Back to Life

Columbia 17 Harvard 10 (OT)

Why Columbia Won

The Lions played their best defensive game of the season, holding the Crimson to just 10 1st downs, 63 rushing yards, and a 32% completion percentage. The offense saved its best play for the most crucial moments in the game, best exemplified by its 50% 3rd conversion rate.

Why Harvard Lost

Crimson starting QB Jake Smith had an awful game, completing just 6 of his 16 passes before being pulled in the 3rd quarter. Replacement QB Luke Emge was worse, going just 1 for 6 with an interception while the running game never got going. Meanwhile the Harvard defense couldn't get off the field, allowing Columbia to dominate the time of possession.

Key Turning Points

-On the third play of the 2nd quarter and the Crimson leading 7-0, sophomore WR/KR Mike Roussos suffered his first fumble of the season on a punt return attempt. But the ball was alertly scooped up by junior LB Carson Powell. The Lions then went on a 13 play 75 yard TD drive, capped off by an incredibly acrobatic one-handed four yard TD grab by sophomore WR Mozes Mooney.

-On the ensuing possession, the Crimson looked like they may answer with a score. But on 4th a 2 running play at the CU 37, freshman LB Scott Valentas got one of his 10-game leading tackles for a 10 yard loss.

-On their next possession, Harvard went for it again on a 4th an 1 at the Columbia 33 with just over a minute left in the half. But Smith's pass to Cody Chrest was incomplete, thanks to great coverage by senior CB Ben McKeighan.

-With the score still tied at 7-7, Harvard had a 3rd and 3 at the Columbia 10 just over a minute into the 4th quarter. On that play, Emge was stopped by sophmore LB John Harris and senior DL Max Mullaney for a two yard gain. The Crimson opted for the 25 yard FG, and the Lions dodged a major bullet.

-After Columbia sophomore QB Ty Lenhart ended the ensuing Lion possession with an interception at the Harvard 2 yard line, the Columbia defense came up big. Three Derrick Darrington runs by the Crimson netted just four yards and Harvard ended up punting the ball back to the Lions, where they began their next possession at the Crimson 47 with 5:24 left in the 4th. Thanks to two clutch catches by Mooney, Columbia answered with the game-tying 26-yard FG by freshman PK Alex Felkins. 

-In OT, the Lions faced a 3rd and 11 at the Crimson 26 when Lenhart rolled out and found a wide open senior TE Rory Schlageter for a 25 yard pass to the one. Roussos took it into the endzone on the next play for Columbia's first lead of the game. The Lions sealed the win on Harvard's first play from scrimmage in OT, as junior S Ben Mathiasmeier stretched out to make an interception and get one foot in bounds.

Columbia Postives

-The Lions only got two sacks on the day, but they kept pressure on the Harvard QB's all day.

-After not running Lenhart even once against Yale the week before, Columbia diversified his weapons again and sent him on 19 carries for a net of 50 yards.

-Columbia's underclassmen made a huge impact in the game, with Valentas, Mooney, Harris, and freshman Cameron Coleman making big plays.

Columbia Negatives

-The Lions were flagged numerous times for pass interference and the penalties were unnecessary because the passes were off target about half of the time.

-Lenhart again threw an interception that was the result of an ill-advised forced pass.

-The CU running game shows signs of improvement, but is still struggling overall.

MVP

It seems weird to not give the MVP nod to a defensive player in this game, but where would the Lions be without the clutch plays by Mozes Mooney? This was a breakout game for the sophomore who made clutch catches when it mattered the most.