Columbia 17 Yale 10
Why Columbia Won
In a wind and rain swept game that hindered both of thr injury-depleted teams, the Lion special teams made the difference. K Chris Alleyne's 51-yard field goal, a blocked punt, and especially P Drew Schmid's incredible punts with and against the wind were the key elements in the CU victory.
Why Yale Lost
The Elis easily out-gained Columbia on offense, 428 yards to 160, but Yale consistently sputtered when it mattered most. Two turnovers and a missed field goal sealed the Eli's fate.
Key Turning Points
-With 5:02 left in the 1st quarter, Lion starting QB Ryan Suitt fumbled the ball on a scramble and it was recovered by Yale at the CU 49. But an Eli holding penalty downfield nullified the turnover and gave Columbia a 1st down at the Yale 44. Less than two minutes later Alleyne hit his 51-yard FG, the longest placement kick FG in Columbia history.
-With about 1:30 left in the 1st quarter and the Lions still ahead 3-0, Suitt was sacked and he fumbled the ball at behind the Columbia 40. With at least two Yale defenders very close the ball, OL Joseph Scowden came seemingly out of nowhere, lept in between the two defenders, and recovered the fumble that looked like an easy scoop-and-score for the Elis.
-With 6:09 left in the half and the score still 3-0, Yale's offense finally came to life with a 44 yard run by RB Alan Lamar on a left sweep. Five plays later, Lamar took it into the end zone from the 2 and the Bulldogs had suddenly grabbed the momentum.
-With 2:04 left in the half, Schmid pinned Yale at its own 4 with another perfect punt. But the Elis passing game got going with QB Jimmy Check completing 50 yards worth of passed and RB Zane Dudek getting clutch yards along the way. But after getting a 1st and goal at the CU 3 with eight seconds to go, Check's pass into the end zone fell incomplete and the Bulldogs had to settle for a 20-yard Alex Galland FG and a 10-3 halftime lead.
-With about 6:50 left in the 3rd quarter and Yale still ahead 10-3, LB Carson Powell blocked Galland's punt and the Lions took over on the Eli 30. What followed was Suitt's only truly effective passing series of the game, as he hit TE Casey Mariucci for a 15-yard 1st down pass on 3rd and 10 from the 30 and then threw a strike to Mariucci again two plays later for a 16-yard TD that tied the game.
-With about 1:30 left in the 3rd quarter and the score still 10-10, the DT Alex Robin stopped Lamar for a just a two-yard gain on a 3rd and 3 from the Yale 20. The ensuing Galland punt traveled just 23 yards, and the Lions took over on the Bulldog 45. But with Suitt now injured, the Lions began the drive with 5th string QB Matt Dame at the helm. Five plays later and the Lions facing a 3rd and 5 from the Yale 30, RB Ryan Young burst through the middle and scored even with an Eli DB hanging on his back for the final five yards. That gave Columbia the 17-10 lead with 14:12 left to go in the game.
Columbia Positives
-The special teams play was simply perfect. In addition to Alleyne's record-breaking FG, all of his kickoffs went for touchbacks, the Lion coverage teams never allowed any returns, and Schmid punted 11 times for a 44.7 average even though half of those punts were against a stiff wind.
-The Lion defense was dominating at times, but mostly stiffened up when Yale got into scoring range. DE Daniel DeLorenzi shook off an early 4th quarter injury and came back into the game to make a key late sack. DB Landon Baty returned from missing the three previous games to snag an interception and make a tackle for a 10-yard loss.
-It's hard to measure a team's heart, but with all the injuries already plaguing the team the Columbia spirits seemed high all day. When Dame was forced into the game by Suitt's injury, the team rallied around him quickly.
Columbia Negatives
-The injuries and the weather combined to mostly stifle the Lion offense against a Yale defense that has otherwise struggled all year.
-The Columbia defense allowed too many Eli receivers to get open in the middle of the field.
Columbia MVP
-This was more of a true team effort victory than I've ever seen at any level of football. A big standout among that crowd was RB Ryan Young, who's impressive TD and 91 yards on 19 carries would make him an easy choice.
But the game was ultimately put in Columbia's corner because the Elis consistently faced poor field position all day. That was primarily because of Drew Schmid, who is the rare punter to earn MVP honors.
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Saturday, October 27, 2018
War of the Wounded
Yale Elis (4-2) vs. Columbia Lions (3-3)
October 27, 2018
Kickoff Time: 1:00pm
Robert Kraft Field at Wien Stadium
Game Time Weather Forecast: 50 degrees, rain, windy
The Line: Yale is favored by 6 points
TV/Radio: You can watch live on ESPN+ and on tape delay on the SNY Network.
The Game Last Year: Yale 23 Columbia 6
Columbia Game Notes
Yale Game Notes
Leading Story Lines
1) Both teams come into the game severely wounded.Columbia is starting 4th string QB Ryan Suitt and Yale is going with sophomore QB Jimmy Check.The Lions are also without their starting RB, top overall WR, starting MLB, both starting CB's, and a few starting OL's. Yale lost 2017 Ivy Rookie of the yeat RB Zane Dudek weeks ago. But Columbia will get S Landon Baty back.
2) The weather will be a major factor with rain and very high winds likely throughout the contest.
3) Yale still entertains hopes of winning the Ivy title, Columbia is looking to renew a push for a winning season.
