Columbia 28 Wagner 7
Why Columbia Won
The Lion defense stepped up early and often while the Columbia offense sputtered for most of the first half. When the Lion running game finally got going, Wagner had run out of chances.
Why Wagner Lost
The Seahawks couldn't score on two golden opportunities in the 1st quarter, and then never got a running game going to balance their attack. Wagner also could not stop the CU running game down the stretch.
Key Turning Points
-On the opening Seahawk possession of the game, Wagner drove 59 yards on 12 plays all the way down to the Columbia 18. But plays #13 and #14, Seahawk QB Nick Kargman (who was not listed on the two-deep, but you knew he was likely to play) threw two incomplete passes in a row to turn the ball over on downs. The first incompletion was greatly the result of a QB pressure from DE Mitch Moyer, and the second came thanks to a great breakup by DB Seth Parker.
-With 4:33 left in the 1st quarter and the score still 0-0, Wagner began its third possession of the game all the way back at its 14 yard line. But thanks to a personal foul penalty on the Lions and then a 40-yard catch by Jallah Zeze the Seahawks had the ball at the Columbia 19. The the CU defense tightened again, highlighted by a five-yard sack by DE Justin Townsend. That forced a 38-yard FG attempt that Wagner never got off because of a bad hold, and the Lions had dodged a bullet again.
-With 11:08 left in the half and the game still scoreless, Columbia took over on its own 27 and started to run the ball down Wagner's throat. The resulting 10-play 73 yard drive featured eight running plays and just two passes. Of course the one pass that highlighted the drive was QB Joe Green's sky toss that WR Bryson Canty went up and took away from the Seahawk defender (or at least tied him for the catch and a tie goes to the offense) for the first TD of the game. But before that play, RBs Ryan Young, Joey Giorgi, and Ty'son Edwards combined for 41 yards on the ground, with Young getting 30 of them.
-With 26 seconds left in the half and the score still 7-0, the Seahawks again had a great scoring opportunity when they got a big 57-yard catch and run from Naiem Simmons to put them on the CU 23. But Kargman's next two passes were incomplete and the third was tipped by Townsend and picked off by DE Joshua Powell to end yet another serious threat.
-After Wagner scored a TD to make it 21-7 Columbia with 14:07 left in the game, the Lions needed to answer to keep the contest from getting too interesting. Instead they drove the ball all the way down to the Wagner 23, but Edwards fumbled the ball away there on a 1st down run and the Seahawks were in business. But once again, the Columbia defense stepped up and forced Wagner to punt on that first ensuing possession and then turn it over on downs at the Seahawk 29 on the next. Those stops included a sack by DT Patrick Passlaqua and DE James Knox to stifle the first drive and a pass breakup by Townsend to quash the second. After Columbia took over at the 29, it took only one play for the Lions to score as WR Wills Meyer made several nice moves to turn a short pass into a TD and Columbia had iced the game.
Columbia Positives
-The Lion defense continues to play at a very high level, despite executing a little more like a "bend/don't break" D in this game. The rush defense is about as good as we've even seen it here.
-Speaking of rushing, Young had the first 100-yard game of his career which I join Head Coach Al Bagnoli in being surprised by since Young has had so many great games for Columbia his career. The offensive line's blocking schemes were particularly impressive, as the Lions got effective blocking and execution from multiple tight end sets. When everyone in the stadium knows you're going to run the ball on certain plays and you still get 1st downs and TD's, that's good stuff.
-Canty continues to proves he's an exciting weapon with little fear of going after any ball.
Columbia Negatives
-The Lions got away with a very slow start that would have probably left them behind by at least two scores to most Ivy opponents before CU got going.
-Columbia's two lost fumbles were costly and definitely ended scoring drives.
-The punting game was stellar, but the punt return game was a little scary when PR Carter McFadden muffed his second punt in as many weeks. This time he was able to recover for no real harm done.
Columbia MVP
-One could easily give this designation to Justin Townsend for the second straight week, but RB Ryan Young took control of this game at just the right time on his way to a 24-carry, 117-yard performance that included a TD. If he can really get going for the Lions, a lot of other questionable pieces will fall into place for this team.
