QUICK RECAP: Princeton Dissects Lehigh 32-0
BETHELEHEM, PA – Lehigh’s offensive woes continued against a daunting, precise Princeton team, losing 32-0 in front of a crowd of 7,050 at Murray Goodman Stadium this afternoon.
Princeton QB Cole Smith would rack up 412 yards passing, most of it going on touchdown passes to WR Jacob Birmelin (8 catches, 139 yards, 1 TD) and and WR Andrei Iosivas (4 catches, 117, yards, 2 TDs).
The Tigers came out on their first two drives with touchdowns, including a 10 play, 75 yard drive ending with a 13 yard Collin Eaddy touchdown, and an 8 play, 63 yard drive that concluded with a perfectly thrown 34 yard pass from Smith to Iosvias to put Princeton up 13-0.
The Tiger offense hung onto the ball 33 minutes, and Princeton’s defense held Lehigh to under 100 yards of total offense, including -25 yards rushing. Lehigh’s offense only crossed midfield twice, one time at the end of the game, and struggled to move the ball all afternoon. LB Cole Aubrey led a Princeton defense with 2 of the Tigers’ three sacks, as Lehigh quarterbacks were pressured all afternoon.
One Lehigh opportunity came about from a blocked punt by DB Devari Robinson, but QB Cross Wilkinson’s 4th down pass on the Princeton 35 fell incomplete.
Two huge pass plays helped seal the win for Princeton. Smith’s 42 yard pass to Birmelin and a beautiful 52 yard strike to Iosivas put the game out of reach. A pair of 20 yard FGs by PK Jeffrey Sexton finished off the scoring for Princeton.
On Lehigh, LB Liam McIntyre, starting for injured team captain Pete Haffner, tied teammate LB Nate Norris for the team lead in tackles with 8. DL Mikhari Sibblis, DL Trevor Harris and CB LaTreil Wimberly all had sacks for the Mountain Hawks. DB TyGee Leach also had 7 tackles and 1 TFL.
Lehigh (0-3) next travels to Hamilton, New York to play Colgate in their first league matchup of the year, while 1-0 Princeton faces off against Stetson of the Pioneer Football League.
Chuck has been writing about Lehigh football since the dawn of the internet, or perhaps it only seems like it. He’s executive editor of the College Sports Journal and has also written a book, The Rivalry: How Two Schools Started the Most Played College Football Series.
Reach him at: this email or click below:
