The Princeton Tigers pulled off a gritty 26-22 victory over the Columbia Lions on Friday night at Powers Field at Princeton Stadium, kicking off Ivy League play with a tense battle that had fans on edge until the final whistle. It was the kind of game where momentum swung like a pendulum, leaving both teams' supporters breathless.
Coming into the matchup, both squads sat at 1-1 after non-conference tilts. Columbia had stumbled hard in their opener, dropping a 38-14 decision to Lafayette, but rebounded with a solid 19-10 win against Georgetown last week—thanks in part to three interceptions off the Hoyas' quarterback. Princeton, meanwhile, absorbed a tough 42-35 loss to San Diego before rallying past Lafayette 38-28, where three different rushers found the end zone to keep their season alive.
Princeton's defense proved decisive, forcing two crucial turnovers in the second half that flipped the script after Columbia led 16-13 at halftime. Tigers quarterback Blaine Hippa connected on key passes, totaling 180 yards and a touchdown, while the ground game churned out 120 yards to control the clock. Columbia's Chase Goodwin showed flashes, rushing and passing for scores, but penalties—eight for 65 yards—hampered their drive, a recurring issue that quietly undermined their upset bid.
Indeed, the Lions pushed back late, narrowing the gap to four points with under two minutes left, but Princeton's secondary sealed it with a game-saving interception. This win boosts Princeton to 2-1 overall, tying them for early Ivy contention, while Columbia drops to 1-2, facing questions about their discipline on the road.
However, the Ivy League grind is just beginning; with Harvard and Yale looming, both teams will need to sharpen up quickly. One has to wonder how these early stumbles—or surges—might echo through the ancient eight's standings by November.