A Most-Wanted TE

6-5 220 pound TE Jackson Heath from Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas has committed to Columbia.

Heath had offers from a long list of other schools including Harvard, Dartmouth. Princeton, Yale, Cornell, New Mexico, Ohio, Eastern Michigan, Illinois State, Missouri State, Oregon State, Holy Cross, Ball State, Army, Youngstown State, and South Dakota State.

Heath will be the first Blue Valley grad to come to Columbia, but Overland Park is also where we found 1988 Columbia Football captain John Alex '89. 

That brings our list on reported commits for 2018 to 24:

1) Inho Choi DB 6-1 175 lbs. Holy Names HS Windsor, Ontario/Deerfield Academy 

2) Cam Dillon LB 6-2 219 lbs. Findlay HS Findlay, OH

3) Michael Fluegel RB/CB 6-1 180 lbs. Clarkston HS Clarkston, MI

4) John Foreback QB 6-1 215 lbs. Morristown-Hamblen West HS Morristown, TN

5) Devin Hart LB 6-1 212 lbs. McEachem HS Powder Springs, GA 

6) Jackson Heath TE 6-5 220 lbs. Blue Valley Northwest HS Overland Park, KS

7) Marquis Hubbard S/LB 5-11 190 lbs. Kinkaid HS Houston, TX

8) Dante Landolfi LB 6-2 220 lbs. Upper Arlington HS Columbus, OH

9) Parket Lefton LS 6-1 240 lbs. King's Ridge Christian HS Alpharetta, GA

10) Ty Lenhart QB 6-3 203 lbs. DeMatha HS, Hyattsville, MD

11) Fara'Ad McCombs DB 6-0 178 lbs. St. Joseph's HS Montvale, NJ

12) Mozes Mooney WR 6-1 175 lbs. Bishop's School La Jolla, CA

13) Drake Morey DL 6-5 250 lbs. Ashland HS Ashland, OR

14) Jake Motz OL 6-5 293 lbs. Pope John Paul II HS Hendersonville, TN

15) Stewart Newblatt OL/DL 6-4 255 lbs. Clarkston HS Clarkston, MI 

16) Chris Park WR 5-11 175 lbs. Junipero Serra HS San Mateo, CA

17) Keaton Prevette LS 6-0, 225 lbs. Charlotte Country Day Charlotte, NC

18) Brandon Radice TE 6-4, 205 lbs. Ridge HS Basking Ridge, NJ

19) Mikey Roussos WR 6-1 180 lbs. River Ridge HS New Port Richey, FL 

20) Joshua Smythe-Macaulay LB 6-3 193 lbs. Bowie HS, Austin, TX

21) Mitchell Sturgill DB 6-1, 185 lbs Bellevue HS Bellevue, WA

22) Watson Tansil LB 6-3, 215 lbs. Franklin Road Academy Nashville, TN

23) Xavier Thibault DE 6-5 241 lbs. Williston Northampton School Easthampton, MA 

24) Ryan Young RB 5-10 200 lbs. Wheaton Warrenville South HS Wheaton, IL 

Motor City Lineman

Stewart Newblatt


According the "D Zone" website, 6-4 255 pound OL/DL Stewart Newblatt from Clarkston HS in the Detroit area has committed to Columbia.

Newblatt was named a 1st Team All State player in Michigan by the Associated Press.  

Newblatt's teammate, RB/CB Michael Fluegel, committed earlier this year.

Newblatt and Fluegel are the first Clarkston grads to come to Columbia Football.

That brings our list on reported commits for 2018 to 23:

