Columbia 17 Wagner 14
Why Columbia Won
The Lions flashed just enough offense, defense, and special teams at the most opportune moments to eke out the win. The Lions highly regarded receiving corps came through spectacularly to make the biggest difference in the game.
Why Wagner Lost
The Seahawks were brutally inconsistent. And when they were playing stronger, they could not close the deal because of consistently poor on special teams.
Key Turning Points
-With 2:42 left in the game and the score tied at 14, Wagner got a big break when Columbia DB Landon Baty, (who had an otherwise stellar day), unnecessarily bumped Wagner WR Willie Dale. The play was called for pass interference and wiped out a 3rd and 25 situation for the Seahawks. Now set up with a 1st and 10 at the CU 29, the Lion defense came up big with three stops on Wagner RB Ryan Fulse for a grand total of five yards. That forced Wagner to go for a 42-yard FG that senior DL Connor Heeb blocked for Columbia's second FG block of the day. That set up the Lions on their own 36 with about 1:30 to go and a timeout.
-Three plays later with the Lions facing a 3rd and 11 at the Seahawk 49, QB Anders Hill ran 20 yards for a clutch gain. Two plays later, Wagner was called for interference in the end zone on a pass intended for WR Ronald Smith, who was consistently open all day.
-Two plays later, PK Oren Milstein hit the game winning FG from 29 yards out, redeeming himself after a miss from the same spot a few minutes earlier.
Columbia Positives
-Smith and fellow starting WR Josh Wainwright were the only consistent stars of the game, getting regularly open and making some circus catches.
-QB Hill bounced back from a lackluster 3rd quarter and led the Lions on that high-pressure winning drive. Despite getting sacked five times, Hill finished with 89 net rushing yards.
-The Columbia defense started out the game in dominant mode, and stayed tough enough down the stretch to force Wagner's ill-fated FG tries.
Columbia Negatives
-The Lions almost completely collapsed in the 2nd half, allowing another home run ball kind of play on an 83-yard TD run, and committing numerous costly personal foul penalties.
-The Lions defense did not get consistent pressure on Seahawk QB Luke Massei while they allowed those five sacks.
-Hill was forced to run the ball too much and will not likely avoid injury this year if that continues.
Columbia MVP
-Ronald Smith got open all game and made some great catches to stand out. His one catch in traffic on the final drive and his forcing of a crucial pass interference call a few plays later helped the Lions win the game.
Conclusions
They call schools filled with transfers like Wagner "Second Chance U.'s," but it was Columbia that got a second chance to win this one when it looked like the Lions had let the game slip away. Columbia will have to find a way to play more consistently if this program wants to make the improvements its hoping for in 2017.
7 comments:
One adjustment that Wagner made during the half stood out to me. In the first half Wagner lined up with a single RB, and we pretty much stuffed the run all half. In the second halfWagner ran most of its sets with two backs, the RB and a FB/HB/TE as a lead blocker. That set proved effective in cleaning out the LB. with a two back set normally Imwould put eight guys in the box. We didn't seem to counter this set. Also, in the passing game in the second half Wagner picked on whoever was playing opposite Roxane at CB, whether it was Hill or McKeighan. Finally, DeLorenzi needs to be more than a third down pass rusher. If we aren't going to get more production from whoever is playing on the outside (the Will or Sam) then I would put DeLorenzi back there on 1st and 2nd down and have him rush the passer on third down passing situations. As far as other observations, Hill is going to get killed if our line coach can't come up with better schemes.
I'd much like to know why Bagnoli himself drew that unsportsmanlike conduct penlty, when from the stands it looked like he was arremption to point out Wagner players attacking ours.
I thought our offensive play calling was abysmal. For three Qs we threw 50 yders and short sideline passes. Nothing over the middle. It wasn't until 4Q that we discovered the middle of field was open. With a tall and tiough QB and tall speedy wideouts, We should've thrown there all day.
The play calling on our last drive n first half was more than abysmal. We had ball on our own 25 with less than 4 min on clock leading 14-0 against a Wagner team that looked like it was about to fold.. it was a time to run the ball, wind down the clock, make them use their TOs and-- at worst-- punt it and give them a he ball back deep in their own territory with little if no time left and no time outs either. The thing you wanted to avoid was a sack/ fumble or interception. Instead, we threw on 1,.2.and 3.downs-- all incomplete. That took only 18 seconds off the clock and enabled Wagner to get ball back in decent field position, with plenty of time to mount Drive, and with all their timeouts. Luckily we got the big block on the FG attempt.
Finally, I thought we were back in the Bob Naso era where we ran up the middle on each and every first down and where we ended up always looking at second and long all day.
I also thought bringing in a QB who had never played before down at goal line to run the wild cat out of shotgun was stupid. Hill should've stayed in th do the same or better yet, Hill should've lined up behind center and sneaked it in himself.
Have to agree with Peter Stevens, play calling leaves much to be desired.
part of the issue with play calling relates to the fact that this was our first game and as Al said we really don't know what we have quite yet. We had a new starting RB, a new starting WR, a new LT, and a new starter at RT. And I could make the same observation about most of the rest of the two deep on offense.
Will Allen, Jr. is a dangerous offensive weapon on kick returns. He's going to bust one (or more) for a TD. Lack of a pass rush kept Wagner competitive ......defense didn't create any turnovers, but held strong at critical moments. Agree that our play calling was poor. Game turned into a nail biter, but have to applaud a last second win!
Well....can't we all just be happy we won?
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