Still trailing Princeton 17-6 in week three with about 4:40
left in the 3rd quarter, Columbia still felt like it had better than
a fighting chance to win the game.
But after QB Sean
Brackett was sacked on 3rd down back at the CU 38, the Lion
chances got slimmer. And after the next play, things would get worse.
On the ensuing punt play, a very low snap first went through
P Paul Delaney’s hands. But Delaney picked it up and despite all kinds of hits
and jabs to his arms and the ball, he held onto the pigskin and Princeton’s
hopes of scooping up a fumble for a TD were dashed.
In the grand scheme of things for that game, Delaney’s play
didn’t amount to much. The Tigers got a field goal out of the possession that
followed, and Columbia never did challenge for the lead.
But Delaney’s toughness, mental and physical toughness, were
a factor throughout the year. Throw in his dynamite stats, and that’s why he’s
been selected for the College Football Performance Awards Watch List for 2013. Columbia’s
only other player on that list this year is TE Hamilton Garner, so it’s good company.
A lot of Columbia’s defensive hopes for this season are
riding on Delaney’s ability to keep up his stellar and tough play.
1 comment:
nice to have two Lions looked at nationally for potential performance. coach M considers the punt the first defensive play of series. Delaney is a tough player.
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