Over Homecoming weekend, alumni returned to Old Nassau to watch Princeton football (2-5 overall, 1-3 Ivy League) fall to another Ivy League opponent , the Cornell Big Red (3-4, 2-2), by a score of 49 to 35 – their first loss to the Big Red since 2017. In what has been a disappointing season thus far, the Tigers have failed to shake off the negative momentum from their decisive loss to Harvard in Cambridge a week ago.

The game was poised to be a head-on battle between the two teams’ strengths: the Tigers’ conventionally stout defense and the Big Red’s explosive offense. Princeton’s offense, led by junior quarterback Blaine Hipa, who has struggled this season, entered the game as an unknown, with the Tiger faithful hoping for a midseason turnaround.

The game started with the Big Red converting their first series of downs with a play pass and a quick run. Cornell running back Ean Pope then split the Tiger defense, running 16 yards to put the team past midfield and into Princeton’s half. Cornell continued to drive down the field, winning two straight first downs passing down the right side. In the red zone, Cornell broke through the Tiger defense, with quarterback Jameson Wang finishing the drive with an eight-yard run to give the Big Red an early 7-0 lead.

Princeton’s first drive of the game saw little movement. After a four-yard pass to senior receiver AJ Barber, Princeton began rushing to no avail. On fourth down and one, at their own 34-yard line, a Hipa pass fell incomplete, giving the ball back to Cornell deep in Tigers territory – a mishap that plagued the Tigers throughout the game.

“We’ve been great (fourth-and-1) all year, and when we threw the pass, it was deflected. It was a superb play on their part. It was just a tough time (for us),” head coach Bob Surace ’90 told the ‘Prince.

Getting the ball at the Princeton 34-yard line, Cornell took no time getting into the red zone, starting the drive with a deep pass up the middle for a 29-yard gain to the Princeton five-yard line. Tigers. On second-and-goal, Cornell scored its second touchdown of the game on a four-yard pass to lead 14-0.

Cornell continued its offensive pressure each of the next two times it received the ball, forcing its way into the end zone on both occasions. The Big Red’s high-powered offense found success in its passing game, exploiting gaps in the Tigers’ secondary defense for a 28-0 lead in the second quarter.

On their fourth drive of the game, Princeton began to break through. Hipa and Barber connected on multiple occasions to move the team to their opponent’s 12-yard line, with help from Cornell penalties. After a dropped pass to Barber on second and goal, Hipa took matters into his own hands and threw the ball ten yards for a touchdown, giving Princeton its first points of the game. The Tigers then trailed 28-7.

Capitalizing on their newfound momentum, Princeton made its first defensive stop after the touchdown. The Tigers forced the Big Red to stay in their own half, allowing only one first down and breaking up several TD passes, forcing a punt. A long punt return and a late kicking penalty gave the Tigers starting position in Cornell’s half. A few plays later, on third-and-goal, junior running back Dareion Murphy ran for the three-yard touchdown, bringing the score to two touchdowns at 28-14.

Two plays into their ensuing drive after a Cornell pick, Princeton fumbled, losing critical momentum. Cornell capitalized on its starting field position – as it did throughout the game – by scoring another touchdown to make the score 35-14 at halftime.

Princeton received the ball in the second half and ended the drive with a punt, unable to overcome a sack after several successful passes. From there, Cornell scored another touchdown. The second Tiger drive of the half saw another missed fourth down, leading to the Big Red’s final touchdown and a Tiger deficit of 49 to 14 points.

To the Tigers’ credit, Princeton didn’t end the game on a bad note. On their next drive, Hipa converted a long fourth-and-7 with his legs, then threw a long ball to senior receiver Matthew Mahoney for a 30-yard gain. A touchdown to senior receiver Luke Colella made the score 49-21.

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Colella’s touchdown marked a milestone of 1,000 receiving yards in his college career. Currently, Colella is on pace to match or exceed his total receiving yardage from last season at 620 yards, as well as his six receiving touchdowns from last year.

After forcing a fourth down from Cornell, Mahoney broke through the Big Red’s punt protection unit and got a hand on the ball, allowing sophomore receiver Roman Laurio to recover the ball with excellent stance on the land. The Tigers rose to the occasion, with a touchdown run from junior wide receiver Charley Rossi.

Rossi then scored another touchdown on Princeton’s final possession, finalizing Cornell’s 49-35 victory.

“We got off to a bad start,” Surace told the “Prince.” “Our guys fought all year and I tell them I appreciate them. They are doing their best. »

The Tigers will face another Ivy League opponent this Friday at Powers Field, with kickoff against Dartmouth (6-1 overall, 3-1 Ivy League) at 6 p.m.

“Dartmouth is a great team, they’re doing well this year, but you know, we’re going to take it like any other opponent,” Hipa told the “Prince.” “It’ll start tomorrow, watch the film and see what we need to fix and improve throughout the week, then come back here Friday night to try to get another win.”

Lily Pampolina is sports editor and audience creator for the “Prince.”

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