Football opens Ivy play against Princeton

The team currently leading the league in rushing is going up against last year’s leading rusher as Columbia (1-1) travels to Princeton (1-1) on Saturday to kick off Ivy play for both teams.

But the Tigers’ Jordan Culbreath, who ran for 1,206 yards last season, averaging 5.7 yards per carry, might not see the field. The senior left Princeton’s game against Lehigh last weekend with an ankle sprain in the first half.

Princeton head coach Roger Hughes said Culbreath is day-to-day, although the team is preparing as if he’s going to be in the game. “When Jordan’s on the field obviously he’s one of those types of players that can change the whole complexion of the game,” Hughes said.

Columbia head coach Norries Wilson said the Lions also expect Culbreath to be on the field. “It’s a conference game,” Wilson said. “Unless he’s dead, he’s playing. If we get there and he’s not there then that’s no great shakes, because they run the same plays with the other guy in there anyway.”

Princeton’s Tommy Wornham represents the third quarterback in a row that Columbia has faced who is a threat to scramble. Though he struggled with the pass last week, Wornham led the team in rushing against Lehigh, going for 67 yards and a touchdown. Through the air he was just 9-20 for 47 yards. Wornham showed off his arm in the first game of the season, going 27-46 for 219 yards with two interceptions and a touchdown against The Citadel.

“You’ve got to sit in the room and figure out who you want to beat you in the run game,” Wilson said. “Do you want the tailback or the quarterback? Who do you want to take away?”

Hughes is facing a similar problem with Columbia’s offense, which leads the league in rushing after two games and comes in second in scoring offense with senior running back Ray Rangel and senior quarterback Millicent Olawale.

“On the option that they’re running, it forces you to play disciplined football,” Hughes said. “It doesn’t allow you to take a lot of chances on defense. When they’re running the football effectively like they have at times, you’ve got to be aware of a two-pronged sword, if you will.”

Wilson is concerned about the Tigers’ rugby punt, as it allows Princeton’s kick coverage to get down the field quicker. The return game for the Lions has been one of the few bright spots on special teams, consistently giving Columbia favorable field position. Senior Austin Knowlin ranks second in the league in punt returners, averaging 11.2 yards per return.

“They’ve done a good job with their punt scheme,” Wilson said. “You don’t want to field the kick because if you catch it on the fly you’re going to get blown up.”

The Lions had a field goal, a punt, and an extra point blocked last week against Central Connecticut State University. Versus Fordham in the season opener, a bad snap led to a missed field goal. The Lions are 0-2 on field goals this season, but Wilson said that the team fixed its punt coverage, which precipitated the blocked punt, and that special teams have been working on getting their kicks higher.

Kickoff is 3:00 Saturday at Princeton Stadium.