No. 24 Colgate overcomes Princeton in 2 OTs,  21-14

Raider D swats down two FGs in regulation

Princeton, NJ - Forty-three years since the last time we saw these two teams play, it seemed that history would repeat itself and the Red Raiders would triumph by the same 7-0 score we saw in our inaugural college football game in 1966, but Princeton averted the whitewash with a touchdown with 9:43 left that forced the game beyond regulation.  Two TDs by Colgate's Nate Eachus (27 rushes for 98 yards) in the OTs capped the final score before the visitors shut down the Tigers in the second OT to run their record to 6-0.  For CollegeFootballFan.com, we enjoyed the game with Guest Game Analyst Charlie Roberts who was very impressed by the seats we attained for $5 on the 45-yard line by a fan looking to unload his tickets as we approached the Princeton Stadium ticket window to buy the standard $7 seats.  The game was played in front of 5,585 fans in person and a national TV audience on ESPNU.  Once again, TV time-outs seemed as long as the previous week's contest at Army, but we got to see a game that went into two OTs for ticket prices cheaper than a night at the movies! Even the parking and programs were free this evening.

     The Tigers moved down the field on its first possession, but Ben Bologna's FG attempt from 36 yards was blocked, and the two teams finished out the first period tied 0-0.  With 5:01 left in the first half, QB Greg Sullivan (19 rushes for 52 yards, 1 TD) broke the scoreless tie with a 2-yard TD run to put the Red Raiders up, 7-0.  Princeton seemed to finally solve the Colgate defense with a drive of its own, but again, the Colgate defense knocked down Bologna's second FG attempt from 24 with :34 left in the half.  Colgate held the lead at halftime, and we watched the PU band perform to one of their relatively mild, halftime monologues, but how often do you get to see a band play hockey during halftime with a plastic pumpkin?

     Neither team mounted any offense in the third as both defenses played very tough.  Not until the final period did the Tigers put together a drive for a score when Tommy Wornham ( 19-34, 2 TD, 1 INT, 215 yards) connected with wide open Trey Peacock for a 31-yard TD pass and knotted the score, 7-7.  The two battled it out to a stalemate by the end of regulation, but GGA Roberts and I noted that Colgate Head Coach Dick Biddle was reluctant to allow his PK Evan Colborne to try for three on several occasions by instead seeking a first down.  However, the Tiger defense was generally up to the task. LB Scott Britton figured in on 16 tackles with 2.5 for 16 yards in losses.

    Princeton took possession first in the initial OT, and on the third play Wornham connected with a diving Andrew Kerr over the middle for a 23-yard TD .  Bologna's kick was good and Princeton finally had a lead.  But, Colgate's rushing attack which netted a tough 218 yards on the day, relied on Sullivan and Eachus to take turns carrying the ball until  Eachus took it over from the two on the fifth play to tie it back up, 14-14, with Colborne's conversion.  Colgate would get the ball first in the second OT as GGA Roberts stated that if Colgate scored, he just didn't see Wornham up to the task to bring back the Tigers.  Eachus carried the ball on six of nine plays before taking it over again from the two, and the PAT was good for a 21-14 Colgate lead.  Charlie was right.  A one-yard run by Wornham followed by three incomplete passes sealed the Red Raider victory.  It was hard-fought defensive struggle throughout regulation, but the Colgate ground game was too much at the Princeton 25 both times it had the ball.  PU just did not have the attack to come from behind at the very end.  The Red Raiders (6-0, 1-0) remain unbeaten and will most likely remain so after next week's game at Patriot League doormat Georgetown.  The conference showdown will be one week later when the Raiders head to Worcester, MA to face fellow Patriot front-runner Holy Cross.  Princeton (1-3, 0-1) focuses on the Ivy League the rest of the way traveling to Brown next Saturday.