October 27, 2018
Kickoff Time: 1:00pm
Robert Kraft Field at Wien Stadium
Game Time Weather Forecast: 50 degrees, rain, windy
The Line: Yale is favored by 6 points
TV/Radio: You can watch live on ESPN+ and on tape delay on the SNY Network.
The Game Last Year: Yale 23 Columbia 6
Columbia Game Notes
Yale Game Notes
Leading Story Lines
1) Both teams come into the game severely wounded.Columbia is starting 4th string QB Ryan Suitt and Yale is going with sophomore QB Jimmy Check.The Lions are also without their starting RB, top overall WR, starting MLB, both starting CB's, and a few starting OL's. Yale lost 2017 Ivy Rookie of the yeat RB Zane Dudek weeks ago. But Columbia will get S Landon Baty back.
2) The weather will be a major factor with rain and very high winds likely throughout the contest.
3) Yale still entertains hopes of winning the Ivy title, Columbia is looking to renew a push for a winning season.
Friday, October 26, 2018
Ivy Power Rankings
1) Dartmouth
The Big Green have been the most consistent team all year.
2) Princeton
The Tigers haven't been as dominant lately. Perhaps that will change this week.
3) Yale
The chasm between the Elis and Princeton-Dartmouth is wider than ever with the loss of QB Kurt Rawlings. That said, Yale stayed in control against Penn even after Rawlings went down last week.
4) Cornell
Nice rebound for the Big Red last week.
5) Harvard
Harvard played well enough against Princeton to make a big jump on the list.
6) Penn
The Quakers just aren't looking strong enough on offense to threaten the big guys.
7) Columbia
The injury problems are piling up even MORE.
8) Brown
The Bears are still at rock bottom.
Week 7 Picks
I went 5-1 straight up and 3-2-1 against the spread last week, putting me at 35-11 straight up and 25-20-1 ATS for the year so far
Colgate -27 1/2 vs. Georgetown
Colgate feels like the only truly good team in the Patriot League. I'd love to factor in a very low scoring game for inclement weather, but I think poor elements make the superior team even more likely to romp.
Wagner +10 at CCSU
I think CCSU will win, but they seem too tentative to win my more than two scores.
Brown +14 1/2 vs. Penn
Penn will win by 10 or 11.
Princeton -19 vs. Cornell
The Tigers will be eager to go all out again after two subdued wins in a row.
Morehead State -4 1/2 vs. Marist
Marist is starting to run out of gas after a midseason surge.
Harvard +18 at Dartmouth
Dartmouth will finally get over that Harvard hump, but not by 18 points.
Monday, October 22, 2018
Salt in the Wounds
Dartmouth 28 Columbia 12
Why Dartmouth Won
The Big Green didn't consistently move the ball, but on their scoring drives the Dartmouth offensive line totally commanded the field. The Big Green defense wasn't as dominant as it had been in previous weeks, but it was good enough to stop the Lions on a number of possessions, especially ones where Columbia began in great field position.
Why Columbia Lost
The already badly injured Lion squad lost its first and second strong QB's, its top running back, and more during the course of the game. But even during moments of relative health, Columbia could not stop the Big Green on a couple of key drives.
Key Turning Points
-The Lions put together a brilliant opening drive with a mix of runs, passes, and trick plays that ended in an apparent TD pass from QB Josh Bean to TE Rory Schlageter. But the score nullified on an illegal substitution penalty and Columbia had to settle for a Chris Alleyne field goal.
-With one minute left in the half, Dartmouth ahead 7-6, and backup freshman QB Ty Lenhart in for the re-injured Bean, Lenhart marched the Lions all the way down to the Big Green 19 yard line. But on the next play, he forced a pass that Dartmouth's Ryan Roegge intercepted at the four yard line and preserved the Big Green lead into halftime and essentially for the rest of the day.
Columbia Positives
-When they were at relative full strength, the Lions held their own against what could be the best team in the Ivies right now. The defense did especially well through most of the game on 3rd down plays.
-Lenhart showed he had more abilities than just running the ball into the end zone from inside the 5. Putting the interception aside, he made some good completions.
Columbia Negatives
-RB Dante Miller was lost for the season with a knee injury. Bean and Lenhart's status are questionable after they were hit badly.
-Columbia's ability to stop the Dartmouth offense suddenly disappeared at key moments in the game. It's possible the Big Green was just not running at 100% the full game.
Columbia MVP
-WR Kaleb Pitts stepped into the role of top receiver with so many of the starters out of the game.
Why Dartmouth Won
The Big Green didn't consistently move the ball, but on their scoring drives the Dartmouth offensive line totally commanded the field. The Big Green defense wasn't as dominant as it had been in previous weeks, but it was good enough to stop the Lions on a number of possessions, especially ones where Columbia began in great field position.
Why Columbia Lost
The already badly injured Lion squad lost its first and second strong QB's, its top running back, and more during the course of the game. But even during moments of relative health, Columbia could not stop the Big Green on a couple of key drives.
Key Turning Points
-The Lions put together a brilliant opening drive with a mix of runs, passes, and trick plays that ended in an apparent TD pass from QB Josh Bean to TE Rory Schlageter. But the score nullified on an illegal substitution penalty and Columbia had to settle for a Chris Alleyne field goal.