1) Inho Choi DB 6-1 175 lbs. Holy Names HS Windsor, Ontario/Deerfield Academy 

2) Cam Dillon LB 6-2 219 lbs. Findlay HS Findlay, OH

3) Michael Fluegel RB/CB 6-1 180 lbs. Clarkston HS Clarkston, MI

4) John Foreback QB 6-1 215 lbs. Morristown-Hamblen West HS Morristown, TN

5) Devin Hart LB 6-1 212 lbs. McEachem HS Powder Springs, GA 

6) Marquis Hubbard S/LB 5-11 190 lbs. Kinkaid HS Houston, TX

7) Dante Landolfi LB 6-2 220 lbs. Upper Arlington HS Columbus, OH

8) Parket Lefton LS 6-1 240 lbs. King's Ridge Christian HS Alpharetta, GA

9) Ty Lenhart QB 6-3 203 lbs. DeMatha HS, Hyattsville, MD

10) Fara'Ad McCombs DB 6-0 178 lbs. St. Joseph's HS Montvale, NJ

11) Mozes Mooney WR 6-1 175 lbs. Bishop's School La Jolla, CA

12) Drake Morey DL 6-5 250 lbs. Ashland HS Ashland, OR

13) Jake Motz OL 6-5 293 lbs. Pope John Paul II HS Hendersonville, TN

14) Stewart Newblatt OL/DL 6-4 255 lbs. Clarkston HS Clarkston, MI 

15) Chris Park WR 5-11 175 lbs. Junipero Serra HS San Mateo, CA

16) Keaton Prevette LS 6-0, 225 lbs. Charlotte Country Day Charlotte, NC

17) Brandon Radice TE 6-4, 205 lbs. Ridge HS Basking Ridge, NJ

18) Mikey Roussos WR 6-1 180 lbs. River Ridge HS New Port Richey, FL 

19) Joshua Smythe-Macaulay LB 6-3 193 lbs. Bowie HS, Austin, TX

20) Mitchell Sturgill DB 6-1, 185 lbs Bellevue HS Bellevue, WA

21) Watson Tansil LB 6-3, 215 lbs. Franklin Road Academy Nashville, TN

22) Xavier Thibault DE 6-5 241 lbs. Williston Northampton School Easthampton, MA 

23) Ryan Young RB 5-10 200 lbs. Wheaton Warrenville South HS Wheaton, IL 

Texas Hitter & a California Speedster

5-11 190-pound LB/S Marquis Hubbard from Kinkaid HS in Houston has committed to Columbia.

This kid is a hitter.

Hubbard will be the third Kinkaid grad to come to Columbia Football and the first since Marshall Markham '16.

Mozes Mooney

We also got a commitment today from 6-1 175 pound WR Mozes Mooney. from the Bishop's School in La Jolla, CA. Mooney had offers from Boston College, Hawaii, Army, Navy, and others.

Mooney will be the fourth Bishop's grad to come to Columbia Football. That number includes standout 2017 freshman LB Justin Woodley and kickoff specialist rising senior Chris Alleyne.


That brings our list on reported commits for 2018 to 22:

1) Inho Choi DB 6-1 175 lbs. Holy Names HS Windsor, Ontario/Deerfield Academy 

2) Cam Dillon LB 6-2 219 lbs. Findlay HS Findlay, OH

3) Michael Fluegel RB/CB 6-1 180 lbs. Clarkston HS Clarkston, MI

4) John Foreback QB 6-1 215 lbs. Morristown-Hamblen West HS Morristown, TN

5) Devin Hart LB 6-1 212 lbs. McEachem HS Powder Springs, GA 

6) Marquis Hubbard S/LB 5-11 190 lbs. Kinkaid HS Houston, TX

7) Dante Landolfi LB 6-2 220 lbs. Upper Arlington HS Columbus, OH

8) Parket Lefton LS 6-1 240 lbs. King's Ridge Christian HS Alpharetta, GA

9) Ty Lenhart QB 6-3 203 lbs. DeMatha HS, Hyattsville, MD

10) Fara'Ad McCombs DB 6-0 178 lbs. St. Joseph's HS Montvale, NJ

11) Mozes Mooney WR 6-1 175 lbs. Bishop's School La Jolla, CA

12) Drake Morey DL 6-5 250 lbs. Ashland HS Ashland, OR

13) Jake Motz OL 6-5 293 lbs. Pope John Paul II HS Hendersonville, TN

14) Chris Park WR 5-11 175 lbs. Junipero Serra HS San Mateo, CA

15) Keaton Prevette LS 6-0, 225 lbs. Charlotte Country Day Charlotte, NC

16) Brandon Radice TE 6-4, 205 lbs. Ridge HS Basking Ridge, NJ

17) Mikey Roussos WR 6-1 180 lbs. River Ridge HS New Port Richey, FL 

18) Joshua Smythe-Macaulay LB 6-3 193 lbs. Bowie HS, Austin, TX

19) Mitchell Sturgill DB 6-1, 185 lbs Bellevue HS Bellevue, WA

20) Watson Tansil LB 6-3, 215 lbs. Franklin Road Academy Nashville, TN

21) Xavier Thibault DE 6-5 241 lbs. Williston Northampton School Easthampton, MA 

22) Ryan Young RB 5-10 200 lbs. Wheaton Warrenville South HS Wheaton, IL 

For Our Consideration

Ryan Greenhagen makes a play


Several sources tell me that an outstanding graduating senior from New Jersey has been overlooked by Ivy recruiters despite his incredible skill, effort, and grades. 

