While I've noted that the 2021 CU Football season was filled with highlight reel plays from both the offense and the defense, I'd like to focus on the clutch plays, (not all of them spectacular in style), that defined each of Columbia's seven wins.
Here's a look at the most clutch plays from the first four victories:
Green's first big conversion
Columbia's biggest blowout win of the year came in week 1, but only after the Lions spotted Marist a 14-0 lead on a big punt return and a long TD bomb. Many may point to QB Gabriel Hollingsworth's nice 15-yard TD run to finally get the Lions on the board as the key clutch play of that game for CU. But I thought QB Joe Green's 18-yard pass to WR Wills Meyer on the 4th and 5 the play just before Hollingsworth's score was the real turning point in the game. It was a very pinpoint pass to a covered Meyer, and he also made a nice grab of a bullet from Green.
Ben Swipes a Big One
The key clutch play in Columbia's 35-24 win over Georgetown the following week is probably more of a consensus choice among Lions fans. That would be Ben Mathiasmeier's crucial
Cam in the Clutch
Cam Dillon's record-setting five-sack performance vs. Central Connecticut in Columbia's 22-20 week four win was filled with clutch plays. In fact, it's hard to choose just one of his sacks as the most clutch play of the game:
His first sack came on CCSU's opening drive of the game on a 4th and 7 at the Lion 27.
His second sack ended a CCSU drive in the 2nd quarter when the Columbia lead was just 10-7.
His third sack came on CCSU's very next play from scrimmage after a Joe Green interception seemed to have shifted the momentum completely to the Blue Devils.
After another Lion turnover on the ensuing punt, Dillon and fellow LB John Harris combined on a clutch sack to end a CCSU drive that had gone as far as the Columbia 32.
His fourth sack came on CCSU's next possession, now in the 3rd quarter, and it was for a safety that provided the ultimate two-point margin in the game.
His fifth and final sack came later in the 3rd quarter and snuffed out a CCSU drive.
I guess if I had to pick just one, I'd say the safety sack was the most clutch play in that game for the Lions. But Cam was the difference, period.
Dante's Answer
Columbia seemed to be dominating the Homecoming contest vs. Penn in the early going. And when Paul Akere nailed Penn QB John Quinnelly for a brutal sack midway through the 2nd quarter, it looked like CU was about to make the Quakers go away. But Mike Roussous muffed the ensuing punt, and Penn then took advantage with a 30-yard TD drive to stunningly take a 7-3 lead.
Columbia needed an answer. And the Lions got one from RB Dante Miller on the very next play from scrimmage in the form of an electrifying 75-yard TD run along the east sideline for a 10-7 lead. It wasn't just the most clutch play of that game, but it may have been the most clutch play of the season for CU.
8 comments:
One should never let “perfection be the enemy of good”, and it is hard to argue with your choices of big plays at Central Connecticut, but …… Ben Mathiasmeier’s amazing shoestring tackle on Tyshaun James preventing the two point conversion was enormous. It preserved a 15-13 lead. James gets into the end zone, and it is instant deflation. As it was, no one exhaled until Dante Miller’s 65 yard sprint into the end zone. No question the safety was huge, but either way, the margin of victory was two points.
7-3 looks much better than 6-4.
Are you aware that Central CT the as 4-7 and a bad FCS team?
Just saw the NJ top 60 recruit list—Only 2 players are going Ivy; an interior lineman is committed to Harvard a few spots ahead of our # 53, Patrick Colicchio,a big OL
How about Hollingsworth carrying the Dartmouth all Ivy LB into the end zone?
Hard to argue with Old Lion's call. It was a huge play by a role player that absolutely stunned a then-undefeated foe on National TV, fully justifying Hollingsworth's helmet banging and chest thumping as he walked off the field.
1-3 vs the big boys in the league this year though
You have to start somewhere; 7 and 3 is better than most seasons AND we embarrassed the Big Green on a national Friday night game that will get us some recruits!!
Agree with the Hollingsworth carry vs Dartmouth but Jake was highlighting our first 4 wins in part 1.... but,makes my highlight reel for sure !
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