-With one minute left in the half, Dartmouth ahead 7-6, and backup freshman QB Ty Lenhart in for the re-injured Bean, Lenhart marched the Lions all the way down to the Big Green 19 yard line. But on the next play, he forced a pass that Dartmouth's Ryan Roegge intercepted at the four yard line and preserved the Big Green lead into halftime and essentially for the rest of the day.
Columbia Positives
-When they were at relative full strength, the Lions held their own against what could be the best team in the Ivies right now. The defense did especially well through most of the game on 3rd down plays.
-Lenhart showed he had more abilities than just running the ball into the end zone from inside the 5. Putting the interception aside, he made some good completions.
Columbia Negatives
-RB Dante Miller was lost for the season with a knee injury. Bean and Lenhart's status are questionable after they were hit badly.
-Columbia's ability to stop the Dartmouth offense suddenly disappeared at key moments in the game. It's possible the Big Green was just not running at 100% the full game.
Columbia MVP
-WR Kaleb Pitts stepped into the role of top receiver with so many of the starters out of the game.
Friday, October 19, 2018
Homecoming Heavy Lift
Dartmouth Big Green (5-0) vs. Columbia Lions (3-2)
October 20, 2018
Kickoff Time: 1:30pm
Robert Kraft Field at Wien Stadium
Game Time Weather Forecast: 62 degrees and mostly cloudy
The Line: Dartmouth is favored by 18 points
TV/Radio: You can watch live on ESPN+ and on the SNY Network !
The Game Last Year: Columbia 22 Dartmouth 17
Columbia Game Notes
Dartmouth Game Notes
Leading Story Lines
1) Dartmouth comes into the game looking as strong as we've seen them since perhaps the Big Green's undefeated 1996 season. The defense has been flawless and the offense seems to improve each week. And perhaps the biggest factor is that Dartmouth running QB Jared Gerbino is on a roll. All in all, the Big Green looks like the perfect team to take on Columbia right now.
2) The Columbia injury train keeps getting more crowded. WR Ronald Smith and CB Will Allen are now out along with other key players on both sides of the ball. This could be a big opportunity for some younger players to emerge.
3) Al Bagnoli does seem to have Dartmouth's number. He dominated the Big Green during his Penn days, and Columbia is 2-1 against Dartmouth in the Bagnoli era. The one loss came in 2015 when the heavy underdog Lions almost pulled out a shocking win against the eventual co-champion Big Green in Hanover. But even engineering a close game this time seems like a stretch given Dartmouth's strengths and Columbia's current injuries.
October 20, 2018
Kickoff Time: 1:30pm
Robert Kraft Field at Wien Stadium
Game Time Weather Forecast: 62 degrees and mostly cloudy
The Line: Dartmouth is favored by 18 points
TV/Radio: You can watch live on ESPN+ and on the SNY Network !
The Game Last Year: Columbia 22 Dartmouth 17
Columbia Game Notes
Dartmouth Game Notes
Leading Story Lines
1) Dartmouth comes into the game looking as strong as we've seen them since perhaps the Big Green's undefeated 1996 season. The defense has been flawless and the offense seems to improve each week. And perhaps the biggest factor is that Dartmouth running QB Jared Gerbino is on a roll. All in all, the Big Green looks like the perfect team to take on Columbia right now.
2) The Columbia injury train keeps getting more crowded. WR Ronald Smith and CB Will Allen are now out along with other key players on both sides of the ball. This could be a big opportunity for some younger players to emerge.
3) Al Bagnoli does seem to have Dartmouth's number. He dominated the Big Green during his Penn days, and Columbia is 2-1 against Dartmouth in the Bagnoli era. The one loss came in 2015 when the heavy underdog Lions almost pulled out a shocking win against the eventual co-champion Big Green in Hanover. But even engineering a close game this time seems like a stretch given Dartmouth's strengths and Columbia's current injuries.
Week 6 Picks
I went 6-2 straight up and 3-5 against the spread last week. On the year, I am now 30-10 straight up and 22-18 ATS
Yale -8 1/2 at Penn
The Elis will win by 10 or so.
Princeton -24 1/2 at Harvard
This could get ugly. It did last year when Princeton wasn't as good and Harvard was better.
Marist -14 1/2 vs. Davidson
The Red Foxes are finding their footing.
Cornell -9 at Brown
The Big Red will bounce back.
CCSU +3 vs. Sacred Heart
Now CCSU is getting into a groove. They'll win.
Lehigh +14 at Georgetown
The Hoyas will win, but by about 11 or so.
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Ivy Power Rankings
1) Princeton
The Tigers still look unstoppable. They could have beaten Brown 69-10 had they wanted to.
2) Dartmouth
The Big Green's defense is the real deal.
3) Yale
The win over Mercer was a good sign for the Elis. Their offense is really strong and can keep them in most games. But there's a huge chasm between them and Princeton-Dartmouth.
4) Penn
The Quakers gutted out a tough win last week, but Penn won't be a contender this year.
5) Cornell
Losing to Colgate is no shame, but losing by 31-0 is rough and throws the Big Red's ascendancy in question.
6) Harvard
Harvard has a major issue at QB.
7) Columbia
The injury problems are piling up, but the Lions have a good shot at .500.
8) Brown
The Bears are still at rock bottom.
