WPRB Sports

Cornell-Princeton Live Blog, 2nd Half

3rd Quarter

As I was finishing up my halftime report, there was a lot of action, and not in the Tigers favor.  The sequence was as follows:

-8 play, 64-yard TOUCHDOWN drive for the Big Red, capped off with a short pass to Luke Tasker for the score.  Princeton’s pass defense continues to be exploitable, and Mathews is taking advantage.

-A 3 and out for the Tigers, with a nice punt by Joe Cloud.

-A promising drive stalls for the Big Red, and they are forced to punt to the Tiger 10 yard line.

-On the first play of the drive, Dixon drops back to pass and is sacked by Cody Roberts, and Kevin Marchand, the defensive end, records his first career touchdown by returning a fumble recovery 2 yards to paydirt.

-Once again, Princeton goes 3 and out, all plays passes.

I’ll resume the actual LIVE blog right now, with 5:39 left in the 3rd quarter.

4:58 – Grant Bellatly finds a big hole between the center and right guard, and sprints upfield for an impressive first down to the Cornell 45.  Nice reads by Bellatly.

4:31 – Princeton stops the sweep for Nick-Booker Tandy, the backup tailback, but Cornell still gains 4 yards as a result of the offensive line’s push.

3:40 – A rarity: the tight end, Ryan Houska, lines up as quarterback and keeps it for 4 yards.

3:20 – A free play for Cornell after Princeton jumps offside, and they take advantage, with Booker-Tandy finding a hole on the right side of the line for a 21-yard gain to the Princeton 26.

2:20 – An amusing play on 2nd down: Mathews’s pass is batted down at the line of scrimmage right back into Mathews’s chest, and he gains a few yards on the play.

1:50 – Brad Greenway’s 42-yard kick is wide right, and Princeton starts a drive on their own 26.  They really need to capitalize now, since it’s a 2 score game, but the way the Cornell offense is moving the ball, it probably won’t stay that way for long.

1:00 – Connor Kelley is in at quarterback, and two consecutive handoffs to Culbreath and Matt Zimmerman gain only 3 yards.

0:35 – Kelley evades some pressure, but his pass intended for Trey Peacock is batted down at the line of scrimmage, and Princeton is forced to punt once again.  Cornell starts on the 29 yard line.

0:20 – Cornell starts the drive, and ends the quarter, with a quick slant to Shane Savage for a first down.  Sometimes, a poorly-performing pass defense is the result of missed tackles, but that’s not the case here – the receivers are just wide open.

4th Quarter

13:21 – After moving the ball well, Cornell is forced to punt after a Blake Clemens pass deflection.  Roman Wilson calls for a fair catch on the 11 yard line.

12:11 – Another 3 and out, this time ending on another incomplete deep ball to Trey Peacock.  Dixon can’t seem to place ball in the right place for his tall receivers to go up for jump balls.  Cloud’s punt is returned to Princeton’s 41 yard line, but there is a flag for holding against Cornell, so they start the drive on their own 49 yard line.

11:49 – Three consecutive incompletions for Jeff Mathews, and I’m puzzled by Cornell head coach Kent Austin’s decision to throw the ball for a couple of reasons.  Despite the success of the pass offense, Princeton’s tendency has been to weaken on the defensive line in the second half when the offense cannot sustain drives – that is certainly the case today.  Grant Gellatly has looked impressive in the second half, and he could certainly provide some closing power.  There’s plenty of time left in the game, but it’s time to start thinking about the clock.

10:45 – A couple successful running plays for the Tigers.  First, a 2o yard run to the left by Matt Zimmerman, and then a QB keeper with Andrew Dixon for a first down to Cornell’s 49 yard line.

9:54 – Shane Wilkinson catches a quick screen from Dixon and sprints to the first down marker, giving the Tigers a fresh set of downs on Cornell’s 39.

9:20 – Yet another incomplete deep attempt from Dixon, this time to Andrew Kerr running a fly pattern down the right sideline.  The ball is well overthrown, and Dixon can’t find a happy medium on those long pass patterns.

8:50 – Matt Zimmerman breaks a tackle on 2nd down and bursts ahead for a first on the 24 yard line.

8:18 – After a quick screen to Peacock for a few yards, Dixon keeps the ball again and shows some agility, sprinting left for a first down at Cornell’s 12.

8:09 – On a fade pattern to Peacock, Dixon overthrows the ball but Cornell safety Jaiye Falusi is called for pass interference, and Princeton has a first down on the 2.

