Columbia 21 Brown 12
Why Columbia Won
The Lions ran the ball with authority and had a potent if inconsistent passing attack to complement it. Freshman QB Caleb Sanchez had a strong first start, with three TD passes and no interceptions. Meanwhile the CU defense was stellar, never giving Brown easy paths to score.
Why Brown Lost
Brown's usually potent offense sputtered all day, and the defense was lucky to only give up 21 points considering Columbia's overall production. Several failed 4th down conversion attempts in their own territory were no help to the Bears either.
Key Turning Points
-With the game surprisingly scoreless and just 2:00 left in the 1st half, Columbia began a drive at its own 27. On the third play of the drive, Sanchez hit WR Bryson Canty for a 55-yard TD that featured two Canty stiff arms of Bear defenders and 7-0 lead.
-With the score 7-3 Lions and about six minutes left in the 3rd, the Lions went for a fake punt on 4th and eight from their own 34. DE Joshua Powell took the long snap and stormed 28 yards to the Brown 38. Two plays later, Sanchez hit WR Jordan Kelly with a 12-yard TD pass that Kelly did well to corral and give CU a 14-3 lead.
-Brown started the 4th quarter in the middle of a drive that began at the Bear 20 and got as far as the Columbia 45 when Brown decided to go for it on 4th and 1. But LB Charlie Newton stopped Bear RB Matt Childs for a two-yard loss and the Lions took over at their 47. Three plays later Sanchez found Canty again, this time for a 52-yard TD and 21-3 CU advantage.
Columbia Positives
-The Lion defense was excellent, giving the offense time to finally figure it out and start scoring. Columbia came into the game against a high-scoring Brown team giving up an Ivy League low 17-points per game and still managed to lower that average by the day's end.
-Sanchez showed a lot of poise and never seemed to panic or make the worst errors.
-Canty had a dominant game, falling just shy of 200 receiving yards and jiving well with a third CU QB this season.
-WR Ethan Hebb's slide down to forego a TD in order to make sure the Lions just ran out the clock was a classy and smart play. It reminded me of the MANY times on this blog and its predecessor that all of us openly whined about Columbia's opponents running up the score, (especially Yale). It's nice to not be in that position anymore and even nicer that no one can whine that way about us given the same opportunity,
Columbia Negatives
-The Lions are still having some red zone TD-scoring problems, which cost them a number of opportunities to put this game away much earlier.
-Columbia's return game was a bit of an adventure with a CU player who didn't get out of the way of a bouncing punt that led to a Brown score, and an almost disastrously bad kickoff return late in the game.
Columbia MVP
-Bryson Canty showed his mastery several times in the game and made the difference when it counted.
HISTORY ALERT
-For only the second time in 63 years, Columbia goes into the final weekend of the season with a chance to get a share of the Ivy title, (a share was already clinched in 1961 going into the last game vs.Rutgers, but the Lions had a chance to win the title outright had Harvard lost to Yale that day. The Crimson won, 27-0). If the Lions beat Cornell this coming Saturday, and Yale defeats Harvard in The Game, the Lions will be co-champions for the first time since 1961.
-Columbia has already clinched its fifth winning season in the last seven seasons. Before this run, the Lions only had three winning seasons in the previous 46 years.
-Jon Poppe has become the first Columbia Head Coach to post a winning season in his first year in the job since Lou Little did it in 1930... 94 years ago.
-Columbia has won the last four games at Brown Stadium, and thus haven't lost to the Bears in Providence in 10 years.
132 comments:
Jake--
Spot-on précis of the game, per usual. Thank you. It would be interesting to know all the players who've made serious contributions who were not on the two-deep in game one. It speaks to the comment Coach Poppe made about the coaches coaching every player to be ready to get on the field. Nothing like real PT to incentivize those down the depth chart to work hard and improve. Bravo to all the coaches.
Sanchez also suffered from at least four drops of catchable balls. We played without 7 starters, including two all Ivy players. Jack S, Tom’s grandson, is a monster-all over the field and a textbook tackler.
Originally not a fan of the 3-4 but Stovall making me a believer. Not as good against the run, but ohhhh those linebackers! Newton, Roussos, Smiechowski! Others two... Backs in coverage. McCray all Ivy next year! How about a shout out to the O line! Getting our Wisconsin back to show some nifty moves! Georgi looking good.
McCray reminds me of the great Cameron Roane.
I may be wrong but i think in 2017 also had a chance for the ivy title tie needed Harvard to beat Yale. So i think we are in a similar situation. Great season much improved !
You’re right! How quickly we forget.
Geniuses who picked us to finish last must be wondering how they got us so wrong
Does anyone have an update on Stagg situation?
