Football faces test from No. 13 Mountain Hawks
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Akil Sharp has been waiting anxiously for the chance to take on the Lehigh University football team.
It has nothing to do with looking to top his big season opener of a year ago against the Mountain Hawks — 138 all-purpose yards, and everything to do with putting last year behind him and starting to turn around the Tigers.
”Everybody wants to win,” said Princeton’s senior running back. “That’s why they play Princeton football. You come to Princeton because you want to win. Everybody on our team is working hard and pushing toward that same goal. I think it’s just up to how we perform on the field and game time.”
The Tigers are looking forward to the 12:30 p.m. kickoff at Lehigh, ranked 13th in Football Championship Subdivision after starting 2-0, to get their own season started and prove that they’re turning the corner after back-to-back 1-9 seasons. Their cards are closely guarded with PU head coach Bob Surace choosing not to reveal his starters until game day.
”The only advantage we have is information,” Surace said. “The less they know about us, the better. Hopefully we’ll play well. I’m excited to get going.”
Surace has praised Sharp all during the preseason, and he’s the most experienced running back returning for the Tigers after they lost Ivy League Rookie of the Year Chuck Debilio. Debilio withdrew from school for the semester after suffering a stroke last year. Sharp was second to Debilio last year with 47 carries for 244 yards.
”I have the same mentality of working hard every day, doing the extra things I need to do to become a better player,” Sharp said. “There’s an understanding of what’s at stake. Coming into senior year, it’s important to end on a good note and do whatever I can to support this team and do what I can to make us the best team we can be.”
Sharp’s yards per carry average has increased in each of his three seasons, though he and the rest of the Tigers running backs have yet to score a touchdown in their careers. PU would like to see that change at Lehigh, a team that beat the Tigers, 34-22, last year at Princeton Stadium.
”If we are plus in the turnover ratio, I think we have a chance,” Surace said. “If you are plus, your odds are significantly better. That’s been emphasized and emphasized. It’s a lot more challenging if you’re in the minus category.
”Our red zone and third downs on both sides of the football, we have to play really well. We’re going to have a new kicker. Pat Jacob was very, very consistent. Our schedule is really challenging. We don’t have any cupcakes. We have Lehigh, Lafayette, and Georgetown, then go in the Ivy League, and it’s very challenging. To be successful have to win some close games.”
Said Sharp of Lehigh: “I think they will provide us with great competition, just as any other team. It’s good for us to get a good opponent under our belt and really test our ability and get a win over a good opponent.”
Lehigh has ridden quick starts to wins over Monmouth and Central Connecticut State, and they will have the advantage of two games experience already against a Tigers team that knows it will be starting less experience in some key spots in its first game against a quality team.
”They’ve been a really good team for a couple years,” Surace said. “You look at their depth charts, and there are a lot of guys that played on successful teams. They’re a terrific team. That experience and those guys being through some tough, tough NCAA tournaments games helps. They played real well early this year.
”(Ryan) Spadola, he’s probably the best receiver in the country. He was an All-American last year. He’s played well against us both years. They’re balanced at running back, quarterback, the other receiver spots, they’ve always been good on the line. They’re a really balanced team. They started off well this year.”
The Tigers match up well with the strength of their team’s experience concentrated in the front seven on defense led by Caraun Reid and Mike Catapano on the defensive line, along with Andrew Starks at linebacker.
”They provide a lot of leadership and experience,” Surace said. “I’m excited to see us in action.”
Princeton also thinks it has some good offensive weapons as well this year, but those haven’t been proven. Whichever quarterback or quarterbacks Surace goes with — sophomores Quinn Epperly and Connor Michelsen along with freshman Kedric Bostic are all in the mix — they won’t have much experience under center, but are brimming with potential.
”We feel like whoever is going to be in at quarterback is going to do a great job,” Sharp said. “We know our job as running back is when our number is called, do our job. Whatever play is called, whatever (offensive coordinator) Coach (James) Perry has scripted up, we’ll do the best we can.”
Sharp has seen a change in the preseason from previous ones. It’s the senior and junior classes’ third camp with Surace.
”I feel like we’ve always worked hard and everyone has continued to better themselves as a player,” Sharp said, “but we’re more of a team. We’re really working together. It’s a big tribute to how our team is going to look. The biggest thing we can do is focus on bettering ourselves each and every day. With that, we can continue to become a better team.
”I feel like at all our positions, hard work always beats out talent,” he continued. “We pride ourselves on working hard and focusing on what we need to do to become better football players. We’re doing the best to be the best football players we can and from there on, everything will work out the way it’s supposed to.”
Surace, too, seems more excited coming out of the preseason than ever before. It’s due to the development he’s seen in the program.
”Our offensive skill spots, we feel real happy about where we’re at depth wise,” he said. “When the lights come on, they just have to play the way they have in training camp. They have to play the way they have in practice.
”We have a lot of depth this year,” he added. “When you have that, you’re able to do more. Now that our guys are accustomed to the language, for freshmen it’s new, but the others, they learned that language for three years. I do feel that helps you execute.”
The Tigers will be looking to execute at a high level to compete with a top-20 FCS team on the road. It’s a challenging opener, but one that Akil Sharp and his teammates have been looking forward to since the end of last year.
”It’s always exciting going into your first game,” Sharp said. “This is what we’ve been working for the entire offseason and through the preseason camp. It’s good to get into a game week. We’re taking this just like a regular game. We’re staying focused and working day by day on what we need to work on.”