8:04 – A dive right up the middle with Brian Mills gets into the end zone for a Princeton TOUCHDOWN.  The offensive line won that battle, and Mills just had to fall over the goal line.  Patrick Jacob kicks the extra point to make it 21-13.  I hate going for 1 there, but I’ll address that in the postgame report, because I don’t want to get on my soapbox now.

7:56 – Rashad Campbell returns the kickoff from Patrick Jacob all the way out to the 43 yard line of Cornell.  It’s a one score game now, and I’d expect to see Austin much less cavalier in calling plays.

7:12 – Two running plays – one to Nick Booker-Tandy, one a keeper by the TE Houska – gain 8 yards, and Cornell has a big 3rd down play on Princeton’s 48 yard line.

6:30 – Houska takes the keeper again but he is absolutely rocked by Jon Olofsson for a loss.  Roman Wilson receives the punt on Princeton’s 8 yard line, and the upcoming drive is essentially the game.

5:58 – WOW!  Dixon FINALLY completes a deep ball, with Peacock beating his defender straight through the middle of the field, making a nice over the shoulder catch, breaking a tackle, and sprinting ahead for the TOUCHDOWN.  A 1 play, 92 yard drive for the Tigers, and momentum is shifting their way.

5:58 – On the 2 point conversion attempt, Andrew Dixon has all kinds of time, but the coverage is tight, and he has no choice but to lob it up near the cornerback Emani Fenton, who juggles the ball and drops it.  Cornell 21, Princeton 19.

5:52 – Another solid return for Cornell, with Anthony Ambrosi catching Jacob’s kick at the 15 and bringing it back out to the Cornell 39.

5:39 – A clutch play by the Big Red, as Mathews finds an open Shane Savage on a post pattern for a 30-yard gain out to Princeton’s 31.  Momentum is on Cornell’s side right now, but they really could use a touchdown.

3:53 – Grant Gellatly gets a key 3rd down conversion, catching a pass in the flat and running upfield to the Cornell 14 yard line.  Princeton absolutely has to have a stop here – a touchdown would presumably put them down 9, and with this amount of time, a comeback would be unlikely.

3:08 – After Princeton hurts themselves with an offsides penalty on 1st down, Cornell hurts themselves in a BIG (Red) way.  Luke Tasker catches a pass on the 2 yard line, and while attempting to push into the endzone, fumbles the ball.  Tim Kingsbury recovers the fumble on the 8 yard line.  Princeton has plenty of time to try for a game-winning drive.

2:10 – 2 consecutive first down completions to the tight end Harry Flaherty, and Princeton has a first down on the 35 yard line.

1:42 – Matt Zimmerman breaks a bunch of tackles, and bursts ahead to the Princeton 44 yard line.  After an incompletion, it’s 3rd and 1.

1:27 – Brian Mills carries for a first down.  Princeton has all of its time outs.

1:07 – I won’t say it was a blunder, but Cornell coach Austin inexplicably called a timeout after Harry Flaherty was tackled in bounds for no gain.  Princeton is on its 47 yard line.

0:59 – Matt Zimmerman takes the handoff and bursts ahead for another first down at Cornell’s 41 yard line.  Princeton still has all of its timeouts.

0:48 – Andrew Dixon rolls out to his left and quickly gets rid of the ball out of bounds.  2nd and 10 on Cornell’s 41.

0:42 – Pass complete to Harry Flaherty running a curl route right in the middle of the field, Princeton is now at Cornell’s 28 yard line!  A very exciting end to this game right here.

0:29 – After a 3 yard rush by Matt Zimmerman, Princeton finally takes its first timeout.  It’s 2nd and 7 on the 24.  Patrick Jacob’s long field goal this season is 43 yards, so this is within his range.  However, the wind is against him.

0:23 – A game-ending mistake by Andrew Dixon, as Trey Peacock had single coverage running down the left sideline, but the pass was underthrown and is intercepted by Emani Fenton for a touchback.  That should just about do it.

0:00 – Jeff Mathews takes a knee and the game is over.  The Cornell Big Red are victorious, 21-19.

Princeton-Cornell Live Blog – 1st half

Hi folks, I’m here up in Gorges Ithaca, where the Tigers and Big Red are set to start a 12:30 gridiron matchup.  I’ll be providing some updates and observations as they happen.

