Tigers score winning TD on ‘crazy’ play
By: Ken Weingartner
PRINCETON – The word most frequently heard following the Princeton football team’s 17-10 win Satu
rday over Dartmouth was "crazy."
Wild, remarkable or unbelievable would have sufficed, too.
James Williams, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive end, ran 24 yards for a touchdown after Dartmouth blocked a 42-yard field goal attempt by the Tigers with 5:25 to play, lifting Princeton to victory in its final game of the season.
Faced with fourth-and-2 from Dartmouth’s 25-yard-line, Derek Javarone’s kick was blocked by Clayton Smith, but the ball caromed directly to holder Colin McDonough, who caught the ball in midair and began to run for the first-down marker.
Williams came up behind McDonough in an attempt to push the pile forward as it neared the 25. When McDonough’s momentum seemed to be stopped, Williams grabbed the ball and ran untouched into the end zone. Following a discussion between the officials, the play was ruled a touchdown and gave Princeton a 17-10 lead.
"It was one of those things you don’t even think about," Williams said. "It was like backyard football when you’re a kid. He (McDonough) says he gave the ball to me, but I think I took it from him. I couldn’t believe no one else was there. I feel bad; Colin did all the work and I get all the glory."
Dartmouth coach John Lyons said he thought the Tigers executed a forward lateral in getting the ball to Williams. Smith, who blocked the kick, wasn’t exactly sure what had happened.
"It was just one of those crazy plays," Smith said. "We got a good push up the middle and the ball hit me right in the middle of my right hand. It just doesn’t seem right for us to go out like that."
The Big Green actually had two opportunities to change their fate. On the possession following Williams’ touchdown, Dartmouth drove to the Tigers’ 24 before seeing third- and fourth-down passes into the end zone dropped by open receivers.
Dartmouth’s defense, which gave up 228 yards, held the Tigers and forced a punt with 2:27 to play. But Princeton’s defense, which yielded 263 yards, got sacks from seniors Peter Kelly, Zak Keasey and Chris Browne to put the game on ice.
"I definitely wanted to end my career on a strong note," said Keasey, who had a game-best 22 tackles (four for losses) and two sacks as Princeton snapped a four-game losing streak and finished the year 5-5. "Our defense wanted to show how good we are if we play a complete game. I think we did that today."
Princeton fumbled on its first play from scrimmage, giving the Big Green the ball near midfield. Dartmouth ran 10 plays, but picked up just 24 yards, and settled for a 41-yard field goal attempt. The kick was short, one of three missed field goals by the visitors.
Tim Strickland’s interception set up the Tigers’ first score, a 33-yard field goal by Javarone with 9:46 left in the second quarter. An interception by Smith helped Dartmouth even the game at 3-3 seven minutes later when Eric Hinterbichler booted a 31-yard field goal.
The Tigers responded with an 11-play, 70-yard drive that resulted in Jay McCareins’ 5-yard touchdown catch with six seconds remaining in the first half. It was Matt Verbit’s seventh TD pass of the year, each to a different receiver. Verbit completed 7 of 9 passes for 64 yards on the march.
A fumble on Princeton’s first possession of the second half led to the Big Green tying the score at 10 when Charlie Rittgers connected with Andrew Hall on a 22-yard touchdown pass.
Williams’ heroics in the final period would have been unnecessary had Greg Fields’ 55-yard punt return for a touchdown not been negated by an illegal block. Seven plays later, Williams found the end zone.
"We played really well defensively and make a great play at the end and they end up scoring on it," Lyons said. "We kept coming back and had two touchdown passes dropped. You get in games like this, and you can’t do those types of things. We played well enough to win; it’s just a shame."
Princeton improved to 3-4 in the Ivy League. Dartmouth ended its season 1-9 overall and 1-6 in the league.
"It was a crazy game," Tigers coach Roger Hughes said. "Our kids fought their tails off. I’ve been preaching to them for the past two years that if you keep playing hard, good things will happen. I think this win, and the way we won, could signal maybe a turning of good fortune. We’ve know what it’s like to be on the backside of when bad things happen.
"This is definitely a great way to finish off the season."