Penn 13 Columbia 10
Why Penn Won
The Quakers played their best defense of the year, stuffing the Columbia run and keeping the Lion passing game mostly in check. On offense, Penn used a few key runs by QB Ryan Glover to keep drives alive and get the final go-ahead score.
Why Columbia Lost
The Lions offense could not consistently move the ball all day. Columbia avoided going three-and-out just about all day, but couldn't achieve much else. QB
Josh Bean had a decent game, especially in the second half. But a late INT after a receiver fell down sealed the Lions fate.
Key Turning Points
-With Penn leading 3-0 and about three minutes left in the 1st quarter, the Lions executed a beautiful fake punt when DE
Daniel DeLorenzi took a direct snap and gained 18 yards for a 1st down at the Penn 41. But Columbia failed to get another 1st down and the drive ended with a
Drew Schmid punt to the Penn 26.
-With 3:37 left in the half and the Quakers now ahead 6-0, Columbia appeared to convert a 4th and 4 pass to WR
Ronald Smith for a 1st down inside the Penn 35. But the ruling on the field was overturned and the completion was negated.
-With Columbia now leading 7-6 and 6:03 left in the 3rd quarter, the Lions took over at the Quaker 24 after a 22 yards punt by Penn's Drew Brennan. But Columbia ended up going backwards on the ensuing possession and had to settle for a 46-yard FG from
Chris Alleyne to stretch their lead to 10-6.
-With 3:01 left in the game and Penn now leading 13-10, Columbia's Ty Lenhart appeared to have gained a 1st down on a 4th and 1 run at the Quaker 34. But the refs spotted the ball on the 35 and the spot was upheld by video review.
-With 22 seconds remaining and Columbia facing a 3rd and 4 at the Penn 24, Bean's pass to WR
Mozes Mooney was intercepted by Penn's Muhammad Diakate and the game was over.
Columbia Positives
-The defense played generally well, giving the Lions enough chances to win the game. DT
Alex Robin had a breakout game, wrecking havoc in the Penn backfield and drawing several holding penalties.
-With WR
Josh Wainwright out for the season and WR
Ronald Smith apparently a bit hampered by injury, some of the other WR's stepped up admirably. Senior
Kaleb Pitts had the best overall game, highlighted by his falling backwards recpetion of a 43-yard pass from Bean to convert a 4th and 18 on the final CU drive. Freshman
Mozes Mooney also caught his first pass of the season,
-PK
Chris Alleyne had another perfect game, hitting a tough 46-yard FG, nailing all of his kickoffs for touchbacks, and calmly hitting a PAT.
Columbia Negatives
-The Lions run blocking just doesn't seem to work and certainly isn't accentuating the talents of several talented RB's.
-The Lion defense has a weakness for running QB's and it's very obvious.
Columbia MVP
Once again, I give the MVP to
Chris Alleyne. It's just a shame he never got the chance to send the game into OT with one more long FG.