25 comments:
Jake's praise of the defense is very accurate. How many times did it bail out the offense. As you know I am not a fan of the Scan/Hurry Up and Wait offense.. Supposedly you get to see the D and make an adjustment to your play calling.. In the first half the adjusted play was the Two Yard Terror pass in the flat. Wagner, like Princeton knew it was coming. The "Adjusted plays" were terrible.. Here's my recommendation...Use an up tempo offense ( Doesn't let the defense adjust when you adjust), Use the pass to set up the run... Don't open the game with conservative play calls.. Keep throwing the ball downfield and do it more often..Canty is very good but must stop pushing off to get open... Mc Fadden, as I pointed out last week and Jake corroborated this week continues to make punt returning major mistakes. He should be replaced by Georgi. Looking like a 7-3 final record..
One coaching mistake—calling a TO with 40 seconds left in the first half and Wagner deep in it’s own territory. So of course Wagner converts on a huge pass play and was on the verge of scoring when they self-destructed. Too many breakdowns on 4th and long. And our pass defense still seems soft to me. On the offensive side, the slow start baffled me. We need to push the ball downfield more—-we’ll get a few pass interference calls on the defense several times a game. And still nothing going in the pass game with our TEs. Green played well- a typical Green game, with a high percentage of completions and no turnovers. Any Young is an excellent power back.. I did notice we were down one OL starter (Klenk was in street clothes). Looks like we may have shaken up the WR corps—check out the targets list.
Absolutely agree robert that we move the ball much better when we go up tempo.
Not only was Wagner defense confused, but they had no time to substitute and frankly looked gassed late in the fourth quarter. If possible, I would even come out of the gate in the "hurry up." We just seem sluggish and out of sync on opening drives (11 yds of total offense 1st quarter yesterday). Agree Old Lion that was almost a very costly timeout! Green is a game manager and showed good judgment with throws. A few of those deep balls unfortunately caught out of bounds. Not sure if the problem was route run by receivers ? If we can continue to run the ball will open a cornucopia of opportunities. The schedule definitely gets tougher now.
DOWNFIELD passes, Old lion concurs.. I concur with his astute analysis.. Does Fabish?
Add DOC to the Very Knowledgeable list!
Yes that timeout was an egregious mistake by Al. Very questionable decision
By this time next week, we will know considerably more about this team. We will also have a clear picture as to whether the season will be a success, or a failure. It should not take much for the Head Coach and his Offensive Coordinator to be “psyched” for this week. Hopefully, the players will respond. Maybe it was Jake who woke up the Quakers when he wrote, on Tuesday, “The Quaker defense is impressive so far, but still no real improvement offensively.” They just showed the world they can score points, at least against a Georgetown. I cannot imagine Penn, or anyone else, putting 59 on our Defense, but our Offense remains a huge cause of concern for me. Not the talent, but the use of the talent. 7-3 might have sounded great six or seven years ago. But 4-3 in the Ivies, with this group would be “underachieving”, in my book. To make strides, and be poised to win a championship, you have to beat the people you lost to the previous year. Three wins against three cupcakes, does not a season make.
Yea you nailed it. It’s not the talent. It is poor use of the talent by Al and the coaching staff
In fairness to the OC, one of the strengths of this team is the offensive line, which is very experienced and which uses the TEs as a sixth OL. While I think that we should attack more with a vertical passing game I can understand pounding Young between the tackles. Once they put 7 in the box we can go vertically.
Carter McFadden is definitely having some issues on punt returns, but let's not overlook the fact that on the long pass play at the end of the first half he caught the speedy Naiem Simmons from behind to prevent an otherwise certain Wagner touchdown. Obviously, McFadden is returning punts because of his speed and athleticism. He seems likely to develop into an outstanding return man for the Lions.
Stan, When we had Roussos returning punts, he didn't have blazing speed.. Instead he utilized shiftiness, smarts, and chicanery...In other words, he was extremely reliable, steady and consistent... Every time we field a punt I hold my breath...Two weeks, two major mistakes... I prefer a guy like Roussos, as in Georgi..
Yes. Don’t understand Al’s decision to have McFadden returning punts
Al is probably a better judge of talent than most of us. So let’s give him the benefit of the doubt in terms of positional decisions. I am the first to question game plans but not decisions on who should take the field and in what positions.
