October 9, 2002: Sports
Fourth-quarter
blues
Tigers
blow 17-point lead at Lehigh
Sports Web Exclusives! The Varsity Typewriter column
Fourth-quarter
blues
Tigers blow 17-point lead at Lehigh
Photo: David Splithoff ’04 throws to Chisom Opara ’03 in the Tigers’ season-opening loss. (Beverly Schaefer)
For the first half of Princeton’s season opener at Lehigh on September 21, it was the Tigers who played like a nationally ranked team, racking up a 24—7 lead with 300 yards of offense and a defense that silenced a Lehigh unit responsible for 108 points in its first two games.
Still, memories of last year’s opener, which saw the Tigers give up 24 unanswered third-quarter points to Lehigh, could not have been far from the minds along the Princeton sideline. But surely this year was different: Princeton has more firepower, and displayed it early for the crowd of 12,176, as quarterback David Splithoff ’04 connected with wide receivers B. J. Szymanski ’05 (7 receptions, 111 yards) and Chisom Opara ’03 (4, 88) for touchdown strikes and halfback Branden Benson ’05 ran in a score set up by a 66-yard Splithoff-to-Szymanski bomb.
Sadly, the only difference in outcome was that Lehigh waited until the fourth quarter to snatch a 31—24 win from a stunned Tiger squad.
The closing 15 minutes demonstrated why Lehigh (3—0) was the third-ranked team in Division I-AA entering the game. The Mountain Hawks scored 24 unanswered points, including a 12-yard touchdown pass with 13 seconds left that gave them their only lead of the game.
With some great performances on both sides of the ball, Princeton coach Roger Hughes focused on the positive. “Like I told the team right after, ‘While this one stings a lot, if it’s a sign of things to come — if we only lose by a touchdown to the No. 3 ranked team in the country in their house, I think that sets the tone for the rest of the season and we should be able to build on it,’” said Hughes, who has not won a season opener since he took over the program in 2000.
As impressive as the Tigers were in the first half, signs of impending doom appeared in the scoreless third quarter, as a few players started cramping up in the heat and humidity, including fullback Joel Mancl ’05, who was out for most of the second half.
The loss of Mancl, who also lined up as a second tight end in the first half, was magnified because of injuries to tight ends Randy Bly ’04, who went down two days before the opener, and this year’s slated starter Mike Chiusano ’03, whose season ended when he broke his clavicle in a preseason practice. Without Mancl, the Tigers couldn’t use the two tight-end sets Hughes employed successfully in the first half. But Hughes would not use the heat, injuries, or first-game jitters as excuses. “They hurt our game plan and what we wanted to do,” said Hughes of the injuries. “But we had other things we went to and we just didn’t execute them.”
The fateful fourth quarter opened with a Lehigh touchdown on a 1-yard run that Zak Keasey ’04 and company appeared to stop short of the goal line. Keasey, who also recorded a sack and a tipped pass, got a little revenge by blocking the ensuing extra-point kick. That was it for Princeton’s fourth quarter highlights, though, as a fumble, an interception, and two penalties for 20 yards set up scoring drives and completely shifted the momentum to Lehigh.
Splithoff’s lone interception was costly. Sitting at his own 17 and still leading 24—16 with less than 10 minutes to play, Splithoff tried to connect with Opara, but Lehigh safety Scott Salvatera stepped in front of the pass and ran 26 yards into the end zone. The Tigers drove to Lehigh’s 48-yard line on their next chance, but a fumble by Jon Veach ’05 gave Lehigh the ball. After a 10-yard holding penalty on a Lehigh punt pinned the Tigers at their own eight-yard line, Princeton went three and out. Joe Nardello ’05’s 34-yard punt put Lehigh within striking distance, and the Mountain Hawks completed their late-game surge on Chris Schwenk’s touchdown pass to Justin Barrasso.
“Nobody gave up out there,” said Keasey. “I think the guys were feeling them gaining momentum a bit, but the defense definitely wasn’t shying away from getting on the field and we thought we could stop them. We just needed to make more big plays.”
With nine games still ahead
of them, the Tigers will get their chance. 
By A.D
Sports
shorts
Two-time All-America fencer Lindsay Campbell ’02 was named one of two Division I winners of the 2001—02 ECAC-Robbins Scholar Athlete award last month. The award honors the academic and athletic achievements of student-athletes representing ECAC schools. Campbell placed sixth at the NCAA championships in 2000 and 2002, earning All-America honors both seasons. During her senior year, she captured the NCAA regional championship in the epee competition. Away from the gym, Campbell won Princeton’s sportsmanship award and a ReachOut ’56 Fellowship, a $25,000 grant to support a yearlong public service project after graduation. She also received the Guggenheim Fellowship in 2001. Men’s basketball’s tour of Spain in late August produced a 6—1 record, but more important it marked the return of Andre Logan ’04, who missed much of last season because of a knee injury, and Spencer Gloger ’04, who had not played for the Tigers since the 1999—00 season after transferring to UCLA and then back to Princeton. Gloger started strong, scoring 23 points in the second game of the tour, which the Tigers won 113—102 against Rayet Guadalajara. Princeton has not scored more than 100 points in a regular season game since the 1970—71 season against Yale.
All eight Ivy League football
teams will appear on the YES Network this fall beginning October 12 with
the Cornell— Harvard game. Princeton’s season
finale against Dartmouth on November 23 will be aired from Princeton Stadium.
The network is available in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania,
as well as nationally via DirecTV.
By A.D.
