Pushing 'em Around

Columbia 38 Marist 3

Why Columbia Won

The Lions controlled the offensive line of scrimmage for 60 minutes, shut down the Marist running game from the start, and made almost no mistakes in a game that was essentially over before the end of the first quarter.

Why Marist Lost

The Red Foxes had no answers for the Columbia offensive line, and its own offense couldn't put together any consistency. 

Key Turning Points

-The very first play from scrimmage really set the tone for the game as emergency starting RB Joey Giorgi burst through a giant hole for 12 yards and a 1st down. Giorgi and the other Lion backs feasted on the O-line's dominant play all night. 

-Six plays after the first Giorgi run, QB Joe Green found WR Bryson Canty well behind his cover man for an easy 44 yard TD pass and the Lions had the lead they would never give up.

-With Columbia still leading 7-0 and about 7:30 left in the 1st quarter, Green was pressured and he threw an INT to Marist's Clayborne Fields about one yard deep in the end zone. But the play was called back because of a roughing the passer penalty on Kyle Coffindaffer. Two plays later, it was 14-0. 

Columbia Positives

-The veteran and talented O-line did not disappoint, as Columbia racked up 226 rushing yards on 5.1 yards per carry and gave up no sacks. 

-Giorgi, Ty'son Edwards. Malcom Terry, etc. not only ran well through the holes, but ball security was excellent for the entire team. That included a great job of holding on to a catch by WR Wills Meyer, who took a hard shot from Fields on Columbia's first pass of the game.

-The most consistent aspect of the Lion defense was the quick response to Marist runs, especially the ones that attempted to sweep and then turn the corner. Marist finished with just 55 yards on the ground on a 2.5 yards per carry average. 

-Columbia's receivers consistently got open and were generally sure-handed all night. When they weren't wide open, Green still had numerous throws that beat the coverage, especially the TD pass to Marcus Libman that was a perfect throw. 

-PK Alex Felkins had a near-perfect night, capped off by his school record 53-yard FG to end the 1st half. He was also 5-5 on PATs and sharp on kickoffs from the out-of-conference 35-yard line (we kick from the 40 in the Ivies).

-The Lion secondary contained the Red Foxes with some key pass breakups and quick tackles when passed were completed. Bryan Bell-Anderson's first career interception turned into an easy-looking pick six. 

-A big number of Columbia backups got some key game experience, most notable backup QB Caden Bell who moved and threw nicely.

-Punt returner Connor McFadden was extremely sure-handed and he made a nice return on one of Marist's punts early in the game. 

Columbia Negatives

-The Lions didn't get consistent pressure on Marist QB's, but there were times in the game when that almost seemed by design. Next week, Columbia will probably need a different strategy against Georgetown's much more seasoned and talented QB. 

-While Bell-Anderson and fellow starting CB Seth Parker had excellent games, it's clear opposing teams will use WR height advantages against the Lions to at least complete short passes almost at will. Columbia will have to make adjustments.

-Felkins is still struggling with a bit of inconsistency, as he followed up his record-breaking 53-yard FG with a miss from 35 yards out.  

-Columbia's nine penalties were too much, including a blocking out of bounds flag against safety Mason Tomlin that led to the Lions losing the shutout. But for a first game, fewer than 10 penalties is not a disaster. 

Not Terrible, but...

-Columbia's punters had a mixed night. Cameron Burt split the punting with significant time at WR and got off a great first boot, but also a bad kick later in the game. Andrew Donovan had one good punt and one subpar boot. 

-Marist only kicked off deep once the entire game and KR/WR Ernest Robertson let it slip through his hands. Robertson was focused enough to pick up the ball in the end zone for a touchback, but the status of the kickoff return team is still a mystery.

Columbia MVP

We expected the CU offensive line to dominate this game, and it did not come close to disappointing anyone. The entire O-line gets the MVP nod for this game for putting on a clinic on how great front line play can make this game look easy. 

Poughkeepsie Push

A bird's eye view of Marist

Columbia Lions (0-0) at Marist Red Foxes (0-1)

September 17, 2022

Kickoff: 6:00 PM

Tenney Stadium

Game Time Weather Forecast: 74 degrees and sunny

The Line: Columbia is favored by 21 points

TV/Radio: The game is available on ESPN3 and via the Columbia Athletics Website

Columbia Game Notes

Marist Game Notes

Leading Story Lines

1) Columbia begins its 2022 season with higher expectations than at any time in recent memory. Many will be looking to see if the Lions can play a complete game against a heavy underdog.

2) Marist was mauled by Georgetown in its first game, 43-12. Its program will be looking to show some signs of life. 

3) How will the new starters and replacements for injured starters perform at a number of key positions for Columbia? The biggest subset of this question is the Columbia running game and how it will perform with 5th year co-captain RB Ryan Young out for the game. That goes for yards gained and especially ball security.

3 Columbia Players to Watch

-QB Joe Green looks to improve on his Ivy Rookie of the Year campaign in 2021 with a newly bulked up frame and a more pass-happy playbook.