Monday, October 15, 2018
Philly Fail
Penn 13 Columbia 10
Why Penn Won
The Quakers played their best defense of the year, stuffing the Columbia run and keeping the Lion passing game mostly in check. On offense, Penn used a few key runs by QB Ryan Glover to keep drives alive and get the final go-ahead score.
Why Columbia Lost
The Lions offense could not consistently move the ball all day. Columbia avoided going three-and-out just about all day, but couldn't achieve much else. QB Josh Bean had a decent game, especially in the second half. But a late INT after a receiver fell down sealed the Lions fate.
Key Turning Points
-With Penn leading 3-0 and about three minutes left in the 1st quarter, the Lions executed a beautiful fake punt when DE Daniel DeLorenzi took a direct snap and gained 18 yards for a 1st down at the Penn 41. But Columbia failed to get another 1st down and the drive ended with a Drew Schmid punt to the Penn 26.
-With 3:37 left in the half and the Quakers now ahead 6-0, Columbia appeared to convert a 4th and 4 pass to WR Ronald Smith for a 1st down inside the Penn 35. But the ruling on the field was overturned and the completion was negated.
-With Columbia now leading 7-6 and 6:03 left in the 3rd quarter, the Lions took over at the Quaker 24 after a 22 yards punt by Penn's Drew Brennan. But Columbia ended up going backwards on the ensuing possession and had to settle for a 46-yard FG from Chris Alleyne to stretch their lead to 10-6.
-With 3:01 left in the game and Penn now leading 13-10, Columbia's Ty Lenhart appeared to have gained a 1st down on a 4th and 1 run at the Quaker 34. But the refs spotted the ball on the 35 and the spot was upheld by video review.
-With 22 seconds remaining and Columbia facing a 3rd and 4 at the Penn 24, Bean's pass to WR Mozes Mooney was intercepted by Penn's Muhammad Diakate and the game was over.
Columbia Positives
-The defense played generally well, giving the Lions enough chances to win the game. DT Alex Robin had a breakout game, wrecking havoc in the Penn backfield and drawing several holding penalties.
-With WR Josh Wainwright out for the season and WR Ronald Smith apparently a bit hampered by injury, some of the other WR's stepped up admirably. Senior Kaleb Pitts had the best overall game, highlighted by his falling backwards recpetion of a 43-yard pass from Bean to convert a 4th and 18 on the final CU drive. Freshman Mozes Mooney also caught his first pass of the season,
-PK Chris Alleyne had another perfect game, hitting a tough 46-yard FG, nailing all of his kickoffs for touchbacks, and calmly hitting a PAT.
Columbia Negatives
-The Lions run blocking just doesn't seem to work and certainly isn't accentuating the talents of several talented RB's.
-The Lion defense has a weakness for running QB's and it's very obvious.
Columbia MVP
Once again, I give the MVP to Chris Alleyne. It's just a shame he never got the chance to send the game into OT with one more long FG.
Why Penn Won
The Quakers played their best defense of the year, stuffing the Columbia run and keeping the Lion passing game mostly in check. On offense, Penn used a few key runs by QB Ryan Glover to keep drives alive and get the final go-ahead score.
Why Columbia Lost
The Lions offense could not consistently move the ball all day. Columbia avoided going three-and-out just about all day, but couldn't achieve much else. QB Josh Bean had a decent game, especially in the second half. But a late INT after a receiver fell down sealed the Lions fate.
Key Turning Points
-With Penn leading 3-0 and about three minutes left in the 1st quarter, the Lions executed a beautiful fake punt when DE Daniel DeLorenzi took a direct snap and gained 18 yards for a 1st down at the Penn 41. But Columbia failed to get another 1st down and the drive ended with a Drew Schmid punt to the Penn 26.
-With 3:37 left in the half and the Quakers now ahead 6-0, Columbia appeared to convert a 4th and 4 pass to WR Ronald Smith for a 1st down inside the Penn 35. But the ruling on the field was overturned and the completion was negated.
-With Columbia now leading 7-6 and 6:03 left in the 3rd quarter, the Lions took over at the Quaker 24 after a 22 yards punt by Penn's Drew Brennan. But Columbia ended up going backwards on the ensuing possession and had to settle for a 46-yard FG from Chris Alleyne to stretch their lead to 10-6.
-With 3:01 left in the game and Penn now leading 13-10, Columbia's Ty Lenhart appeared to have gained a 1st down on a 4th and 1 run at the Quaker 34. But the refs spotted the ball on the 35 and the spot was upheld by video review.
-With 22 seconds remaining and Columbia facing a 3rd and 4 at the Penn 24, Bean's pass to WR Mozes Mooney was intercepted by Penn's Muhammad Diakate and the game was over.
Columbia Positives
-The defense played generally well, giving the Lions enough chances to win the game. DT Alex Robin had a breakout game, wrecking havoc in the Penn backfield and drawing several holding penalties.
-With WR Josh Wainwright out for the season and WR Ronald Smith apparently a bit hampered by injury, some of the other WR's stepped up admirably. Senior Kaleb Pitts had the best overall game, highlighted by his falling backwards recpetion of a 43-yard pass from Bean to convert a 4th and 18 on the final CU drive. Freshman Mozes Mooney also caught his first pass of the season,
-PK Chris Alleyne had another perfect game, hitting a tough 46-yard FG, nailing all of his kickoffs for touchbacks, and calmly hitting a PAT.