His name is Ryan Greenhagen from Pope John HS in Sparta, NJ. He was named 3rd team All New Jersey.

According to his coaches, Greenhagen has met with several Ivy coaches but has grown two inches since his college visits and is now a legitimate 6'1 and a "workout warrior." He can bench 365 and deadlift 500, putting him in the very top level of lifters at his position.

One key highlight for Greenhagen is the Bergan Catholic game from this fall. He was greatly responsible for keeping Pope John in the game. Because Pope John has so many other great linebackers, his coaches fear he's been missed. But he still finished with more than 100 tackles for the season. 

Canadian Clubber

6-5 241-pound DE Xavier Thibault has committed to the Lions.

Thibault is from Quebec City, Canada, but has been at the Williston Northampton School where he made the All-NEPSAC 1st team.

Before WNS, he played at his hometown Seminaire Saint Francois School.

According to my Lion Feeders database, Thibault will be only the third Williston Northampton grad to come to Columbia Football and the first since Peter Downs '73.

He is the first Seminaire Saint Francois grad to come to CU Football.


That brings our list on reported commits for 2018 to 20:

1) Inho Choi DB 6-1 175 lbs. Holy Names HS Windsor, Ontario/Deerfield Academy 

2) Cam Dillon LB 6-2 219 lbs. Findlay HS Findlay, OH

3) Michael Fluegel RB/CB 6-1 180 lbs. Clarkston HS Clarkston, MI

4) John Foreback QB 6-1 215 lbs. Morristown-Hamblen West HS Morristown, TN

5) Devin Hart LB 6-1 212 lbs. McEachem HS Powder Springs, GA 

6) Dante Landolfi LB 6-2 220 lbs. Upper Arlington HS Columbus, OH

7) Parket Lefton LS 6-1 240 lbs. King's Ridge Christian HS Alpharetta, GA

8) Ty Lenhart QB 6-3 203 lbs. DeMatha HS, Hyattsville, MD

9) Fara'Ad McCombs DB 6-0 178 lbs. St. Joseph's HS Montvale, NJ

10) Drake Morey DL 6-5 250 lbs. Ashland HS Ashland, OR

11) Jake Motz OL 6-5 293 lbs. Pope John Paul II HS Hendersonville, TN

12) Chris Park WR 5-11 175 lbs. Junipero Serra HS San Mateo, CA

13) Keaton Prevette LS 6-0, 225 lbs. Charlotte Country Day Charlotte, NC

14) Brandon Radice TE 6-4, 205 lbs. Ridge HS Basking Ridge, NJ

15) Mikey Roussos WR 6-1 180 lbs. River Ridge HS New Port Richey, FL 

16) Joshua Smythe-Macaulay LB 6-3 193 lbs. Bowie HS, Austin, TX

17) Mitchell Sturgill DB 6-1, 185 lbs Bellevue HS Bellevue, WA

18) Watson Tansil LB 6-3, 215 lbs. Franklin Road Academy Nashville, TN

19) Xavier Thibault DE 6-5 241 lbs. Williston Northampton School Easthampton, MA 

20) Ryan Young RB 5-10 200 lbs. Wheaton Warrenville South HS Wheaton, IL 

Another Buckeye 'backer

6-2, 219 pound LB Cam Dillon from Findlay HS in Findlay, OH has committed to the Lions.

Dillon will be the first Findlay grad to come to Columbia Football. 

Dillon had 45 total tackles, including team highs in tackles for loss (11.5) and sacks (5) this season. 

Dillon had offers from Brown, Youngstown State, Air Force, VMI, Colgate, and Indiana State.