But our Offense remains a huge cause of concern for me. Not the talent, but the use of the talent. And that’s on Al
Time to start thinking about Penn.
Disappointed in the attendance of 3,125 on an absolutely gorgeous fall day. This game was free admission to most of the Columbia University medical community, AND free admission to the entire 200,000 population of Washington Heights and Inwood, AND discounted admission for many other groups like Columbia Secondary School (whose cheerleaders attended). I went and enjoyed the second half but it was the usual empty stadium.
Many friends have commented to me that they miss the effort Columbia used to make in the gameday experience -- the free beer, free soft drinks, free hot dogs, sponsor giveaway tents, the bouncy castles, the grilling stations, etc. We're still coming out of the pandemic of course but I get the sense that Columbia is no longer interested in such things and is content to offer a bare-bones gameday experience with $13 GA tickets and that's that. With no bands and no halftime entertainment at all the only draw is the actual football. The non-Ivy teams are not exactly names anyone wants to see, and the Ivy teams don't fill the visitor stands like they used to. Is this situation worth commenting on Jake or is it just what it is?
Hopefully Homecoming will fill the seats as that has been the exception in recent years and Columbia even outdraws many other Ivies in that respect.
Wonder if some of the reason for attendance woes is now anyone can view games on tv, laptop or mobile phone if you have ESPN+ subscription.
First and foremost, the soft pretzels at the stadium have to go. Gotten them two weeks in a row and I won't make that mistake again. They are simply awful and not worth $.50 let alone the $6 that they actually are.
The offense was definitely out of whack in the first half. It was easy to see that Wagner was interested in jawwing right out of the gate and the Lions offense seemed willing to oblige which, in my humble opinion, caused them to lose focus a good bit. There seemed to be a sense that some of the players felt that just by showing up, CU would win. Credit to Wagner for trying to make a game out of it.
I also think the wind was a little tricky in the first half. I saw at least two of Greene's passes sail on him a bit on out patterns.
More good, there weren't any cutesy plays or decisions that made you say, "What?" I didn't mind the 4th and a long 1 going for it since the running game was working at that point. Even more good ... CU's punting game was working very well. Some boomers and some well placed short kicks.
You are spot on Inwood Tiger! The game day experience has suffered with the passage of time. Some beer, free food,and grills replaced by lame corn hole that nobody plays. The $6 hotdog which frankly wasn’t worth half that. The attendance is disappointing given what the program is attempting to build. We have no home field advantage !
I disagree; the atmosphere is wonderful. We have the greatest setting for football in the IL. What a view from the stands. Lots of people milling around in the upper parking lot and by the field house. Who needs free beer and hot dogs anyway? And Al and his staff put a good, competitive product on the field. Give me a good game and hopefully a win and I’m one happy guy.
It's not about the food and the beer, as much as I do think they can be improved, etc. The big issue remains the parking. It is simply too hard to park near the stadium unless you give yourself an additional hour to get it done. As much as I and others advise and direct folks how to take mass transit and find certain lots, the truth is some people just have to drive to games and others can't spend an extra hour to get a spot. CU needs to built a lot of some kind for all fans to use for a nominal parking fee. It probably doesn't need to build a huge expensive garage either; it just needs a lot.
Amen to that re parking. For a year or two after the lot near the boathouse was closed, CU rented the lot across Broadway from the hospital for season ticket holders, and then they stopped doing that. At a minimum that lot should be re-engaged.
I am with Old Lion. It's a terrific setting for football, gorgeous on a fall day with a good crowd. For years I have taken friends to games and for a long time the response was, nice stadium but bad football. The last few years it has been, I can't believe I never knew about this. Fifteen bucks to sit on the 50-yard line.
The parking problem is caused by the unforgivable act of Sovern and Cole in selling off the northeast corner. The ground occupied by the Allen Pavilion used to serve as practice fields and game day parking. Why that land was basically given away is as big a sin as the failure of the trustees back in 1897 in turning down the purchase of the land from Broadway and the river when the Morningside campus was being constructed.
What if they offered 25 cent beer to any student attending the game. Would that jack up attendance?
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