Princeton Rallies to End Harvard's Winning Streak

Princeton wide receiver Roman Wilson catches a 36-yard touchdown pass to cap a 29-point rally to beat Harvard. (Beverly Schaefer)

Princeton was all but written off in Saturday's game against Harvard, who came in on a nation-leading 14-game win streak. With 13:02 left in the fourth quarter, Harvard's senior quarterback Colton Chapple threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Cameron Brate. The score put the Crimson up 34-10. The Tigers had no realistic shot being down by so much with so little time left.

"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in not giving up," said legendary baseball manager Tommy Lasorda. The Princeton football team did not give up in Saturday's game.

The Tigers took their first step forward when sophomore quarterback Conner Michelsen found freshman running back Dre Nelson for a seven-yard score with 11:19 left in the game. The subsequent two-point conversion was successful as Michelsen completed a pass to senior wide receiver Tom Moak.

Less than four minutes later, Princeton cut into the Harvard lead again when Michelsen connected with sophomore wide receiver Matt Costello. A successful two-point conversion pass from backup quarterback Quinn Epperly to senior wide receiver Shane Wilkinson made the Crimson lead only 34-26.

With less than three minutes left in the game, the Tigers got the big play they were looking for when Michelsen hooked up with sophomore wide receiver Seth DeValve in the endzone for the 20-yard score. A successful two-conversion would tie the score, but the Crimson defense came up with the huge stop to hold on to their 34-32 lead.

It seemed as though the Princeton's comeback would come up just short. But their defense got them the ball back for one last shot. However, it appeared to be over again when Michelsen was knocked out of the game following a Harvard sack. With the pressure on, it seemed impossible that Epperly could complete the incredible comeback.

With thirteen seconds left, Epperly decided to air it out deep to the endzone for junior wide receiver Roman Wilson, who leaped in the air and pulled in the grab. The Tigers had pulled off the seemingly impossible. They did by playing as a team and never giving up. It took everything from heroics from a backup quarterback, a wide receiver catching his first collegiate touchdown, and a defense that had given up 34 points coming up with a number of crucial stops down the stretch. Princeton's football team showed the impossible does indeed become possible when you never give up.