Ivies | Two teams enter, one stays alive

Losing its first Ivy game to Harvard certainly put Brown in a tight spot if it wanted to repeat as Ivy League champion.

And while the Bears (3-2, 1-1 Ivy) have already helped themselves by beating Princeton, 34-17, last week, things aren’t getting easier for them. They’re traveling to Cornell in a critical game just as the meat of the conference schedule commences with the next five weeks featuring only Ivy-on-Ivy action.

The Bears haven’t done so hot on the road, as they lost to both Harvard and Stony Brook away from Providence, R.I. — though by only a combined four points. Meanwhile, they’re undefeated at home, including an upset over then-No. 19 Holy Cross.

Cornell (2-3, 1-1) is coming off a 39-27 loss to Fordham, though the Big Red did set season highs in rushing yards (284), passing yards (268) and total offense (552). Then again, it’s hard to win when the opponent scores 39 points.

Expect a similarly high- scoring affair, since three of the Ivy League’s top four receivers will be on the field. Brown seniors Buddy Farnham (37 catches, 485 yards, four touchdowns) and Bobby Sewall (39 catches, 320 yards, four touchdowns) rank first and fourth, respectively, in receiving yards per game, while Cornell senior Bryan Walters (26 catches, 450 yards, three touchdowns) is second.

Princeton (1-4, 0-2 Ivy)

at Harvard (3-2, 2-0)

Things could get ugly for Princeton tomorrow in Boston.

The Tigers are coming off a 34-17 thumping at Brown and have been outscored by an average of 23.25 in their four losses.

They also lost their second standout senior to a season-ending injury, as linebacker Scott Britton joined running back Jordan Culbreath on the inactive list.

Meanwhile, Harvard will be looking to rebound after getting trounced at home by Lafayette, 35-18. And considering the Crimson haven’t lost consecutive games since the last two weeks of the 2006 season, it doesn’t look like Princeton will snap its skid anytime soon.

For the Tigers to pull the upset, they should follow the blueprint Lafayette used. The Leopards were able to hold the potent Crimson rushing attack to just 74 yards on 34 carries.

Regardless of Princeton’s past performance, Crimson coach Tim Murphy won’t be taking the Tigers for granted.

“Every week is going to be a battle,” he said during the Ivy League media teleconference. “Despite [Princeton’s] record, they’re a very good team.

Tomorrow will prove whether that’s just coachspeak or actual fact.

Columbia (2-3, 1-1)

at Dartmouth (0-5, 0-2)

Dartmouth coach Buddy Teevens just might have some lyrics to “Livin’ on a Prayer” stuck in his head.

But for the wrong reasons.

With his team at 0-5, he’s “half way there” to a winless season and just might be “livin’ on a prayer” to get that one win.

Things will at least be easier this week than last, as the Big Green host Columbia, which failed to score in the second half and rushed for a combined negative 20 yards in a loss to Penn. Last week the Big Green lost, 34-14, to current No. 22 Holy Cross and the game wasn’t even that close as they had trailed 34-0.

Then again, the rest of the year looks to be significantly easier than the previous five games. Dartmouth has played the toughest schedule in the Football Championship Subdivision so far as three of its five opponents (all non-conference foes) are currently ranked: No. 9 New Hampshire, No. 17 Colgate and Holy Cross.

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