That brings our list on reported commits for 2018 to 19:

1) Inho Choi DB 6-1 175 lbs. Holy Names HS Windsor, Ontario/Deerfield Academy 

2) Cam Dillon LB 6-2 219 lbs. Findlay HS Findlay, OH

3) Michael Fluegel RB/CB 6-1 180 lbs. Clarkston HS Clarkston, MI

4) John Foreback QB 6-1 215 lbs. Morristown-Hamblen West HS Morristown, TN

5) Devin Hart LB 6-1 212 lbs. McEachem HS Powder Springs, GA 

6) Dante Landolfi LB 6-2 220 lbs. Upper Arlington HS Columbus, OH

7) Parket Lefton LS 6-1 240 lbs. King's Ridge Christian HS Alpharetta, GA

8) Ty Lenhart QB 6-3 203 lbs. DeMatha HS, Hyattsville, MD

9) Fara'Ad McCombs DB 6-0 178 lbs. St. Joseph's HS Montvale, NJ

10) Drake Morey DL 6-5 250 lbs. Ashland HS Ashland, OR

11) Jake Motz OL 6-5 293 lbs. Pope John Paul II HS Hendersonville, TN

12) Chris Park WR 5-11 175 lbs. Junipero Serra HS San Mateo, CA

13) Keaton Prevette LS 6-0, 225 lbs. Charlotte Country Day Charlotte, NC

14) Brandon Radice TE 6-4, 205 lbs. Ridge HS Basking Ridge, NJ

15) Mikey Roussos WR 6-1 180 lbs. River Ridge HS New Port Richey, FL 

16) Joshua Smythe-Macaulay LB 6-3 193 lbs. Bowie HS, Austin, TX

17) Mitchell Sturgill DB 6-1, 185 lbs Bellevue HS Bellevue, WA

18) Watson Tansil LB 6-3, 215 lbs. Franklin Road Academy Nashville, TN

19) Ryan Young RB 5-10 200 lbs. Wheaton Warrenville South HS Wheaton, IL 

Top 10 Moments (Final Chapter)

There were so many great moments this season for the Columbia Football program, but it's really not hard to single out the #1 moment if you really think about it.

It was a moment that wrapped up several different highlights in one. It capped an impressive comeback from two scores down in the 4th quarter. It took place in front of a huge crowd at Homecoming. It was a score that provided a walk off win. The moment combined the best efforts of the two most valuable players of the 2017 season. And it provided a victory over a team the Lions hadn't defeated in more than 20 years, sending thousands of fans storming onto the field.

Yes, the top moment of 2017 was the 24-yard Anders Hill to Josh Wainwright pass in OT for the TD that beat Penn 34-31.


Honorable Mentions


-Connor Heeb's crucial block of a 42-yard FG attempt by Wagner's James Cooper with the score tied at 14 and 1:35 left in the game.

-Landon Baty's "rip and rob" of Princeton wildcat QB Kevin Davidson for a fumble recovery at the Columbia 1 with the Lions leading 21-17 and 5:32 left in the game.

-Josh Wainwright's TD catch against Brown that broke the CU single season receiving yards record.

-Justin Woodley's two 4th quarter INT's lead to two TD's in the Penn game.

-Hill to Wainwright for a 59-yard TD to tie the Penn game at 21.

-Chris Schroer's 40 yard spin out of a tackle run against Cornell to set up a 4th quarter TD.

-Tanner Thomas' sideways sprint for an 11-yard game-tying TD against Princeton.

-Michael Murphy's tackle of Penn WR Justin Watson for a seven yard loss on the first play of OT

More New Lions UPDATED

6-0 178 pound WR/DB Fara'Ad McCombs from St. Joseph's HS in Montvale, NJ is coming to Columbia. McCombs is apparently coming to the Lions as a DB. He would be the fifth St. Joseph's grad to come to Columbia Football and the first since LB Mark Cieslak '16.

Parker Lefton

6-1, 240 pound Long Snapper Parker Lefton From King's Ridge Christian HS in Alpharetta, Georgia has committed to the Lions.

Lefton will be the first King's Ridge grad to come to Columbia Football. 

6-2, 220 pound LB Dante Landolfi from Upper Arlington HS in Columbus, Ohio has also committed to the Lions today. Landolfi was recently named to the Ohio All State 3rd team, which is nothing to sneeze at for Ohio.

