Challenge Under the Lights

 

Yale Bulldogs (4-2) vs. Columbia Lions (4-2)

November 1, 2024

Kickoff Time: 7:00pm

Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium  

New York, NY 

Game Time Weather Forecast: 68 degrees and clear 

The Line: Yale is favored by 2 points 

TV/Radio: The game will be nationally televised on ESPNU 

Columbia Game Notes

Yale Game Notes 

Leading Story Lines

-Columbia comes into this game with a wounded lineup and some wounder pride after losing on Homecoming last week to Dartmouth and also seeing its standout starting QB Chase Goodwin knocked out for the rest of the season. 

-Yale may be climbing an insurmountable ladder to the Ivy title after starting the season 0-2 in the conference. But the Elis' usual formula of finishing strong seems to be in place with a vengeance now. 

-The matchup is looking like a team coming off a major gut punch and another with a big chip on its shoulder. 

3 Lions to Watch

-QB Cole Freeman #4 will be thrust into the starting job and will likely be harassed regularly by Yale defense that would love to force him to throw about 40 times or more. 

-LT Nick Winzer #75 is also under the gun after the season-ending injury to starter Ryan Carr. Winzer will have a big target on his uniform all day for the Eli pass rushers.

-CB Carter McCray #22 is playing well as a freshman starter, but expect Yale to try to test him with their top receivers as much as possible. 

3 Bulldogs to Watch

-WR David Pantelis #10 is locked in a battle with Columbia's Bryson Canty for the title of best WR in the Ivies. He will be all over the field tonight; it's just up to the Lions to deny him the ball as much as possible. 

-S Abu Kamara #4 is having a breakout sophomore season and will be a factor in stopping the Columbia passing and running games. 

-RB Josh Pitsenberger #7 is having a strong comeback season after being a bit sidelined last year. After the Lions had a fit of poor run tackling at times vs. Dartmouth last week, Pitsenberger will either be the beneficiary of that trend continuing or the victim of it being rectified. 

Week 7 Picks

 

I went a perfect 6-0 straight up last week, but 3-3 against the spread. My season totals are now 32-9 SU and 21-20 AGS 

Princeton -3 at Cornell

I like the Tigers to take this one in what should be a good game. 

Harvard +1/2 at Dartmouth

The Big Green will have a stumble here. 

Brown +2 vs. Penn

The Quakers look lost and the Bears will find a way to win. 

Lafayette -4 at Bucknell

Leopards will bounce back.

Georgetown +5 vs. Lehigh

Hoyas will win. 

CCSU -11 1/2 vs. Wagner 

Wagner will have a tough time on the road. 

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.