-WR Bryson Canty looks to cash in on a stellar training camp and make a run at being a top WR in the Ivies. 

-CB Seth Parker can make his case for being Columbia's first truly shutdown corner since Cameron Roane '18

3 Marist Players to Watch

-Freshman QB Brock Bagozzi had a tough opening game against Georgetown, he will need to bounce back.

-Senior safety Teddy Wright may be Marist's best player. 

-Senior WR Scott Scherzer will likely be the man testing the Columbia secondary.

Week One Picks

 

Last year I was 51-17 W-L (.750 percentage) in straight up picks and 43-23-2 against the spread (.651 percentage). 

Harvard -26 1/2 vs. Merrimack

Yeah, I know it's a big spread, but this is really a cupcake game for the Crimson, It's a shame; Harvard used to play an interesting and challenging out of conference schedule. 

Bryant +3 1/2 at Brown

I like Bryant to win this game as Brown adjusts to life without E.J. Perry. 

Colgate +4 1/2 at Penn

I think Colgate wins this one as Penn will need more time to get it offense together. 

Holy Cross -6 vs. Yale

This is a big test for the Crusaders. If Yale wins, the Elis are for real. 

Stetson +34 1/2 vs. Princeton

The Tigers will win by 24 points or so, not 34.

Valparaiso +32 1/2 at Dartmouth

Dartmouth wins, but that spread is just too big. 

Cornell +13 at VMI

I like VMI to win this game, but it will be close. 

Monmouth -17 1/2 vs. Georgetown

Montmouth is a scoring machine, Georgetown is not. 

Wagner +17 1/2 vs. St. Francis

The Seahawks will make a game of it, but lose. 

Two Deeps Posted

James Knox

Columbia has posted the two deeps and game notes for Saturday night's opener at Marist.

The headline is that senior co-captain Ryan Young is not listed as the starting RB or a backup. This doesn't mean he won't play or even start, but hopefully we will find out nothing serious is afoot. Meanwhile, juniors Joey Giorgi and Ty'son Edwards are listed as 1-2 at RB, respectively. 

There were many other surprises, including:

-Senior WR J.J. Jenkins snagging one of the starting positions ahead of junior Wills Meyer. I had noticed Jenkins getting a lot of attention in the official athletic website reports since spring practice, but I did not know he was even in contention to be a starter. 

-Senior Co-Captain Mitch Moyer, and his bulked up 275-pound frame, gets the start not at DE, but at DT.

-Junior James Knox getting the start at one DE slot ahead of senior Thomas Thibault. Starting slots on the D-line mean a little less considering all the rotating done during the course of a game, but Knox was not on our radar as a starter. 

-Sophomore and converted O-lineman Patrick Passalacqua getting the start at one DT slot ahead of junior Ben Corniello.

-I'm not surprised, but it's notable that sophomore Justin Townsend is getting a start at the other DE slot. 

Other Notable Points

-Senior Andrew Donavan gets the start at punter.

-Junior DB Carter McFadden is listed as the starting punt returner and senior WR Ernest Robinson is the starting kickoff returner. But note that junior starting WR Bryson Canty is in the mix at both of those return positions and we shouldn't be surprised if he gets into the mix. McFadden is also listed as the backup to junior Seth Parker at one CB position.

-The only non-special teams freshman to crack the two-deep is OL Mark Chapman. 

-Six sophomores are listed as starters. In addition to the aforementioned Parker, Canty, Passalacqua, and Townsend, Sean Riley gets the start at OLB, and Aaron Brebnor at Strong Safety. Other notable sophomores on the two-deep are OL John Iannuzzi, backing up at RG, Rocco Milia backing up Riley at LB, Hayden McDonald backing up Brebnor. 

Place Your Bets!

The betting lines/spreads for this weekend's games involving all Ivy teams and Columbia's other opponents are out:

Columbia is a 20 1/2 point favorite at Marist 

Brown is a 4 1/2 point favorite hosting Bryant

Cornell is a 14 point favorite at VMI Cornell is a 13-point UNDERDOG at VMI

Dartmouth is a 31 1/2 point favorite hosting Valparaiso 

Harvard is a 26 1/2 point favorite hosting Merrimack (Game is Friday Night)

Penn is a 7 1/2 point favorite hosting Colgate

Princeton is a 34 1/2 point favorite at Stetson

Yale is a 6 point favorite at Holy Cross Yale is a 6 point UNDERDOG at Holy Cross

Georgetown is a 14 1/2 point underdog at Monmouth

Wagner is a 14 1/2 point underdog hosting St. Francis

Other notable lines:

Lehigh is a 45 1/2 point underdog at home vs. Richmond

Lafayette is a 39 point underdog at home vs. William & Mary

Fordham is a 6 1/2 point favorite hosting Albany

CCSU is a 20 1/2 point underdog at SE Louisiana

No, I don't know WHERE your can actually place bets on these games and other FCS contests. But I do know that my gambling friends say most of the betting apps often put up some FCS games to bet on about 36 hours or less before game time.