Princeton University Football Team Overcomes Columbia, Elements to Win Ivy League Opener

The elements and Cameron Molina conspired in an attempt to hand the Princeton University football team its first defeat of the season.

They failed.

The Tigers outlasted Columbia, 10-5, in the Ivy League opener for both teams Friday night.

The difference was a first-quarter in which John Lovett threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Trevor Osborne and Nolan Bieck kicked a 45-yard field goal.

Princeton wouldn’t score again the rest of the night, but the defense held the Lions, who haven’t won a game since defeating Cornell in 2013, off the board.

The Lions’ points came on special teams, in the form of a Cameron Nizialek 30-yard field goal in the second quarter and a blocked punt for a safety in the third.

Lovett managed just 31 yards passing and Chad Kanoff threw for 25 yards. Joe Rhattigan led the Princeton rushing attack with 85 yards.

The Lions’ Molina was the offensive star on a night when offense was mostly scared away by the nor’easter like conditions that continued to fall on New Jersey. He 106 yards on 27 carries, according to espn.com.

Princeton improved to 3-0 overall, 1-0 in the conference. Columbia fell to 0-3, 0-1 in conference play.