Credit the Columbia coach who took the time to read Joshua Powell's biography on the Columbnia Athletics website and realize that he was a mobie quarterback in high school in Virginia. So now we have three possible wildcats to improve things in the red zone against Cornell--Josh Powell, A.J. Simpkins and Griffin Johnson.
Bravo to the Staff! Unapologetic Poppe making the appropriate change at quarterback and regardless of the outcome Sanchez is ready! Sanchez can put on 10-20 lbs for next year and we will be all set!
Bravo to the O-Line! The RBs ran hard, as usual and those LBs are fantastic!
Yale put up some points against PU which puts them in a good space to upset Harvard in their stadium.
We need to build on that O-Line and D-line for next year. We should maximize our transfer options through CC and GS!!!!
Great season, Coach PoppeThank you for all that you have done. Ivy League Coach of The Year.
I don’t know why. But I have NO FAITH IN Yale beating Harvard. Hopefully I’m wrong. Go Lions.!!
Goodwin is still the clear #1 and Sanchez will have to beat him out.
Nice to have two starting caliber QBs. I trust this staff to sort things out. Sanchez has big time arm. I go back to Marty Domres for a Columbia QB with comparable arm strength.
All great comments! Need some BIG DLs to replace Corniello, Martin and Pasqua.
Re the Joshua Powell fake punt—those old time Giant fans will remember a do or die game during the Parcells era, against Denver, when the giants ran a fake punt using LB Gary Reasons. The other great fake, this time from Columbia history, goes back to the Bagnoli era, year one, in New Haven, when we ran a perfect fake FG in for the winning TD.
Pay Stovall!!! He is the #1 assistant in the IL and will be in demand for a HC slot, especially if Brown or Princeton decides to make a switch.
Sanchez threw no picks and as I recall took no sacks. Great job by the OL, even with the injuries. In the bubble Sanchez will have a chance to work on leading his receivers; a few of his deep balls didn’t have enough air under them for the receiver to make a play.
Simkins is not a run threat
Are we attributing the deep balls to wide open receivers being off target repeatedly to the wind (which could be true). 8 did a fine job, the breathless commentary here is, per usual, ridiculous
Yes got to replace that second stringer
How about knox the other starting dline?
I recall John Witkowski throwing the ball, seemingly from end to end ( of the playing field) and on target.
My prediction is a DC spot at group of 5 school. He has proven he is a very good DC
Joe green was no slouch in the arm department. Shoulder injuries curtailed his abilities his last 2 years
On the 3-4, John Martin in the middle of the D Line is a difference maker and is vastly underrated. he doesn’t show up in the stat sheet but bottles up the run game and makes our LBs more effective.
Spot on comment re: Witkowski. He owns the Lions passing record books. Let’s ease up on the comparison fan boys. The kid Sanchez has played in one game. Kudos to him. He stepped up, showed poise and got us a W.
Stovall has proven he’s a top notch DC. He’s definitely gone as this season. Not a pay issue. He’s ready for a bigger program.
Roussos is the best LB on our D. Newton has a tough time in space/not very athetic. Jack S/#15 is an undisciplined player.
Princeton ain't making a switch after 1 bad season after immense success. come'on!
Hugo has had a solid season; let's hope yesterday was an aberration as the wind was tricky. That said he should be used to it kicking in our ballpark. Will need him to bounce back and be impactful in the Empire State bowl game.
Seitu smith has had a promising start as OC—had to adjust on the fly in light of injuries and had the courage of his conviction to make the switch to Sanchez.
Someone has been drinking if they think Princeton would even remotely a coaching change
Agreed, it's Goodwin's job to lose. #2 Sanchez and #3 Freeman. Would still like to get the #2 in throughout the year in spot play. Bags did this for years, just in case... and it worked. Freeman is a bit out of his element at QB. Maybe he can transition to H-Back or WR? He has great enthusiasm, just lacks the finesse.
We’re in a great spot next year with Godwin and Sanchez at QB. Defense has had an amazing couple of years. Need to keep Stovall and keep bringing in the recruits. The freshmen look really good and there many more waiting their turn. Couldn’t be more excited about the future!
No longer on the team
All the big dick donors on this blog need to get some internships for these guys. These days programs fight to keep kids and internships are a way to do that.
And he dressed down the entire offense after some self-inflicted mistakes. “Know your assignment and do your job.”
I like how this staff demands the players meet the expected standards
Wouldn’t use the same language, but couldn’t agree more with the need for internships!
Running back recruit Michael Walters from Florida could be a future star. There's also another back with talent.