Columbia Negatives
-The Lions run blocking just doesn't seem to work and certainly isn't accentuating the talents of several talented RB's.
-The Lion defense has a weakness for running QB's and it's very obvious.
Columbia MVP
Once again, I give the MVP to Chris Alleyne. It's just a shame he never got the chance to send the game into OT with one more long FG.
Friday, October 12, 2018
Finding Themselves in Philly
Columbia Lions (3-1) vs. Pennsylvania Quakers (3-1)
October 13, 2018
Kickoff Time: 1:00pm
Franklin Field
Game Time Weather Forecast: 55 degrees and cloudy
The Line: Penn is favored by 6 points
TV/Radio: You can watch live on ESPN+ and listen to the Columbia Radio Broadcast with the superior team of Jerry Recco and Sal Licata!
The Game Last Year: Columbia 31 Penn 28 (OT)
Columbia Game Notes
Penn Game Notes
Leading Story Lines
1) This is going to be a defining game for both teams, because it's very hard to define how good they are even after four games. The Lions have really only had their top starting QB on the field for one entire game, and the Quakers can say the same about their top WR. Right now, it looks like Princeton and Dartmouth are well ahead of the rest of the league, but CU and Penn are two teams that could be very good or just pretenders.
2) I'm not a big believer in the "bad blood" myth, but the Quakers are clearly a bit more steamed than usual after last year's OT loss in New York.
3) Can Columbia handle another big play WR after getting torched by Marist's Juston Christian last week? Look for Penn to test the Lion secondary early and often.
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Week 5 Picks
I had a so-so week 5, going 6-1 straight up and 4-3 against the spread. Overall, I am now 24-8 overall and 19-13 ATS
Holy Cross +14 at Harvard
The Crusaders suddenly don't look quite strong enough to win this one, but they can cover that spread.
Cornell +11 at Colgate
The Big Red will make this a game, but Colgate is just a little better and will win.
Princeton -40 1/2 vs. Brown
The Tigers seem to be into showing no mercy.
Bryant -2 vs. CCSU
CCSU runs hot and cold. It's time to run cold.
Jacksonville -2 vs. Marist
Could go either way, but this is a brutal road trip for the Red Foxes.
Yale -4 vs. Mercer
Bulldogs bounce back.
Georgetown +2 1/2 at Lafayette
The Hoyas are learning how to beat bad teams.
Sacred Heard +22 at Dartmouth
I think the Big Green will take their feet off the gas here and "only" win by about 19 or 20.
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Ivy Power Rankings
1) Princeton
The Tigers still haven't really been challenged. They laid Lehigh to waste by a 66-7 score on Saturday and now Brown is their next unfortunate opponent.
2) Dartmouth
That was a convincing win on the road against Yale Friday night. The Big Green have no real weaknesses. The only question is whether Dartmouth is stronger than Princeton in any category that can make the difference in a head-to-head match up.
3) Yale
Despite the big loss on Friday, Yale still looks like a strong team. It's just the chasm between the Elis and the top two teams just got wider.
4) Cornell
The Big Red is playing really well right now. Yeah, we've seen that before. But this time there's a bit of balance between the offense and defense.
5) Penn
The Quakers still have to prove themselves, but getting WR Christian Pearson back helps.
6) Columbia
The Lions might have a ticket out of the lower half of the league standings if now-healthy QB Josh Bean can keep playing like he did on Saturday. But the question is: Can he play that well against teams better than Marist?
7) Harvard
The Crimson are now without WR Justice Shelton Mosely for at least a game or two.
8) Brown
The Bears are at rock bottom.
Monday, October 8, 2018
5 Monday Thoughts
-Head Coach Al Bagnoli is now 16-18 at Columbia. He's reached 16 wins 15 games faster than Norries Wilson and 32 games faster than Ray Tellier.
-There were some noticeable changes in the Columbia game plan against Marist. The most noticeable was the no-huddle, quick snap strategy on 3rd and short and 4th and short. Columbia cashed in on that with a 42% 3rd down conversion rate, (8-19), and a 100% 4th down conversion rate (4-4).
-Columbia is now 8-8 on 4th down conversions this year, but only 34% on 3rd down conversions.
-The blocked Chris Alleyne FG in the 4th quarter was his first unsuccessful kick of any kind this season. But he bounced back on his next attempt by notching a 40-yard FG a few minutes later. Alleyne has 36 points scored so far this season, putting him on a strong pace to break the all-time Columbia single season scoring record for kicking only. That record is 54 points and was set by Joe Aldrich '97 in 1994.
-Columbia has scored 108 points and allowed 108 points. It's narrowly outscoring opponents in the 1st and 3rd quarters and narrowly being outscored in the 2nd and 4th quarters.
-There were some noticeable changes in the Columbia game plan against Marist. The most noticeable was the no-huddle, quick snap strategy on 3rd and short and 4th and short. Columbia cashed in on that with a 42% 3rd down conversion rate, (8-19), and a 100% 4th down conversion rate (4-4).
-Columbia is now 8-8 on 4th down conversions this year, but only 34% on 3rd down conversions.
-The blocked Chris Alleyne FG in the 4th quarter was his first unsuccessful kick of any kind this season. But he bounced back on his next attempt by notching a 40-yard FG a few minutes later. Alleyne has 36 points scored so far this season, putting him on a strong pace to break the all-time Columbia single season scoring record for kicking only. That record is 54 points and was set by Joe Aldrich '97 in 1994.
