Princeton University Football Team Edges Lafayette In Season Opener

Princeton, NJ -- Senior tri-captain Joe Rhattigan rushed for a career-high 137 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Princeton University football team to a 35-31 win over Lafayette in the season opener Saturday night, according to stats provided by Princeton.

Junior quarterback John Lovett added a pair of rushing touchdowns in front of 13,420 fans at Princeton Stadium on Community and Staff Night.

Most stayed for the postgame fireworks show after seeing the on-field fireworks that developed on Powers Field.

It was Princeton’s ninth straight win over Lafayette, and the Tigers’ second consecutive win in a season opener, the first time Princeton has done that since 2005-06. Last year’s season-opening win snapped an eight-game losing streak in season openers for Princeton.

Princeton (1-0) overcame three deficits to defeat Lafayette (1-2). The Tigers put together a 21-3 run over a 15-minute span to take control of the game.

Lovett capped an 11-play, 75-yard drive right before the half with a one-yard score to even the score at 21-21 heading into halftime.

Lafayette took its third and final lead of the game at 24-21,

However, a sack by Luke Catarius killed a Leopards drive in the red zone. Catarius led the Tigers with 13 tackles, including two explosive ones deep on kickoff returns.

Following Catarius’s sack, Rhattigan scored from one yard out on the ensuing drive to open a 28-24 lead.
Then, he broke through the line and down the left side for a 17-yard scored with only 48 seconds left in the third quarter.

Lafayette quarterback Drew Reed, who impressed the Tiger coaching staff with his poise and accuracy throughout the game, hit top target Matt Mrazek for a 24-yard score with 5:24 to go, but the Princeton offense kept the ball the rest of the way.

Lafayette's final opportunity would come after a holding penalty negated a 30-yard run by sophomore Charlie Volker.

Lovett ran for 6 yards, and Rhattigan followed with 5 to set up third-and-9 with two minutes remaining. Kanoff bought time and hit Lovett on a crossing route, and the All-Ivy do-everything specialist dragged a Lafayette defender the final 2 yards for the game-clinching first down.

"We spent a lot of time this preseason talking about not flinching," Princeton coach Bob Surace said. "Don't press the panic button. Stick together and play, and that's what they did. I was very proud of them, and that was my message after the game."

Senior Isaiah Barnes posted the second 100-yard receiving game of his career. He caught five passes for 102 yards, including a 28-yard catch on third down during Princeton's touchdown drive before halftime.

The revamped Princeton secondary saw interceptions from both Dorian Williams and Markus Phox, both of which set up touchdowns for the Tigers.

It was the first interception of Phox’s career, on a night in which he joined his father and grandfather at midfield before the game. His grandfather, Floyd Phox, was a ceremonial captain for Princeton after spending more than 25 years working for the University in Building Services.

Rohan Hylton had 11 tackles in his first game since a season-ending injury at Brown last season. Both Catarius and Kurt Holuba, who returned from a season-ending injury against Lafayette last season, recorded sacks, while Ty Desiré had a quarterback hit on the Williams interception, one of two on the night. Hylton forced a fumble that was recovered by Quincy Wolff.

TJ Floyd led all freshmen with three tackles while playing a significant amount of time at the safety position.

Freshman Tavish Rice went 5-for-5 on PAT attempts.

To see the full boxscore, click here.