Goodwin Out for the Season

 

Lions fans are waking up to a cruel reality, (we're used to it), as standout first-year starting QB Chase Goodwin is out for the season with the knee he injured at the end of the 1st half of the Homecoming loss to Dartmouth. 

While backup QB Cole Freeman has shown much more talent than the typical number 2, this will make the rest of the season much more of a challenge for a Lions team that has already suffered tough season-ending injuries to a number of other players including DE Justin Townsend and RT Ryan Carr.

But we did see a good bit of fight in this team last Saturday, so it will be interesting to see how this crew performs down the stretch. 

Ivy Power Rankings

 

1) Dartmouth 

They're the top team until someone knocks them off.

2) Harvard 

The Crimson are getting on the right track,

3) Yale

Elis are another team peaking at right now.

4) Columbia

The Lions status may depend on injuries down the stretch.

5) Brown

Bears offense gets them out of a lot of jams.

6) Princeton

The Tigers will make this season look respectable

7) Cornell 

Big Red are no pushover, but don't have all the tools. 

8) Penn

Quakers getting weaker as the seasons moves along. 

Off Script

Dartmouth 24 Columbia 21

Why Dartmouth Won

The Big Green defense stuffed the Lion offense for most of the game, while its running attack became dominant as Dartmouth pulled away in the 3rd quarter. The Big Green also forced three turnovers while not committing one of their own.

Why Columbia Lost

The Lions offense sputtered for most of the game, and only revived itself with the crucial help of an unusual string of Dartmouth personal foul penalties. The Columbia running game was ineffective and pass protection was not strong enough to stave off four Big Green sacks and an injury to starting QB Chase Goodwin.

Key Turning Points

-After forcing a three-and-out on Dartmouth's opening possession, the Lions marched quickly to the Big Green 17 before a holding penalty defused the drive. Then a 41-yard field goal attempt by Hugo Merry went wide, and Columbia's best chance to lead at any point in the game was lost. 

-With the game still scoreless, the Lions faced a 4th and 1 at the 50 on the first play of the second quarter. Columbia opted to go for it, but committed a false start penalty and then was forced to punt. 

-With 13 minutes left in the half, an accurate pass from Goodwin to CU WR Bryson Canty went through Canty's hands an into the arms of Dartmouth's Zach Farris who returned it 28 yards to the Lion 20. Three plays later, Big Green PK Owen Zalc banged a FG from 35 yards out for a 3-0 Dartmouth lead they would never give up.

-After the Lions went three-and-out on their ensuing possession, the Big Green took over at their 19 and embarked on what would be their most impressive drive of the game. It ended with a very nice handoff fake/pull back by Dartmouth QB Grayson Saunier who threw a 10-yard TD pass to Chris Corbo for a 10-0 lead. 

Columbia Positives

-The Lions showed they had some fight in them with their furious 4th quarter comeback bid, but it was very much aided by six, yes SIX Dartmouth personal foul penalties on their defense. 

Columbia Negatives

-The Lions went off script by committing turnovers for the first time since week 2, committing deadly penalties at key moments, and showing poor tackling skills on multiple running plays. 

Columbia MVP

-While he was not perfect, backup QB Cole Freeman bravely took the leadership role after Goodwin left the game and bore the brunt of hit after hit and a number of dropped passes. His ability to keep fighting at least lifted the Lion spirits down the stretch of the game. 

Midseason Championship

 

Dartmouth Big Green (5-0) vs. Columbia Lions (4-1)

October 26, 2024 

Homecoming Weekend

Kickoff Time: 1:30pm

Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium  

New York, NY 

Game Time Weather Forecast: 64 degrees and sunny

The Line: Columbia is a 2 1/2 point favorite 

TV/Radio: The game is available in ESPN+

Columbia Game Notes 

Dartmouth Game Notes 

Leading Story Lines 

-Of course, there is no such thing as a "midseason championship," but this is a showdown between the only two Ivy teams who remain unbeaten in the conference. The winner of this game will be the only team in the Ivies that controls its own destiny for a title. 

-With that in mind, this could be the biggest Lion football game in decades. As it is, it's at least the biggest win since 2017. 

-Dartmouth comes in with three straight very close wins, while Columbia is coming off a win over Penn at Franklin Field for the first time in 28 years. 

3 Lions to Watch

-LT Sean Kimani #51 may be pushed into emergency starting duty if reports of an injury to starter Ryan Carr are accurate. But either way, expect Dartmouth to blitz heavily, so whoever is at LT will be in the spotlight. 

-LB Anthony Roussos #16 will be tasked with the job of dealing with a Big Green attack they will likely try to challenge Columbia's new 3-4 defense with runs up the middle. 

-WR Bryson Canty #2 is worth watching every game, but if Dartmouth's pass defense is some kind of weak link on this team, he could have a big day. 

3 Big Green to Watch

-QB Jackson Proctor #12 or QB Grayson Saunier #16. Both are a little banged up. or recovering from being banged up... and either way, you can bet both of them will get into the game at some point. They are both lethal offensive weapons. 

-CB Jordan Washington #4 will likely be the man responsible for covering Canty in what could be a fun duel all game long. 

-WR Paxton Scott #7 is a great receiver in his own right and will be a key weapon if Columbia takes away the same amount of Dartmouth's running attack that it has against its other opponents this year. 

Week 6 Picks

 

I went 7-1 straight up, and 6-2 against the spread last week. My season totals are 26-9 SU, and 18-17 AGS 

Yale + 2 1/2 at Penn (Game is Friday night!)

Yale's inevitable 2nd half of the season surge is coming. Penn will be the victim. Yale will win. 

Brown -5 vs. Cornell

Brown by a TD or so.

Harvard -9 1/2 vs. Princeton

Harvard is looking to make a statement here. 

Holy Cross - 2 1/2 at Lafayette

Both of these teams are really inconsistent. But it feels like Lafayette is struggling more. 

Wagner +20 at UMass

Wagner has been playing better and can make this a game. But UMass will win. 

Georgetown -5 vs. Bucknell

The Hoyas should win this by 10 or so.