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PRINCETON, N.J. - Jake Myers scored on a on a 67-yard touchdown interception with 1:39 left to lift Mansfield to a 23-16 win over Princeton in the CSFL opener for both teams Friday night on Powers Field at Princeton Stadium.

"It was a tough, hard hitting football game," said head coach Graham Johnsen. "I'm proud of the way our coaching staff and players reacted to some adversery. They never got rattled and keep focused on doing what they need to do to pull out the win over a vastly improved Princeton team."

Mansfield scored first on a 33-yard field goal by freshman Ben Pepper less than five minutes into the game but Princeton answered back on their next drive taking a 7-3 lead on a 56-yard run by Sean Conrad.

Mansfield retook the lead on the next series driving 64-yards in nine plays with the big play coming on a 50-yard run by John Brockington early in the drive. Brockington capped the drive off with a one-yard plunge followed by a 2-point conversation that gave Mansfield a 11-7 lead.

Princeton cut the lead to 11-10 on the last play of the first half on a 27-yard field goal by Darek Johnson.

The Montaineers increased the lead to 17-10 with five minutes remaining in the third quarter on a 4-yard run by Jeremy Estremera. The extra point attempt failed.

Princeton was driving for what would be the tying score when Jake Myers intercepted a fourth down pass and the 33-yard line and returned it 67-yards down the right sideline for a touchdown giving Mansfield what would prove to be insurmountable 23-10 lead with 1:39 to play.

The Mansfield defense rose to the challenge and controlled play in the second half. Myers pick was set up by pressure brought on the quarterback by defensive end Douglas Bauer.

However, a much improved Princeton team wouldn't lay down and drove 64-yards to score a touchdown on a 14-yard pass from Jaison Zachariah to Chris Cadman as time expired.

John Brockington led Mansfield with 85-yards on 13 carries and a touchdown while Jeremy Estermera picked up 39-yards on 15 carries. Mike Maniscalco played only in the first half completing 3-of-7 passes for 58 yards with David Wallace having three catches for 58 yards.

Senior Justen DiMatteo racked up a game-high 11 tackles while fellow senior Cody Croasdale had seven tackles including 2.5 sacks. Sophomore Tim Carr had 10 stops including two for a loss. Sophomore linebacker Jared Shipos had seven stops as did senior safey Michael Wang.  

Sean Conrad had an outstanding game for Princeton rushing for 127-yards on 21 carries while senior quarterback Jaison Zachariah completed 8-14 passes for 92 yards and a touchdown.

Mansfield has a week off before hosting Army on Sept. 29 at Karl Van Norman Field.