-Columbia has scored 108 points and allowed 108 points. It's narrowly outscoring opponents in the 1st and 3rd quarters and narrowly being outscored in the 2nd and 4th quarters.
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Almost 86'd
Columbia 34 Marist 24
Why Columbia Won
In his first full game as a starter, QB Josh Bean kept the Lion offense moving all day and turnover free. The defense gave up several huge passing plays, but regrouped in the final minutes to stop Marist to seal the game.
Why Marist Lost
The Red Foxes had a significant weapon in WR Juston Christian, who finished the game with seven catches for 274 yards and three TDs. But other than that, Marist didn't have much else. The defense simply could not get Columbia off the field, and the running game never got going.
Key Turning Points
-With just about 14 minutes left in the 1st half and the Lions leading 7-0, it appeared Marist WR Ethan Carpenter had fumbled at the Red Fox 39 and the ruling on the field was that LB Michael Murphy had recovered it. But the ruling was overturned by video review. On the very next play, QB Jacob Hallenback found Christian open for a 61-yard TD and the Marist was now in the game.
-With 6:40 left in the half and the Red Foxes now up 14-10, Will Allen set the Lions up nicely with a 36-yard kickoff return to start the CU drive at the Lion 43. Bean then led the Lions on a 10-play drive that included a 4th down conversion. On 3rd and 7 from the Marist 12, Bean executed his best play of the day when he avoided an unblocked Red Fox rusher and scrambled to his right to find a wide open Lynnard Rose just in front of the end zone. That gave the Lions a 17-14 halftime lead.
-With Columbia now trailing 21-17 and 11:55 left in the 3rd quarter, the Lions began a drive at their own 22. Bean then led Columbia on a 13-play drive that included three third down conversions, and ended with Ty Lenhart's one yard TD sprint run to the right of the north end zone. On the drive, Bean was 6-7 for 63 yards and he also ran for four yards.
-After stopping Marist with a Daniel DeLorenzi sack that forced a three-and-out, Columbia took over at the Red Fox 39 thanks to a shanked Marist punt. On a 3rd and 9 from the Marist 24, Bean found a completely uncovered TE Casey Mariucci for a TD and a 31-21 lead with 48 seconds left in the 3rd.
Columbia Positives
-Bean proved why he won the starting job in training camp. Most of his throws were on the money, he scrambled well, and he made good decisions. Coming off the concussion protocol, this was a very impressive first full start for a sophomore starter.
-The Lion running game did not put up eye-popping numbers, but both Dante Miller and Lynnard Rose made a number of key plays when it mattered. They played a big role in Columbia's 42:30 time of possession.
-Columbia racked up four sacks, with DeLorenzi leading the way with 1.5.
-The Lions continue to show improvement in pass protection from the previous two seasons. Bean was only sacked once for a one yard loss.
-Columbia did not commit a turnover.
Columbia Negatives
-The Lions had just about no answers for Christian, who burned the struggling Columbia secondary all day. The Lion propensity to give up big plays that hampered their defense in 2015 and 2016, seems to have returned with a vengeance.
-Columbia got decent run results, but the run blocking is spotty. Lion RB's are forced to grind out too many yards with few openings.
Columbia MVP
It's a pretty easy choice to go with QB Josh Bean. That's even though senior WR Kyle Castner had a career day with eight receptions for 112 yards.
The Lion QB was 26-38 for 262 yards and two TDs. If Bean he can play like this the rest of the season, the Lions have a fighting chance to finish over .500.
Why Columbia Won
In his first full game as a starter, QB Josh Bean kept the Lion offense moving all day and turnover free. The defense gave up several huge passing plays, but regrouped in the final minutes to stop Marist to seal the game.
Why Marist Lost
The Red Foxes had a significant weapon in WR Juston Christian, who finished the game with seven catches for 274 yards and three TDs. But other than that, Marist didn't have much else. The defense simply could not get Columbia off the field, and the running game never got going.
Key Turning Points
-With just about 14 minutes left in the 1st half and the Lions leading 7-0, it appeared Marist WR Ethan Carpenter had fumbled at the Red Fox 39 and the ruling on the field was that LB Michael Murphy had recovered it. But the ruling was overturned by video review. On the very next play, QB Jacob Hallenback found Christian open for a 61-yard TD and the Marist was now in the game.
-With 6:40 left in the half and the Red Foxes now up 14-10, Will Allen set the Lions up nicely with a 36-yard kickoff return to start the CU drive at the Lion 43. Bean then led the Lions on a 10-play drive that included a 4th down conversion. On 3rd and 7 from the Marist 12, Bean executed his best play of the day when he avoided an unblocked Red Fox rusher and scrambled to his right to find a wide open Lynnard Rose just in front of the end zone. That gave the Lions a 17-14 halftime lead.
-With Columbia now trailing 21-17 and 11:55 left in the 3rd quarter, the Lions began a drive at their own 22. Bean then led Columbia on a 13-play drive that included three third down conversions, and ended with Ty Lenhart's one yard TD sprint run to the right of the north end zone. On the drive, Bean was 6-7 for 63 yards and he also ran for four yards.
