Princeton Pummled Hard by Harvard, 42-7

(GoPrincetonTigers.com)

Princeton and Harvard met on the gridiron this weekend in Cambridge, MA, home of the Crimson. In the first quarter, the score tied at zero, the Crimson decided to go for it on a fourth down from their own 27. The Princeton defense was able to bring down Harvard quarterback Scott Hosch and the Tigers took over at their own 38 yard line.

Unfortunately, Harvard’s defense was able to hold Princeton to a punt, and the Tigers were unable to convert a fourth down stop into any points. On the next drive, Harvard TE Ben Braunecker fumbled a pass to him at his own 24 which the Tigers recovered. Once again, however, the Crimson defense held, and the first quarter ended in a scoreless tie.

Harvard scored the first points of the game in the second quarter when Hosch ran it in himself for a touchdown to give the Crimson a 6-0 lead. The extra point was blocked by Princeton and returned for a two-point conversion, but a running into the kicker penalty gave Harvard a second chance at the extra point, which they made to make the score 7-0.

On the next drive, Princeton RB Dre Nelson fumbled a handoff, and Harvard recovered. For the second time in the game, the Princeton defense pressures Hosch when the Crimson attempt to convert on a fourth down.

Inside the five yard line, Lovett took center and handed the ball off to Adam Hoffmann, who took the ball into the endzone. Princeton tied the game at seven. Harvard re-took the lead on a touchdown pass from Hosch to Braunecker from inside the 10 yard line. Harvard took that 14-7 lead into the half. The two teams combined for six turnovers (Harvard four, Princeton two) and three lost fumbles (Harvard had two, Princeton had one.)

On Harvard’s first dive of the half, they were able to score a touchdown when Paul Stanton, Jr. scored from five yards out, untouched. The Crimson’s lead was now 21-7.

The Crimson scored again on their next drive when Hosch hooked up with WR Andrew Fisher on a 30-yard touchdown to bring the lead up to 28-7.

Harvard continued to pour it on. Stanton rushed for his second touchdown of the game, this time from 35 yards out. In scoring, he flipped over the goal line in celebration. The lead was 35-7 at the end of the third quarter..

The Tigers were looking to shorten the lead, reaching the red zone. On third and goal, however, Asante Gibson intercepted a pass that was thrown by Princeton quarterback. Harvard took advantage fast, and Seitu Smith scored from 10 yards out to increase the lead to 42-7. That would wind up being the final score. For the second straight season, Princeton lost to Harvard by 35+ points.

Next week, the Tigers will go back home to host Cornell University. The game is scheduled to kick off at 3:3o p.m. ET.