Lafayette Leopard (2-1) vs. Columbia Lion (0-0)
September 21, 2024
Kickoff Time: 12 noon (NOTE EARLIER TIME)
Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium
New York, NY
Game Time Weather Forecast: 75 degrees and partly sunny
The Line: Columbia is a 7 1/2 point underdog
TV/Radio: The game will be shown live on the SNY regional sports cable channel and also on ESPN+
Leading Story Lines
-This is the debut for Columbia's young new Head Coach Jon Poppe and his mostly very young staff. 'nuff said.
-Lafayette is one of the best teams in the FCS, with a varied offense and a tough defense. This quite simply seems like the toughest opponent Columbia will face all season.
-In the face of several months of very well-deserved bad publicity for Columbia and the Ivy League in general, getting back to football could provide a respite from all the campus ugliness.
3 Lions to Watch
-Sophomore QB Chase Goodwin #15 gets his first collegiate start and will work to justify his winning the spot over Northwestern transfer Cole Freeman #4.
-Senior DL Justin Townsend #36 begins his final season of what's already been an excellent career for the Lions. The question now is if he will take his game to another level and get the eye of NFL scouts.
-Senior WR Bryson Canty #2 returns at full strength after a disappointing injury-riddled 2023 season. Canty was a 1st Team All Ivy WR as a sophomore in 2022.
3 Leopards to Watch
-Junior RB Jamar Curtis #5 is one of the best backs in the the FCS and he tore the Lions up at Lafayette last year. How he matches up against Columbia's experienced front seven may decide the game.
-Junior QB Dean DeNobile #16 is one of the best QB's in the FCS. He and his favorite target WR Elijah Steward #1 will be a major concern all day.
-Sophomore DL Jaylon Joseph #93 was the Patriot League Rookie of the Year for 2023 and will likely be the man most sorely testing new CU QB Chase Goodwin's debut nerves.