The only Ivy coach who can challenge Poppe for Coach of the Year is our Defensive Coordinator, which takes nothing from Harvard's coach who, obviously, has done a terrific job after a head-scratcher early loss to Brown. His reward, if they earn it against Yale, will be the outright title. But what Poppe has done is a true game-changer that will benefit the League. Go Lions!
Ethan Hebb's slide wasn't only classy--it was absolutely the correct play. My demanding and grumpy JV HS coach would have given him a hug for such a heady, selfless decision. Well done.
Jake advised readers of this blog to check out a prescient writer for the Harvard Crimson who wrote that Columbia's hiring Poppe meant "Columbia was going to get good and fast". Boy, did he know what he was talking about.
We still need to improve our red zone offense. We left too many points on the board.
Hebb was you will recall robbed in the Harvard game when he made the catch of a long pass to the Harvard 4 and the refs took the catch away from him. A huge and terrible game changing call, which was compounded when the insufferable Tim Murphy (worst homer ever) kept on insisting it was not a catch.
Agree; he deserves a lot of credit—I think it would have been his first TD of his career had he put individual credit above team goals.
...but, but...we cannot forget Fabish!
Not a popular opinion on this board, perhaps, but I don’t think the Hebb play against Harvard was a catch. I’m a CU fan, by the way. But nice to see him make that heady play against the Brownies.
Accounting for the fact that most other FCS teams have played two more games than CU, only three teams in the entire FCS (129 teams) have given up fewer points than our defense has. Amazing!!!
Currently ranked #6 in country in fewest points allowed per game
Yo BD alumni! Man the F up and get my son an internship. Pronto!
Guessing this “big dick donor” comment came from a parent. With that language, likely that your son probably has the same “you owe me” attitude. So many kids feel entitled these days. Rude awakening pal…
As being thoroughly incapable of equaling Poppe accomplishments? I truly hope you are being sarcastic.
Let’s start talking about Cornell: last year we bottled up Wang, how will we do the same this year?
I believe it was Harvard Magazine, not the Crimson but no matter. If you remember the timing last year we sewed up Poppe quickly. Murphy did not retire to showcase his broadcast skills until mid-January (at least publicly). Has he done so earlier Poppe would conceivably be in Cambridge.
Wang gets flustered from pressure up the middle
The kid has potential, but he got beat on a bunch of long passes & had a few missed tackles. Work in progress.
Absolutely agree. Internships aren’t guaranteed for anyone at any program
Here is an unpopular opinion: start freeman. Cole is not quick enough to run against athletic defenses like H’s. Cornell does not have those athletes on d and have trouble stopping the run. If 25 is running well, Cole will hurt them w read option keeps. Offense must control the clock and score td’s when in red zone
3 man line should continue to hold up against run. I would like to see more delay blitzing from15, 16 and 0. Our dline can not catch Wang
Three man front against Wang?
Cornell ran for 175 yds against Dartmouth and stuffed the Green ground game. Wang as usual will be a handful if he gets outside the tackles. The Empire Bowl will be a tough matchup.
absolutely not. Ball security and bad decision making are killers in must win games. gritty kid and appreciate his contributions but I'll roll with frosh in this one.
You haters are as classy as a slide in open field. (Which for all the football geniuses here was 0% about class and 100% football IQ)
One more athlete on the field. As long as our 3 continue to bottle up inside runs I would rather have both 15 and 0 on field in the flats
Told you it would be unpopular. Argument for 8 would be Cornell has trouble rushing passer and his relatively off target throws against Brown were more conditions-related than anything. He did throw some dimes on slants which suggests wind may truly have been the culprit
You heard it here first: 2 man dline in passing situations. Extra olb and nickle corner in. 2 lbers showing in a gaps send one or both straight ahead or looping when ends rush b gaps.
sounds like a plan
How did we stop Wang last year ?
Columbia University'a Interim President, Dr. Katrina Armstrong, would be smart to capitalize in some manner upon the success of our football team this year and the possibility of Columbia's first Ivy League Title since the year 1961 if the Lions defeat Cornell next Saturday. The Columbia Athletic Administration should encourage attendance at the game Saturday by distributing free of charge to Columbia Football season ticket holders game programs autographed by Coach Poppe and maybe others.
What about 50% off all concessions for those with a Columbia ID?
Excellent ideas--But what about a pep rally friday night in Levien Gymnasium with giveaways.
Dartmouth had a bonfire on campus before its Homecoming Game. Are bonfires legal in NYC?
All nice ideas and the athletic dept should make huge effort to engage fans. I'm not sure Poppe autographs and half price hot dogs will do it unfortunately.
I understand that our two incoming running backs commits are from Connecticut and Albany, New York, not Florida.
Thank you.
