Princeton beats Yale, 24-17

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Beverly Schaefer

Sophomore quarterback Tommy Wornham played like a seasoned senior in Princeton’s 24–17 win over Yale Nov. 14, making smart reads in the running game and negating the Bulldogs’ blitz with quick, on-target passes.

Wornham ran for 55 yards, passed for 136, and made a memorable fourth-down touchdown run in the opening quarter. The Tigers had been stopped on third and goal, and head coach Roger Hughes sent in the signal for a no-huddle, pass-or-run option play in which the quarterback rolls to the right side. The fast snap caught Yale off guard, giving Wornham an open path to the end zone. He dove through the converging defense, and with the extra point, Princeton led 14–0.

“The minute he called it, I was stoked,” Wornham said of the play. “I couldn’t wait. I got outside, and I knew I wasn’t going to be throwing that ball.”

Hughes confessed he wasn’t “quite as stoked” to be facing fourth and goal from three yards out, but he praised Wornham, who had struggled at times in his first year as a starter. Against Yale, Hughes said, “He managed this game as good as any quarterback we’ve had here. It was fun to watch.”

Yale (4–5, 2–4 Ivy) proved resilient, rallying to cut a 21–3 deficit to 21–17, but the Tigers responded with solid defense in the fourth quarter. Princeton (3–6, 2–4 Ivy) forced four turnovers in the game, including two that set up early touchdown drives. Safety Dan Kopolovich ’10 led the defense with eight tackles and one interception. He also thwarted a hook-and-lateral on Yale’s final play.