Fuller’s Record-Setting Performance Not Enough, Brown Falls to Princeton, 27-16
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Princeton, NJ – Brown senior quarterback Marcus Fuller (Ashland, OH) threw an Ivy League record 71 passes for 454 yards, but the Bears fell behind by a 24-point second quarter deficit before falling to the Tigers, 27-16, at Princeton Stadium.
The defending Ivy League Champion Tigers’ extended their record to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in Ivy play, while Brown falls to 2-3 overall, 0-2 in the Ivy League.
Fuller’s 454 passing yards, sixth best in Brown football history, came on 29 completions.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe Bears had two wide receivers go for over 100-yards, with junior Troy Doles (Saratoga, CA) making six receptions for 200 yards, including a 70-yard grab, and senior Brian Strachan (Wellesley, MA) making 10 catches for 146 yards.
Defensively, junior outside linebacker Michael Walsh (Swamscott, MA) registered a game high 12 tackles. Senior inside linebacker Xavier Russo (San Francisco, CA) had eight tackles, while junior free safety Zach Gillen (Mt. Brook, AL) had seven tackles and an interception, and junior outside linebacker Ryan MacDonald (Falmouth, ME) made seven tackles.
Princeton quarterback Connor Michelsen, starting in place of injured starter Quinn Epperly, had 267 of his 367 passing yards in the opening half and completed 33-of-45 passes. Wide receiver Seth DeValve made 10 catches for 120 yards for the Tigers.
Rohan Hilton led the Tigers’ defense with nine tackles and two quarterback sacks.
The Tigers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead when Nolan Bieck booted a 26-yard field goal, just three minutes into the game.
Princeton used its fast offense to march down the field once again, grabbing a 10-0 lead with 4:11 left in the opening quarter on a nine yard scoring run by Rob Powers.
On its next possession, the Tigers needed just three plays to get into the end zone with Michelsen connecting on a 49-yard pass play to Matt Costello, who broke a tackle at the 25 yard line and scampered into the end zone to give Princeton a 17-0 advantage.
Princeton’s offensive onslaught continued with the Tigers grabbing a 24-0 lead on a two-minute drive, with Michelsen connecting with Costello once again for a 17 yard touchdown throw early in the second quarter.
A 70-yard pass play from Fuller to Doles set up Brown’s first points of the afternoon, with junior Grant Senne (Winter Park, FL) booting a 27-yard field goal with 11:20 left in the half, cutting the lead to 24-3.
Gillen’s interception gave Brown the ball back at its own 32-yard line, setting up another Brown score. Senne connected on a 33-yard field goal to close the gap, 24-6, with 9:15 left in the second quarter.
A 19-yard field goal by Senne with 7:51 left in the third quarter drew the Bears a little closer, 24-9.
Bieck converted a 26-yard field goal near the end of the third quarter to lift the Tigers to a 27-9 advantage, giving Princeton its first points since early in the second quarter.
Fuller’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Strachan with 6:13 remaining cut Princeton’s lead to 27-16.
The Bears are back at Brown Stadium next Saturday, October 25, hosting the Cornell Big Red. Kick-off is scheduled for 12:30 pm.