ball and he got open. A couple of times, he made guys miss in space and turned 15-yard gains into 30-yard gains. He has played well all year. All of the receivers, whether it has been Andre [Iosivas] against Butler, Griff [Andrew Griffin] against Bucknell and [Dylan] Classi with the huge catch against Columbia, have had their moments.”

The Princeton ground attack had some good moments on Saturday as it piled up 255 yards on 46 carries with senior Tyler Campbell gaining 91, sophomore Trey Gray getting 73 and senior Ryan Quigley had 44 with three touchdowns

“We used a lot of guys, we ran a lot of plays offensively,” said Surace. “We had the ball a lot and they all ran really hard. Ryan continues to play well. Tyler had good runs; he has 37 yards on a fourth and one in the second quarter. Trey had a really good game as well. They really complemented each other, it was great to see.”

On defense, the Tigers settled in, holding Brown to 10 points over the last 44:07 of the contest.

“It is a really hard team to game plan against,” said Surace. “If you go all out to pressure this quarterback, he scrambles. He was averaging 93 yards a game rushing and most of those yards were on scrambles. He is so dynamic, we had to be lane conscious. As the game went on, we were able to get a little more pressure and make the throws a little more challenging. You go on the bus and you have a headache after playing them.”

Tiger junior defensive lineman Sam Wright proved to be a headache for Brown, ending the day with a team-high seven tackles and one sack.

“Sam has made one of the biggest leaps; he was such a tremendous athlete when he came to us but he really struggled with the technical side of the game,” said Surace.

“Last year, we found a really good role for him and he did very well. This year, he made the jump from being a guy who was in a role that played well to where we are watching him get better every day. He is as dynamic a defensive lineman that I have had since I have been here. He has some physical gifts..and the technical side, the mental side is starting to improve. He is really coming on.”

With a dynamic Harvard team (4-1 overall, 2-0 Ivy) coming to Princeton this Saturday, Surace knows that his squad will need to make a jump to overcome the Crimson.

This is the 10th time since I have been here that we have played them; they have got a Hall of Fame coach [Tim Murphy], they recruit well, they are balanced, they have talent, they make big plays,” said Surace of Harvard which is averaging 38.6 points a game.

“Their quarterback [Jake Smith] is a three-year starter. He makes great decisions, he has been very accurate. He is a good athlete. You are looking at a team where you are never surprised that they are good and really not surprised when they are outstanding. They have got a terrific group.”

Seeing improvement across the board from his group, Surace believes Princeton is in a good place.

“As you go through a season, the words we use all the time is being better, you want to see improvement,” said Surace.

“Nobody in football has got the same starting lineup that they started with in September. There is an injury here or an injury there, so development is key. Zach Kelly caught his first touchdown pass, Sam Johnson caught his first touchdown pass and Tyler Campbell had a huge game. They are three guys who have been fighting to get playing time as seniors and it was really fulfilling to see them have success. We have three freshmen now that have interceptions — Daiveon Carrington had one against Brown, Jayden Wickware had one last week against Lafayette and James Stagg had one against Bucknell.”

In order to keep having success, Princeton will need all hands on deck. “When you have young guys developing but also seniors who could easily just pack it in and get their varsity letter and say that we have played but they are working just as hard, that is a good sign,” said Surace, whose team is ranked 16th nationally in the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) coaches poll.

“As we play Harvard this week, you need that development to have a chance to be successful. We have got to continue as coaches to see guys get better and grow. It is going to be a key thing this week — can we continue to make improvements in different areas and see individuals get better because we are going to need everybody.”