According to my Lionfeeders database, Landolfi will be only the second Upper Arlington grad to come to Columbia Football and the first since Mark McClain '14.

In an added interesting note, Landolfi got a perfect 36 score on the ACT.

That brings our list on reported commits for 2018 to 18, but the announcements are coming fast and furious now:

1) Inho Choi DB 6-1 175 lbs. Holy Names HS Windsor, Ontario/Deerfield Academy

2) Michael Fluegel RB/CB 6-1 180 lbs. Clarkston HS Clarkston, MI

3) John Foreback QB 6-1 215 lbs. Morristown-Hamblen West HS Morristown, TN

4) Devin Hart LB 6-1 212 lbs. McEachem HS Powder Springs, GA 

5) Dante Landolfi LB 6-2 220 lbs. Upper Arlington HS Columbus, OH

6) Parket Lefton LS 6-1 240 lbs. King's Ridge Christian HS Alpharetta, GA

7) Ty Lenhart QB 6-3 203 lbs. DeMatha HS, Hyattsville, MD

8) Fara'Ad McCombs DB 6-0 178 lbs. St. Joseph's HS Montvale, NJ

9) Drake Morey DL 6-5 250 lbs. Ashland HS Ashland, OR

10) Jake Motz OL 6-5 293 lbs. Pope John Paul II HS Hendersonville, TN

11) Chris Park WR 5-11 175 lbs. Junipero Serra HS San Mateo, CA

12) Keaton Prevette LS 6-0, 225 lbs. Charlotte Country Day Charlotte, NC

13) Brandon Radice TE 6-4, 205 lbs. Ridge HS Basking Ridge, NJ

14) Mikey Roussos WR 6-1 180 lbs. River Ridge HS New Port Richey, FL 

15) Joshua Smythe-Macaulay LB 6-3 193 lbs. Bowie HS, Austin, TX

16) Mitchell Sturgill DB 6-1, 185 lbs Bellevue HS Bellevue, WA

17) Watson Tansil LB 6-3, 215 lbs. Franklin Road Academy Nashville, TN

18) Ryan Young RB 5-10 200 lbs. Wheaton Warrenville South HS Wheaton, IL 

Top 10 Moments (part three)

Let's continue to make the magical 2017 football season last as long as possible.

Here's part three of my countdown of the top 10 plays of the year:


4) The Flea Flicker 


With 14:40 left in the 4th quarter of the Homecoming game against Penn, Columbia was struggling with a 21-7 deficit. But the offense was now set up at the Quaker 39 after freshman LB Justin Woodley's interception. Penn had turned the ball over before in the game, but the Lion offense hadn't been able to do much. Things changed on this 1st down play where Columbia used a double flea flicker from QB Anders Hill to WR Josh Wainwright, to WR Kyle Castner back to Hill who then passed it to an open Wainwright who made some nifty moves for a 20 yard gain. 

The play kick started the CU offense in a dramatic way and signaled to everyone that the Lions were out to win the game. 


3) The Sack


Columbia's most crucial defensive play of 2017 was also its most controversial. After taking a 22-7 lead against Dartmouth into the 4th quarter, the Lions started to falter on both sides of the ball. The Big Green cut the score to 22-17, and with less than a minute to go launched another drive that went as far as the CU seven yard line. But on a play that began with 17 seconds to go, senior DL Mike Hinton sacked Dartmouth QB Jack Heneghan at the 17 yard line. Heneghan hurried his toss to the refs to set up the next play, but they bobbled the ball and time ran out. 


2) Smith Goes all the Way

Columbia's wins over Wagner and Georgetown to start the year at 2-0 were great. But the team didn't make a case for being "for real" until the Lions stunned the Tigers at Princeton Stadium. Facing a 3rd and 11 at their own 37 with under two minutes to go, QB Anders Hill stood strong in the face of an all-out blitz and found WR Ronald Smith sprinting to the ball in the middle of the field. The blitz meant Smith really needed to beat only one man to score and he did. 

This crucial and almost hear-stopping score comes close to being the #1 moment of the season, but there's no shame in being the runner up in a year like this. 

What could possibly be bigger than Smith's game-winning TD? 

I'll have the #1 moment coming up along with a few honorable mentions. 

New OL

6-5, 293 pound Jake Motz from Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, TN has committed to the Lions. 

