NEW YORK—Columbia limited Princeton to 21 points, but it was not enough as the No. 23/25 ranked Tigers notched a 21-10 football decision Saturday afternoon at Powers Field at Princeton Stadium. The loss drops Columbia to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in Ivy League play, while Princeton improves to 3-0 and 1-0 in the Ivy League.
 
Columbia led 10-7 at halftime, but the Tigers scored 14 unanswered points in the second half to claim the win in the Ivy League opener for both teams. Princeton quarterback Kevin Davidson completed 22 of 35 passes for 271 yards to lead the Tigers.
 
"I thought our kids played hard against a really good and very explosive team," Patricia and Shepard Alexander Head Coach of Football Al Bagnoli said. "We had chances. It's amazing how fragile everything is. We went from potentially having a pick-six to a third-and-10 to a long pass that leads to a touchdown. It's amazing how much the momentum swung in just a few plays. It's a credit to them, but I'm really happy with the way we battled and hung in there for 60 minutes against good team on the road."
 
Trailing 14-10 with under 11 minutes to play, Columbia forced Princeton into a third-down-and-10 from its own 31-yard line but Davidson threw downfield to Dylan Classi for a 27-yard gain and first down. The momentum-changing play kept Princeton's offensive drive alive and just four plays later, set up a 31-yard touchdown run by Ryan Quigley to give the Tigers a commanding 21-10 lead with 9:24 to play.
 
Columbia took an early 3-0 lead when first-year placekicker Alex Felkins converted a career-long 51-yard field goal. It was Felkins' second career 50-yard field goal in three games for the Lions. The score was set up when junior safety Ben Mathiasmeier, intercepted a Davidson pass.
 
Princeton went up 7-3 with 2:33 left in the first quarter as Davidson connected with Colin Eaddy for a 25-yard touchdown pass following a 53-yard drive.
 
Columbia grabbed the lead back at 10-7 before halftime when junior quarterback Josh Bean hit wide receiver Ronald Smith for a 24-yard touchdown pass with 1:16 to play in the second quarter. Bean fired the ball beyond the Princeton defender and Smith caught the ball over his shoulder for the score. The play was setup by a 17-yard Bean pass to senior tight end Rory Schlageter, which put the Lions at the Princeton 24-yard line. The touchdown culminated a 12-play, 85-yard scoring drive as the Lions kept the drive alive by taking advantage a roughing-the-punter penalty and a fourth-down conversion on a one-yard run by junior Marquavious Moore.
 
On the ensuing possession, the Lions' defense held off Princeton before halftime as it forced a 49-yard field goal attempt that hooked left. A 10-yard sack by sophomore Fara'ad McCombs forced the Tigers into a fourth-down situation.
 
On its first possession of the second half, Princeton grabbed the lead back, 14-10, following an 11-play, 61-yard drive in which Eaddy rushed for a one-yard touchdown. The touchdown was set up by Davidson passes to Eaddy (18 yards) and Graham Adomitis (20 yards).
 
Columbia had opportunities in the fourth quarter as it drove deep into Princeton territory and had a first-down-and-10 at the Tigers' 22-yard line but Felkins' 33-yard field goal was blocked with 13:30 to play.
 
Princeton got the ball back and drove 80 yards in a 10-play drive which ended when Ryan Quigley broke two tackles on a run up the middle and rambled into the end zone for a 31-yard touchdown run with 9:24 to go. The 27-yard pass play from Davidson to Dylan Classi on a key third-down-and-10 play from the Princeton 31-yard line set up the score.
 
The Lions had two more possessions but could not manufacture points.
 
"We can certainly build from this," Bagnoli said. "We've got to find some ways to score points, we've got to get off the field on third-and-10, and when we have a chance to make big plays, we've got to make them. We certainly have more than enough to work on but if you're talking about effort and battling, this was a good sign for us."
 
Princeton outgained Columbia 378-232 in total yards, finished with 21 first downs to Columbia's 16 and was successful on nine of 16 third down conversions. Columbia dominated time of possession (34:14) and converted 4-4 fourth downs.
 
Bean completed 79 percent (23 of 29) of his passes for 187 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Smith finished the day with eight catches for 87 yards and his 24-yard touchdown, while Schlageter caught a career-high five passes for 42 yards. Mathiasmeier led the Lions' defense with 10 tackles, an interception and pass breakup, while senior safety Hunter Lunsford made seven tackles and first-year linebacker Scott Valentas made a career-high six tackles.
 
Columbia is back in action next week when it hosts Central Connecticut State for its final non-conference game at Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET.