PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) _ Cameron Atkinson rushed for 122 yards and became the first Princeton freshman to score an offensive touchdown for the varsity as Tigers defeated winless Fordham 27-0 on Saturday.

Atkinson scored on second-half runs of 38 and 12 yards as Princeton (1-2) handed Fordham its fourth straight loss under new coach Dave Clawson.

Derek Theisen scored on a 1-yard first-quarter run and Ryan Demler intercepted a tipped pass and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter to break open a tight game.

While Princeton only got four sacks, its pressure on Fordham quarterbacks Mark Carney and Matt Georgia led to three interceptions, including two by Demler.

After scoring only three points in its first two games, the Tigers' offense scored three times with sophomore Tommy Crenshaw running the team fulltime.

However, the game's biggest play was turned in by the Princeton defense in the opening minute of the third quarter. With the Tigers leading 7-0 and the Rams faced with a second and nine from their 22, defensive end Dave Ferrara tipped a Carney pass into the flat and Demler caught it all alone for an easy score.

Atkinson took over after that. He scored on a 38-yard run late in the third quarter breaking a tackle by Gerome Robinson 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. He scored on the 12-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Princeton, which played Rutgers in college football's first game in 1869, did not allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1994. Tim Greene scored on a blocked punt in 1994 as a freshman.

Crenshaw, who split the quarterback job with Jon Blevins in the first two games, completed 11 of 25 for 102 yards.

Princeton scored on the opening possession of the game, driving 75 yards in 14 plays. Crenshaw kept the drive alive early, completing an 8-yard pass to Phil Wendler on a third and 5 and he set up Thiesen's TD run with a 27-yard pass to Danny Brian.

A combination of Fordham mistakes and big defensive plays by the Tigers kept the Rams off the scoreboard in the first half.

Fordham got to the Princeton 26 on its first possession but defensive tackle Doug Silverman sacked Carney on a fourth-and-six play. Carney hit passes of 13 and 11 yards to move the Rams to the Tigers' 27 but he threw a pass right into arms of linebacker Chuck Hastings on first down to end the drive.