Motz will be the first Pope John Paul II grad and first from Hendersonville to come to Columbia Football.

That brings our list on reported commits for 2018 to 15:

1) Inho Choi DB 6-1 175 lbs. Holy Names HS Windsor, Ontario/Deerfield Academy

2) Michael Fluegel RB/CB 6-1 180 lbs. Clarkston HS Clarkston, MI

3) John Foreback QB 6-1 215 lbs. Morristown-Hamblen West HS Morristown, TN

4) Devin Hart LB 6-1 212 lbs. McEachem HS Powder Springs, GA 

5) Ty Lenhart QB 6-3 203 lbs. DeMatha HS, Hyattsville, MD

6) Drake Morey DL 6-5 250 lbs. Ashland HS Ashland, OR

7) Jake Motz OL 6-5 293 lbs. Pope John Paul II HS Hendersonville, TN
8) Chris Park WR 5-11 175 lbs. Junipero Serra HS San Mateo, CA

9) Keaton Prevette LS 6-0, 225 lbs. Charlotte Country Day Charlotte, NC

10) Brandon Radice TE 6-4, 205 lbs. Ridge HS Basking Ridge, NJ

11) Mikey Roussos WR 6-1 180 lbs. River Ridge HS New Port Richey, FL 

12) Joshua Smythe-Macaulay LB 6-3 193 lbs. Bowie HS, Austin, TX

13) Mitchell Sturgill DB 6-1, 185 lbs Bellevue HS Bellevue, WA

14) Watson Tansil LB 6-3, 215 lbs. Franklin Road Academy Nashville, TN

15) Ryan Young RB 5-10 200 lbs. Wheaton Warrenville South HS Wheaton, IL 

Top 10 Moments (part two)

As I continue to make the magical 2017 football season last as long as possible, let's continue with the countdown of the top 10 plays of the year:


7) McKeighan Ices it with an INT

No longtime Columbia fan was counting the Princeton game as a win ever after WR Ronald Smith's dramatic 63-yard TD catch and run with 1:12 to play. The Tiger offense was just too dangerous to ignore. Sure enough, Princeton got excellent field position after a penalty on the ensuing Lion kickoff and QB Chad Kanoff and Co. took over on their own 40. Three plays later, Princeton was at the Columbia 37 with 38 seconds to go. But that's when a strong pass rush from DL Alex Robin flustered Kanoff and forced a pass he hoped to hurl out of bounds. DB Ben McKeighan was ready for it and he stretched out to make an athletic pickoff. With 32 seconds left, that gave CU the opportunity to just kneel on the turf and earn one of its most dramatic wins in years.


6) Oren's Game Winner

A lot will be written over the next 10 months about how K Oren Milstein had a bit of a slump in his sophomore year. But that argument should include the fact that it really doesn't appear that he did anything to cost the Lions any games in 2017. We do know that he helped win more than one game, and his clutch game winning 29-yard FG over Wagner as time ran out was his biggest play of the year.


5) Blocked Punt Puts Bears into Hibernation

Columbia blocked so many kicks this season, it would be hard to believe the Lions did not set a team record. But no other blocked kick was as dramatic as DB Tyler Holmes blocking Brown punter Ryan Kopec's punt and Justin Woodley picking it up for a TD to give Columbia a 14-0 lead late in the 1st half of the season finale win over the Bears. 

Top 10 Moments (part one)

The natural inclination for a lot of fans is to take this remarkable 8-2 season, put it in our memory banks, and then focus on the future.

But why rush it?

This was the best Columbia season in almost 60 years, (I'll explain in future posts why it was better than the 8-2 season in 1996), so it's important to give it it's full due.

Let's start by cataloging the top 10 moments of 2017:


10) Wainwright's Circus Catch 

Columbia's season opener against Wagner was a mixed bag of big plays for both teams. But none was more spectacular from an athletic point than a 30-yard twisting grab WR Josh Wainwright with about 5:30 left in the 1st half of that game. You can see the catch about 10 seconds into this highlight video here. Three plays later, Wainwright made a nice move to fake out a defender en route to a 55-yard TD. But this catch was much more remarkable and was the first electric moment of 2017.


