Tigers Pull Away in Fourth, Win 42-32

Despite the football team’s best offensive production to date, the Lions dropped their conference opener to defending Ivy League co-champion Princeton on Saturday, 42-32.

In a game plagued by turnovers—both teams combined for a total of seven—Columbia, down by 18 at one point in the first half, took advantage of Princeton’s mistakes to keep the game close in the second half.

“I thought they didn’t give up,” Columbia head coach Norries Wilson said. “I thought they played with the attitude that you have to have to play in college football—you don’t say die until the official blows the whistle to end the game.”

Lions quarterback Craig Hormann was 23-43 on the night for 275 yards with two interceptions—his second coming at the end of the fourth quarter, ending Columbia’s hope of an upset. His play Saturday displayed improved confidence and mobility from the start of the season.

“I had, I felt, a pretty good practice this week,” Hormann said. “My timing was a lot better, the routes, and just my presence in the pocket was a lot better throughout the week. I think that showed today. I felt pretty comfortable out there.”

After an early field goal by junior Jon Rocholl, the Columbia offense seemed to stall until right before the half, when Hormann connected with sophomore wide receiver Austin Knowlin for a 69-yard touchdown pass. Knowlin ended the day with 146 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

On Princeton’s next possession sophomore strong safety Andy Shalbrack intercepted Tigers quarterback Bill Foran and returned it for a touchdown, giving the Lions the momentum going into halftime. Shalbrack ended the night with eleven tackles, a pass break up, an interception, and a fumble recovery. The Columbia defense frustrated Princeton throughout the contest, as Shalbrack and senior cornerback Eugene Edwards, who also had an interception and a fumble recovery, helped the Lions win the turnover battle.

“That Columbia team flew around and had more fight in them than I’ve seen at that place in a long time, and I have great respect for what they’ve done and how much they’ve improved,” Princeton head coach Roger Hughes said.

With Columbia leading by three in the third quarter, after Foran’s first fumble and second interception, Hughes pulled Foran and put in senior backup quarterback Greg Mroz. Mroz quickly put two more touchdowns—one touchdown pass and a handoff to junior running back R.C. Lagomarsino—on the board for the Tigers before leaving the game with a hand injury.

“I just felt like we needed a spark,” Hughes said. “I think Greg is certainly a different style, and what happens is, you get all geared up as a defense to play Bill, and then Greg comes in and throws it around a little.”

Early in the fourth, junior running back Jordan Davis, who had another 100-yard rushing game, showed his versatility by throwing a three yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Jamal Russell to bring Columbia within three.

Despite the effort, Columbia couldn’t stop Foran, who ended the night as Princeton’s leading rusher with 98 yards, or senior wide receiver Brendan Circle, who had eight catches for 140 yards.

“We make a lot of mistakes that we have to get corrected—that I have to get corrected—but currently our identity is that we’re not outplayed in effort,” Wilson said. “If we can match execution with that effort I think we have a chance to be a decent football program in this league.”