-After stopping Marist with a Daniel DeLorenzi sack that forced a three-and-out, Columbia took over at the Red Fox 39 thanks to a shanked Marist punt. On a 3rd and 9 from the Marist 24, Bean found a completely uncovered TE Casey Mariucci for a TD and a 31-21 lead with 48 seconds left in the 3rd.
Columbia Positives
-Bean proved why he won the starting job in training camp. Most of his throws were on the money, he scrambled well, and he made good decisions. Coming off the concussion protocol, this was a very impressive first full start for a sophomore starter.
-The Lion running game did not put up eye-popping numbers, but both Dante Miller and Lynnard Rose made a number of key plays when it mattered. They played a big role in Columbia's 42:30 time of possession.
-Columbia racked up four sacks, with DeLorenzi leading the way with 1.5.
-The Lions continue to show improvement in pass protection from the previous two seasons. Bean was only sacked once for a one yard loss.
-Columbia did not commit a turnover.
Columbia Negatives
-The Lions had just about no answers for Christian, who burned the struggling Columbia secondary all day. The Lion propensity to give up big plays that hampered their defense in 2015 and 2016, seems to have returned with a vengeance.
-Columbia got decent run results, but the run blocking is spotty. Lion RB's are forced to grind out too many yards with few openings.
Columbia MVP
It's a pretty easy choice to go with QB Josh Bean. That's even though senior WR Kyle Castner had a career day with eight receptions for 112 yards.
The Lion QB was 26-38 for 262 yards and two TDs. If Bean he can play like this the rest of the season, the Lions have a fighting chance to finish over .500.
Saturday, October 6, 2018
Wounded Return
Marist Red Foxes (1-3) vs. Columbia Lions (2-1)
October 6, 2018
Kickoff Time: 1:00pm
Robert Kraft Field at Wien Stadium
Game Time Weather Forecast: 67 degrees and cloudy
The Line: Columbia is favored by 27 points
TV/Radio: You can watch live on ESPN+ and listen to the Columbia radio broadcast
The Game Last Year: Columbia 41 Marist 17
Columbia Game Notes
Marist Game Notes
Leading Story Lines
-Columbia comes into the game in full injury mode. Starting QB Josh Bean is expected to return, but six starters are out including newly injured S Landon Baty and LB Justin Woodley.
-Marist looked like it would be Columbia's weakest opponent of the season at least until it surprised Dayton last week in a 27-17 win. Red shirt sophomore QB Jacob Hallenbeck could be poised to retake his starting job and change the complexion of the team.
-One interesting match up will be Marist WR Juston Christian (#86) vs. Lion CB Ben McKeighan (#19). Last year, Christian got open down the sideline on several occasions only to have sure TD passes to him overthrown by now-graduated QB Mike White. Marist will surely try to make those connections again.
-Marist has been weaker against the pass than the run, but the Red Foxes have given up an average of 160 yards on the ground each game. To ease Bean back into the lineup, Columbia may run the ball much more than usual and truly test the combo of freshman Dante Miller and junior Lynnard Rose.
October 6, 2018
Kickoff Time: 1:00pm
Robert Kraft Field at Wien Stadium
Game Time Weather Forecast: 67 degrees and cloudy
The Line: Columbia is favored by 27 points
TV/Radio: You can watch live on ESPN+ and listen to the Columbia radio broadcast
The Game Last Year: Columbia 41 Marist 17
Columbia Game Notes
Marist Game Notes
Leading Story Lines
-Columbia comes into the game in full injury mode. Starting QB Josh Bean is expected to return, but six starters are out including newly injured S Landon Baty and LB Justin Woodley.
-Marist looked like it would be Columbia's weakest opponent of the season at least until it surprised Dayton last week in a 27-17 win. Red shirt sophomore QB Jacob Hallenbeck could be poised to retake his starting job and change the complexion of the team.
-One interesting match up will be Marist WR Juston Christian (#86) vs. Lion CB Ben McKeighan (#19). Last year, Christian got open down the sideline on several occasions only to have sure TD passes to him overthrown by now-graduated QB Mike White. Marist will surely try to make those connections again.
-Marist has been weaker against the pass than the run, but the Red Foxes have given up an average of 160 yards on the ground each game. To ease Bean back into the lineup, Columbia may run the ball much more than usual and truly test the combo of freshman Dante Miller and junior Lynnard Rose.
Thursday, October 4, 2018
Week 4 Picks
I had a so-so week 3, going 4-3 straight up and 4-3 against the spread. Overall, I am now 18-7 overall and 15-10 ATS
Yale +7 vs. Dartmouth
I'm going with a split decision here, as I expect the Big Green to win but only by 3-4 points.
CCSU -3 1/2 at Robert Morris
CCSU is a real Jekyll and Hyde team. This week, it's their turn to be Jekyll.
Brown +21 1/2 at URI
These games are almost never blowouts. URI will win, but it won't be an runaway.
Fordham +3 vs. Georgetown
I can't believe Fordham is the underdog at home vs. Georgetown. I like the Rams to win.
Princeton -27 vs. Lehigh
The Tigers can surely cover this spread.
Cornell +7 1/2 vs. Harvard
Heck, I like the Big Red to win this game.
Penn -3 at Sacred Heart
Quakers will bounce back.