1st quarter

15:00 – Peacock attempts a Frank Wycheck-esque lateral on the kickoff return, that doesn’t work out at all, and is stuffed at the 16 yard line.

14:40 – Peacock quickly gains a first down on a running play.  Andrew Dixon starts at quarterback for the second straight week.

13:38 – Connor Kelley gains a first down on a 3rd down running play, going in motion from left to right.  First down on the 44.

13:26 – A bomb on first down intended for Isaac Serwanga is broken up by cornerback Emani Fenton, first long pass from Dixon, and it was well thrown.

12:56 – Trey Peacock drops a 3rd down pass, and Princeton brings in Joe Cloud to punt, which he does to the 21 yard line.

12:02 – Cornell gets a quick first down on 2nd and 1 with a sweep to the tailback Grant Gellatly.

11:40 – Another first down, this time an 11 yard pass to Gellatly.

10:15 – Quarterback Jeff Mathews completes a first down pass to Shane Savage on a left sideline out.

9:00 – On 2nd and 10, Mathews escapes a sure 8-yard loss sack to complete a 2 yard pass to WR Luke Tasker.

7:40 – on 4th and 1, a powerful run right up the middle for a first down.  One of the keys to the game for Princeton is finding a good rush defense, and so far they haven’t been tested to much on this first drive, but we’ll have to see if that continues.

7:13 – A 1st down pass from Mathews is tipped and INTERCEPTED by Dan Fitzsimmons on the 19, who runs it to the 29.  Big momentum shift for Princeton.

6:38 – Princeton trying to sustain this drive, as they get a couple breaks.  A 2nd down pass to Trey Peacock is complete, and the defender misses a tackle, allowing him to sprint close to the marker.  A roughing the passer play gives Princeton a 1st down.

5:47 – Princeton’s second long pass on the day is once again a go-route to Serwanga down the right sideline.  He gets a way with a push-off, but doesn’t come down with the ball.

5:32 – After near-fumble by Dixon that is ruled an incomplete pass, Otavio Fleury punts to the 15 yard line.

5:20 – On 1st down, Gellatly gains 4 on a sweep to the right.  Nice open-field tackle by Weston Palmer to prevent a bigger gain.

4:17 – Cornell really relying on the running back Bellatly, both on short passes and runs.  This time he takes a handoff to the outside, the offensive line throws some nice blocks, and it’s a 1st down for the Big Red at the Cornell 36.

3:13 – A perfect pass from Mathews to a wide open Shane Savage on an out-route on the right sideline.  Princeton defensive tackle Matt Boyer is shaken up on the play, but walks off on his own.

2:50 – Luke Tasker runs a curl route on the left sideline, and makes a couple of nice moves to push forward for a 1st down for Cornell on Princeton’s 34 yard line.

1:30 – Mathews completes a long pass to Ryan Houska, the tight end, to Princeton’s 5 yard line.  1st and goal for the Big Red.

0:05 – Mathews throws a quick slant to WR Kurt Ondash for a TOUCHDOWN, and the extra point makes it 7-0 Cornell.  That first drive was 11 plays, covered 85 yards, and took off 5:27 of the clock.  The rushing defense that has plagued Princeton this year wasn’t the problem that drive; Mathews had all day to throw the ball, and the receivers had wide open spaces.

0:00 – Peacock returns the kickoff to the 26 yard line, and Princeton gets set to start off the 2nd quarter.

2nd quarter

14:55 – Connor Kelley in at quarterback, quickly hands off to Jordan Culbreath up the middle for a gain of 1.

14:23 – Kelley still in, Zimmerman gets the carry and gains only a few yards up the middle.  Offensive line not generating any push.

13:38 – Kelley drops back to throw, but doesn’t see anyone open, and runs up the middle for a gain of 5 yards, setting Princeton up with a 4th and 1.

13:26 – A costly mistake for the Big Red, as Cornell has 12 men on the field during the punt formation, 1st down for Princeton.

13:03 – Dixon back in the game at quarterback, throws a long pass to Peacock down the left sideline, which he can’t come up with.  I thought there should have been a flag for some jersey holding, but the zebras did not agree.

12:58 – Culbreath takes a sweep to the right and gains 11 yards for the first down.  Culbreath generating a lot of power with his legs there.

12:33 – On 2nd and 10, Culbreath repeats the play from a few seconds earlier, and takes a handoff outside the right tackle for a gain of 11.  1st down on the Cornell 35.  Princeton takes their first timeout.