How about re-establishing the beer garden at the stadium? Brown, Penn and Yale serve. Why don't we?
I'm all for that! Guessing our sponsorship deal with Athletic Non Alcoholic Beer squashes that idea.
I love beer.
Everything’s illegal in NYC. But people do what they want anyway!
Even illegal immigrants are legal in NYC…
Can we stop calling people illegal?
Here’s another unpopular take: start Sanchez but put Freeman in the backfield. Have Cole take some handoffs and look to run, or possibly pass, especially on the first drive. You could even add a flea flicker. Too gimmicky for week 10?
Judge Kavanaugh weighing in , after lifting with Squeak
Here’s a small nugget. Very impressive that Columbia freshman have snagged rookie of the week awards four out of the nine weeks thus far.
The free beer and hotdogs before home games during the Murphy administration was a nice touch. Now we get bubkus ….
Just double checked, and we have also secured four offensive player of the week honors thus far.
very impressive; future is bright
Excellent!
She also gave us 23 wins in 11 years
No
I like players from Florida, TX, CA and GA
Couple thoughts... first off, I agree. Where the hell has Raleigh Erwin been? That kid was an absolute maniac at one of the top schools in Texas.
On to Cornell, I would love to see a Caden Bell like role for Freeman. If I recall, that kid took one to the house from 70 last year. Speaking of which... With all the hate we have seen to the Columbia QBs this year, I bet a lot of you, like myself, would love to have had him for 1 more year. This team would be 9-1, maybe 10-0 with Bell at the helm.
Also, this must be an emotional Saturday for Fabish. Let's not forget that he was the catalyst that brought all of these players together. If not for D'Orazio, I think it would be him leading the charge on Saturday.
Just food for thought
Cant agree with you on CB. Had no touch on shorter passes; consistently threw behind target on crossing routes and absolutely could not throw when scrambling to his left (which in fairness he had to do much more than he should have had to)
But he did throw a great deep ball
I hear you but let's not forget that this kid had to deal with D'Orazio... that will kill any QBs confidence. Everyone on that team regressed last year. And they had no Bryson Canty for more than half the year.
Going into the '23 year we were all excited for him as he was coming off an impressive '22 campaign once Green went down. Little did we know what kind of meltdown we would come to see from D'Orazio...
Interesting take. Where is Dorazio now?
Also caught up with your stance that this team would be 9-1 or 10-0 with Bell. The more I think about it, the less I disagree.
Third running back commit (#20 on the list), Micheal Walters, is from Florida. Other two also look real good.
Tell us more about D’Orazio
Hey guys, let's not get greedy, that's the ultimate downfall, we can all be proud to have this Buddha Kid Hebb as a fellow Columbian.
The aforementioned Mr. D’Orazio can now be found as a “Quality Assurance” coach at Baylor. Something like, “those who can’t teach; teach gym”?
Why all the pilling on regarding D’Orazio?
Saying someone has arm talent is not saying he is a savior. I just hope he continues to develop and that line continues to block well.
Sanchez started as a senior for #1 HS team in CA after sitting on bench for 3 yrs. Players who come from these types of programs expect to win. Glad they are starting to come to Columbia.
More from the 4th stringer parent brigade
Canty should be in the convo for offensive POY assuming he has another big game against Cornell. And our first year DB should be in the convo for ROY.
I agree with the above. What happened to Caden Bell? Why isn’t he getting time, particularly when we are down Goodwin? Simply don’t get it. Regardless, hoping we can get the win this weekend. Roar Lions Roar
Uhh, Bell was a senior last year. Graduated.
Come on, man.
man o man, some people really are unconscious on this blog. quick roster check answers most questions btw.
Spitting’ is correct.
Bedankt Dietrich!
Ruler of the people!
Wie is Dieetrijk?
Word is spreading amongst the CUFB alums to wear their old game jersey’s for the Senior Ceremony on the field…guys are fired up!
Why isn't Luckman or Witkowski getting a shot?
too many drops
114 COMMENTS — NEW RECORD?
no
be nice
I prefer to call them illegal aliens
Dietrich Knickerbocker!
Can we put Wiley in as short yardage back?
Cornell 6
Columbia 38
Fate of the universe on the line and you want Luckman… No shot! Give me Bell!
Let's Go!!
Yes. More GA and TX recruits please!
I’m going to go out on a limb and say he won’t be playing in the Cornell game.
35-20 Columbia
Transfered to Clemson
was told he stepped away last 2 games for personal reasons
Clemson? Jake can you confirm this?
hate to see that kid transfer, will need him next season
Clemson was a joke. Stop prying into the kids business.
agreed, let the young man have privacy. I hope to see him back and praying for whatever he is going through.
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