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Ivy Power Rankings
1. Princeton
The Tigers continue to erase my preseason skepticism about their defense. Meanwhile, the magic bullet for every Ivy offense has always been having a QB who can truly run and at least pass decently. Princeton has a BIG QB who can run and pass. The Tigers may go 10-0 unless Lovett is hurt.
2. Dartmouth
Dartmouth's defense seems to be the best in the league. The offense is clearly good enough to ride that. But a bigger test is coming this Friday at Yale.
3. Yale
The Eli offense is looking very strong and the defense showed up last week vs. Maine. Big showdown vs. Dartmouth next.
4. Cornell
Right now, the Big Red truly look to be on the rise. Sacred Heart seemed a little scary until Cornell dismantled them on Saturday. Right now, the Big Red look better than Harvard.
5. Harvard
It seems so weird for the Crimson to be weak at QB. But right now, I just don't know what the heck Jake Smith is doing in that job in pressure situations. I don't think Smith knows either.
6. Penn
The Quakers cracked against their first tough competition of the year.
7. Columbia
Until the Lions can clear up the QB injury situation, they'll struggle moving forward.
8. Brown
A win over Georgetown at home doesn't move the needle for the Bears.
Monday, October 1, 2018
PU's One Man Wrecking Crew
Princeton 45 Columbia 10
Why Princeton Won
Tiger QB John Lovett was simply unstoppable as a rusher and efficient enough as a passer to engineer the Princeton victory almost on his own. Lovett ran basically at will, gaining 174 yards on 17 carries for two TD's. He wasn't as deadly as a passer, but efficient enough with 135 yards in the air and another two TD's. On defense, the Tigers only allowed just 213 total yards from the CU offense.
Why Columbia Lost
In addition to being unable to stop Lovett, the Columbia offense couldn't gain much momentum or consistency other than one impressive 2nd quarter drive.
Key Turning Points
-Sophomore CB/KR Will Allen made a spectacular 91-yard kickoff return to give the Lions a 1st and goal at the six to start the game. But Columbia failed to move the ball even one yard on three plays and the Lions had to settle for a Chris Alleyne chip shot FG and a 3-0 lead instead of a 7-0 exclamation point to begin the game.
-With the score 13-10 Princeton and 13:35 left in the 1st half, Columbia took over at its own 35 after forcing a rare Tiger punt. The Lions got as deep as a 3rd and 1 at the Princeton 30. But a three yard loss on a rush by Lynnard Rose and then a false start penalty ended the drive. The Tigers took five minutes to score a TD on the ensuing drive and the game was essentially over.
Columbia Positives
-The Lions actually did a decent job in pass coverage, keeping Lovett to an unspectacular 12-22 passing. But pass defense numbers are often skewed by rushing stats, and that was certainly at play in this game.
-Allen's opening return was a thing of beauty and it earned him Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
-Dante Miller only had eight carries, but he milked 35 yards out of them for a 4.4 yards per carry average.
-Ronald Smith was particularly brilliant running with the ball after the catch on Columbia's lone TD drive.
Columbia Negatives
-The Lions simply had no answers for Lovett and didn't seem to even try to stack the line of scrimmage against him. His passing ability seemed to make that too risky.
-The Columbia offense was tentative and running in a slow gear most of the evening.
Columbia MVP
It's hard to find an MVP in this game, but I'll go with the league office and give it to Will Allen on the back of that great opening return.
Why Princeton Won
Tiger QB John Lovett was simply unstoppable as a rusher and efficient enough as a passer to engineer the Princeton victory almost on his own. Lovett ran basically at will, gaining 174 yards on 17 carries for two TD's. He wasn't as deadly as a passer, but efficient enough with 135 yards in the air and another two TD's. On defense, the Tigers only allowed just 213 total yards from the CU offense.
Why Columbia Lost
In addition to being unable to stop Lovett, the Columbia offense couldn't gain much momentum or consistency other than one impressive 2nd quarter drive.
Key Turning Points
-Sophomore CB/KR Will Allen made a spectacular 91-yard kickoff return to give the Lions a 1st and goal at the six to start the game. But Columbia failed to move the ball even one yard on three plays and the Lions had to settle for a Chris Alleyne chip shot FG and a 3-0 lead instead of a 7-0 exclamation point to begin the game.
-With the score 13-10 Princeton and 13:35 left in the 1st half, Columbia took over at its own 35 after forcing a rare Tiger punt. The Lions got as deep as a 3rd and 1 at the Princeton 30. But a three yard loss on a rush by Lynnard Rose and then a false start penalty ended the drive. The Tigers took five minutes to score a TD on the ensuing drive and the game was essentially over.
Columbia Positives
-The Lions actually did a decent job in pass coverage, keeping Lovett to an unspectacular 12-22 passing. But pass defense numbers are often skewed by rushing stats, and that was certainly at play in this game.
-Allen's opening return was a thing of beauty and it earned him Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
-Dante Miller only had eight carries, but he milked 35 yards out of them for a 4.4 yards per carry average.
-Ronald Smith was particularly brilliant running with the ball after the catch on Columbia's lone TD drive.
Columbia Negatives
-The Lions simply had no answers for Lovett and didn't seem to even try to stack the line of scrimmage against him. His passing ability seemed to make that too risky.
-The Columbia offense was tentative and running in a slow gear most of the evening.
Columbia MVP
It's hard to find an MVP in this game, but I'll go with the league office and give it to Will Allen on the back of that great opening return.
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