12:20 – Yet another deep pass from Dixon, this time intended for Kerr streaking through the middle of the field, but he’s blanketed by double coverage, and it falls incomplete.

12:05 – Brian mills takes a draw up the middle, from shotgun formation, for another quick 1st down on the ground for Princeton.

11:25 – Dixon goes play-action, and has Isaac Serwanga wide open, but is hit as he throws, and the pass falls well short.

11:20 – Kelley in as quarterback, and is promptly intercepted by strong safety Michael Hernandez on the 5 yard line.  The pass was intended for Andrew Kerr running a fly pattern, but Hernandez just stepped in front of him.  First down, Cornell.

10:05 – After a quick first down, Princeton’s pass defense is stout, with Blake Clemons breaking up a pass on the left sideline, and then shutting down a screen for a few yards.

9:20 – Grant Bellatly catches a pass in the flat, and shimmies just enough to get to the marker.  First down Cornell on their own 28.

8:13 – Mathews drops back, and has all kinds of time, but the coverage is good, and he sprints up the middle for a first down.  The containment has to be better for the Tigers – with only a 3 man rush, there should be a linebacker or two in position to stop a quarterback run up the middle, but Mathews has plenty of room.

7:17 – Following a false start penalty and a timeout by Cornell, Mathews’s pass intended for Luke Tasker running an 8-yard out-route on the left sideline is well wide.

7:08 – The first real hurry for the Tiger defensive line, as a blitz allows the linemen to get containment and force Mathews to throw the ball away.

6:52 – Cornell goes to Bellatly again, this time with a pass over the middle, but Andrew Starks is right there, and Cornell is forced to punt.

6:26 – A nice punt from Drew Alston, and Roman Wilson brings it out to the 23 yard line of Princeton.

6:19 – A quick bubble screen to the left for Andrew Kerr, and the Tigers achieve a quick 1st down.

5:30 – On 2nd down, Culbreath takes a handoff to the outside and gets another 1st down sprinting down the right sideline.

4:56 – After a stuffed Brian Mills blast up the middle, Dixon rolls out and tries to find Andrew Kerr sprinting down the right sideline, but the pass is broken up by Emani Fenton.

4:30 – A screen to Trey Peacock goes absolutely nowhere, and Princeton is forced to punt.

4:20 – It’s a beauty from Joe Cloud, and is downed at the 7-yard line.  First down Cornell.

3:55 – A sweep for Bellatly is stuffed by a whole host of linemen and linebackers, and Matt Landry records the tackle.

3:37 – Oh boy, Mathews misses a wide open Bellatly over the middle for what would have been an easy first down and likely more.  Again the pass defense is nowhere to be found, but the Tigers are bailed out.

3:25 – A pass for Alex Johnson down the right sideline is well covered, and Blake Clemens records the breakup.

3:10 – After a punt, Roman Wilson returns to the 41 of Cornell.

2:50 – A couple fantastic plays for Princeton.  Culbreath rushes right for a gain of 8, and then a WR screen actually works for Princeton on the right side, and it’s a first down.

2:08 – The same sequence again for Princeton.  Brian Mills runs right for 7, and then a quick pass for Andrew Kerr gains a few yards for a 1st down.

1:24 – On 2nd down, Dixon makes a fantastic play, evades a sack, and finds Peacock in the end zone on a post route, beating double coverage and recording a 16 yard TOUCHDOWN for Princeton.  Patrick Jacob misses the extra point wide left, though – we’ll see if that mistake comes back to haunt the Tigers.  Jacob has been pretty reliable so far this season, so this seems to be an anomaly.

1:17 – Cornell starts a drive with about a minute plus left on the clock at their own 27 yard line.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see Cornell come out aggressively, as Princeton’s pass defense has been lackluster so far this year.

1:01 – I was incorrect.  Cornell starts the drive with a quick 2 yard pass to the left sideline, and then a run up the middle for 3 yards by Bellatly.

0:25 – There may be time left yet.  Mathews converts the 3rd down with a pass to Shane Savage along the left sideline.  They’re at their own 40 yard line, so with 60 yards to go in 25 seconds, it seems like it might be too tough to score a touchdown.  The Big Red use their final timeout for some reason which I cannot fathom, and now they are left with 60 yards and no timeouts – looks like they’ll be willing to take it into the half up 7-6.

0:00 – They do exactly that, with a handoff up the middle to Bellatly that runs out the clock.

HALFTIME – Cornell 7, Princeton 6