Wounded Win

Columbia 41 Central Connecticut State 24


Why Columbia Won

The Lions came through with several clutch plays, kept their small mistakes from becoming big mistakes, enjoyed stellar special teams play, and took advantage of a myriad of CCSU errors to grab a wild season opening win on the road.

Why CCSU Lost

The Blue Devils began the game ineptly on offense and then turned the ball over three times inside their own red zone, leading to 17 Columbia 2nd half points. CCSU star QB Jacob Dolegala was often off the mark, overthrowing wide open receivers and heaving poor passes when under even minor pressure. Three muffed punts sealed the team's fate.

Key Turning Points

-With 4:35 left in the 1st quarter, Columbia began a possession at its 39 following a dramatic Blue Devil punt return for a TD that knotted the game at 7-7. Faced with a big flip in momentum in favor of the home team, the Lions began their most impressive drive of the game. Columbia went 61 yards on nine plays, ending with a strike of a TD pass from starting QB Josh Bean to the decently-covered WR Ronald Smith in the end zone.

-With the score 14-14, under five minutes to go in the 1st half, and CCSU driving at midfield, Columbia's Jacob Young and Arman Samouk combined on a crucial sack that effectively ended the Blue Devil drive. After the CCSU punt put the Lions on their 25, Columbia drove to the Blue Devil 26 before having to attempt a tough 44 yard field goal. But Chris Alleyne made the hardest kick of what was a perfect night for the CU placekicker, and the Lions were able to go into the locker room with a 17-14 halftime lead.

-After a promising Lion drive to start the second half fizzled at the CCSU 46, Blue Devil punt returner Tajik Bagley muffed Drew Schmid's end-over-end kick and the ball was recovered by Cameren Carter for the Lions at the CCSU 13. But the Lions only went backwards on three plays and had to call on Alleyne again to hit a 36-yard FG to make it 20-14 Columbia.

-The Lions surprised everyone with an on-side kick that worked perfectly on the ensuing play. But once again, Columbia went three-and-out and was forced to punt. And once again, CCSU's Bagley muffed the punt and once again, Carter recovered it for the Lions. Starting this possession at the three yard line, the Lions punched in the TD this time on two plays for a 27-14 lead with 6:02 left in the 3rd quarter.

-With just over 11 minutes left in the game and Columbia now leading 27-17, QB Dillon Davis took over for his first series after Bean was concussed and backup Ty Lenhart was replaced after a shaky-looking possession. On a 2nd and 14 play from the Lion 45, Davis avoided the rush and found WR Darion Acohido for a 47-yard completion to the Blue Devil eight. On 4th and goal from the two, the Lion coaches elected to go for it and Davis executed a perfect shovel pass to Lynnard Rose for a TD and a 31-17 Columbia lead with 8:44 remaining.

-After the ensuing CCSU drive fizzled and the Blue Devils had to punt, the Lions took over at their own 17 with 7:06 to go. On the first play after that, freshman RB Dante Miller burst through the line, then took off and kept his balance down the left sideline for an 83-yard game-icing TD run.

Columbia Positives

-The most consistently excellent play came from the special teams unit. Alleyne's kickoffs, extra points, and FG kicks were all perfect as he added to his usual duties in place of injured starter Oren Milstein. Schmid's punts were all hard to field end-over-end kicks that still traveled good distances. And the one CCSU punt return for a TD was helped by a hold and possibly some blocks in the back the refs missed.
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-The defense did not have a perfect night, but it came out very strong early on and made sure the Lions got on the board first with a crucial strip sack inside the Blue Devil 10. Later, the Columbia D came up with some key plays including the Young/Samouk shared sack and a stout series in the 3rd quarter where CCSU had to settled for a FG after getting a 1st and goal at the 10.

-The offensive line seemed improved, despite some surprise starters and losing senior Charlie Flores for the season in training camp. Pass protection was definitely workable and the run blocking was there at some key moments.

-The depth on this team shined through, with Davis coming through late in the game for the injured bean and Acohido getting it down in place of the injured Josh Wainwright. 

-The Lions committed no turnovers.

-Miller looks like he is indeed the special player he was advertised to be.

Columbia Negatives

-The injuries could be severe, with Bean likely out for next week because of concussion protocols and Wainwright possibly out for much longer with an injured knee. RB Anthony Filacouris seems likely out for the season as well.

-CCSU had a number of open receivers deep down the field in the second half that Dolegala just missed with overthrown balls. If he had connected with one or two of those passes, the game may have turned out differently.

-Columbia fumbled the ball four times, but miraculously didn't lose even one of them.

Columbia MVP

The leading contenders are Alleyne, Schmid, and Davis. In some ways, the award belongs to the whole special teams unit, but Alleyne really was the most clutch player of the night and he deserves the MVP nod.