NEW YORK - Columbia scored 21 points in the second quarter as the Lions' offense exploded for 528 total yards in a 42-14 victory over Princeton to open the Ivy League football season.
Sophomore Sean Brackett completed 18 of 24 pass attempts for 273 yards and five touchdowns in the game, tying a Columbia record set by Paul Governali in 1942 and tied by John Witkowski vs. Dartmouth in 1982. Columbia's 42 points were the most scored against Princeton in school history, and first time ever Columbia has beaten Princeton in consecutive years.
Princeton's Matt Zimmerman scored on a four-yard run with 10:45 left in the second quarter to make it 7-0. Princeton's drive went 80 yards on 13 plays, spanning 3:30.
Columbia only trailed for four minutes. On the ensuing Princeton kickoff, Craig Hamilton had a 50-yard return to the Princeton 47. Brackett then went 3-3 on the drive, connecting with Andrew Kennedy and Nico Gutierrez before hitting Gutierrez with a 13-yard touchdown pass.
Columbia's defense stalled Princeton after three first downs on the next Tiger possession and Columbia got the ball at the 20 after Joe Cloud's touchback.
Columbia started its drive with just over three minutes remaining in the second quarter and the combination of Brackett and Nick Gerst made quick work of the Tiger defense.
After Brackett hit Gutierrez for a six-yard gain and then kept for nine, Gerst busted through for a 41-yard run, taking the ball all the way down to the Princeton 24. Gerst rushed for another eight on the next play and then caught a 14-yard pass from Brackett down to the Princeton two. Brackett then found Clif Pope from two yards out for the touchdown. Columbia went 80 yards on seven plays over a span of just 2:35 to lead 14-7.
Itching to score, Princeton got called for a holding penalty after the first play of the next drive. Columbia then got called for pass interference to give Princeton a first down on first and 20. On second and seven, Columbia's Ross Morand forced a fumble and Ben Popeck recovered and ran it 26 yards before being forced out at the Princeton seven-yard line.
It took Brackett two plays to put the Lions up two scores. He hit Kennedy on second and goal for the score and Luke Eddy added his third PAT to make it 21-7.
Princeton opened the second half with a three-and-out series and Columbia took over at the Princeton 48. Brackett found Kennedy yet again, this time for a 45-yard gain down to the Princeton three- yard line. Despite a false start penalty, Leon Ivery ran it in for the Lions' fourth touchdown of the game.
Princeton managed just one first down on its next two drives, and started its third drive of the quarter on its own 40. Brackett connected with Kurt Williams for a 41-yard gain, taking Columbia to the Princeton 16. And two plays later, Brackett found Brian DeVeau for a 13-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 35-7. It was DeVeau's first career touchdown.
Princeton put together a solid nine-play, 72-yard drive to score on a 31-yard pass from Tommy Wornham to Andrew Kerr as time wound down in the third.
Columbia led 35-14 with the ball on the Columbia 42 as the third quarter expired.
Brackett found Kennedy again for a 40-yard touchdown pass with 13:20 left in the game for the final 42-14 score.
Columbia received career days from Kennedy, who had seven catches and 148 yards, and Gerst, who carried 17 times for 124 yards.
Alex Gross led all players for the third consecutive games with 13 tackles. Ryan Murphy added nine tackles, a sack and two tackles for a loss. Adam Merher also added nine tackles with one TFL.
Columbia had 255 yards rushing to Princeton's 81 and 273 yards passing to Princeton's 252.
Columbia finished with 528 yards of offense, just 20 yards shy of a school record.
Columbia returns to action next Saturday, October 9, when they host Lafayette at 12:30 p.m.
