PRINCETON – The Princeton Football Team earned a decisive 22-0 victory over the UAlbany Great Danes on Powers Field at Princeton Stadium on Saturday evening.
It’s the first time the Tigers have secured a shutout since 2021 when they took down Stetson, 63-0.
Following a scoreless first quarter, the Tigers forced a punt and started a drive with 10:54 left in the first half. After an Ethan Clark first down rush, Ty Ciongoli found Kai Honda on a wheel route for 42 yards. Jackson Green followed up a few plays with a 20-yard reception to get down to Albany 7-yard line. On third and goal, Ciongoli found Joey Wassler to put the home team ahead, 7-0.
The Tigers forced a three-and-out on the next possession highlighted by AJ Pigford causing a fumble after UAlbany punter muffed the punt. Evan Haynie scooped up the loose ball to ring the bell.
Two plays later, Honda scooted into the end zone from 14 yards out to make it 13-0.
UAlbany got into the red zone near the end of the first half, but Casey Etienne, Jr. picked off an errant pass to end the threat.
A 43-yard catch and run from Roman Laurio to begin the second half got the Tigers to the Great Danes’ 6-yard line before Honda hit pay dirt three plays later to go in front, 19-0. Esteban Nunez Perez tacked on a field goal from 32 yards on the next drive for the home team.
Albany got down to the Princeton 1-yard line, but on 4th and goal, Etienne Jr. broke up a potential touchdown as the wide receiver was coming to the ground to keep the Great Danes off the scoreboard.
On the next Great Danes’ chance, they faced another 4th and short, but Chris Oliver stopped the run before the first down marker. On the road squad’s final possession, AJ Schwartz put the exclamation mark on the shutout with an interception at Princeton’s eight-yard line.
Honda complied 110 all-purpose yards and two scores to pace the offense in the victory. Princeton’s defense forced three turnovers in its first shutout in over five years with Chase Christopher’s eight stops leading the way.
Princeton improves to 1-1 overall while Albany drops to 2-3. The Tigers jump into Ivy League play by making the trip to Columbia next Saturday (Oct. 3). Kick-off is set for 12.