9) Heeb Provides some Safety

Columbia was dominating Cornell all day in their week nine contest in Ithaca, but with about nine minutes left in the 3rd quarter the Lions were only clinging to an iffy 6-0 lead over the Big Red. That's when DL Connor Heeb shed a blocker and nailed RB Jack Gellatly in the end zone for a safety that finally gave Columbia some breathing room. It was a key moment not only in that game, but in the context of ending the two-game losing streak the Lions were riding coming into Schoelkopf Field.


8) Everett Snags One

WR Chris Everett has had a tough time carving out his own niche with guys like Wainwright and Ronald Smith in the receiving corps. But he made a crucial impact with one incredible grab late in the 1st half against Dartmouth that led to a key TD a few moments later. It was easily Everett's biggest play of the year in the Lions' tightest win of the year. And every time I see the highlight, I keep expecting him to drop it.

Stat Sheet

It was only four years ago this month that after the Lions went from 3-7 in 2012 to 0-10 in 2013, the previous coaching regime told us there was "empirical evidence" that the team was actually improving.

Of course, that was patently false.

Under Head Coach Al Bagnoli we've already seen massive evidence based on real statistics that showed strong improvement in both his first and second seasons.

But the list of 2017 improvements and the percentage degree of improvement in category after category compared to 2016 really takes the cake.

Let's look at the numbers:


-Wins went from 3 to 8, a 166% improvement

-Touchdowns scored rose to 31 from 21, a 47.6% improvement

-Points allowed fell to 175 from 247, a 29.1% improvement/reduction

-Touchdowns allowed fell to 23 from 32, a 28.1% improvement/reduction

-3rd down conversion rate rose to 43% from 34%, a 26.4% improvement

-Total penalty yardage fell to 577 yards from 772 yards, a 25.2% improvement/reduction

-Scoring rose to 239 points from 185 points, a 23.7% improvement

-Passing yardage rose to 2,408 from 2,014, a 19.5% improvement

-Total penalties fell to 60 from 73, an 18.5% improvement/reduction

-Rushing yards allowed fell to 1,270 from 1,559, an 18.5% improvement/reduction

-Average time of possession rose to 33:31 per game from 29:18, a 14.3% improvement

-1st downs rose to 200 from 177, a 12.9% improvement

-4th down conversions allowed fell to 56% from 64%, a 12.5% improvement/reduction

-Total offense rose to 3,593 yards from 3,265 yards, a 10.0% improvement

-Total defense/yards allowed fell to 3,290 from 3,591, an 8.3% improvement/reduction

-1st downs allowed fell to 169 from 178, a 5.0% improvement/reduction

-Passing yardage allowed fell to 2,020 from 2,032, a 0.5% improvement/reduction


There were just three areas where there was some regression:

-Sacks fell to 15 from 17, an 11.7% reduction

-Sacks allowed rose from 36 to 38, a 5.5% increase

-Rushing yards fell to 1,185 from 1,251, a 5.2% decrease

The overall improvements listed above are simply outstanding. The only really rough stats came in the sacks for and against categories. The 5% reduction in rushing offense was acceptable with the graduation of Alan Watson and the wise decision to use indispensable QB Anders Hill less as a runner this year.

Just for fun, let's look at the statistical percentage improvements compared to the nadir of the program in 2013:

-Wins went from 0 to 8, a statistically impossible improvement to show in percentages

-Touchdowns scored went from 9 to 31, a 244% improvement

-Scoring rose from 73 to 239 points, a 227% improvement

-3rd down conversions went from 17% to 43%, a 152% improvement

-Rushing yardage went from 519 to 1,185 yards, a 128% improvement

-Total offense went from 2,043 to 3,593 yards, a 75.8% improvement

-Passing offense went from 1,524 to 2,408 yards, a 58.0% improvement

-Points allowed went from 402 to 175, a 56.4% improvement/reduction

-Touchdowns allowed went from 52 to 23, a 55.7% improvement/reduction

-Rushing yards allowed went from 2,429 to 1,270, a 47.7% improvement/reduction

-Average time of possession went from 24:44 to 33:31, a 39.2% improvement

-Total defense went from 5,141 yards allowed to 3,290, a 36.0% improvement/reduction

-Passing yards against went from 2,712 to 2,020, a 25.5% improvement/reduction

Now THAT's empirical evidence!