The Bulldogs travel to the Big Apple this weekend to take on the 3-3 (0-3) Columbia Lions. You can watch the game on ESPN+ at 1 PM ET on Saturday.
Fourth-string freshman QB Ty Lenhart looks like he will get the starting nod for the Lions. Lenhart does have some experience as he has played in all six contests this season completing 14 of 19 passes for 118 yards and an interception. Junior Lynnard Rose will likely start at running back with starter Dante Miller out with an injury. Rose is only averaging 3.0 yards per carry over his 58 rushes, but poses a threat as a receiver out of the backfield averaging 6.9 yards per reception. With star wideout Josh Wainwright out for the season, Ronald Smith and Kyle Castner have had to pick up the slack and have performed very well this season despite the injuries at the quarterback position. The tight end is not a crucial component of their passing game as starter Rory Schlageter has only 7 catches for 57 yards on the season. The offensive line averages 290 lbs. and appears to be on par with Penn’s offensive line.
Columbia’s stingy defense is the heart and soul of the team. The Lions limited Dartmouth to 7 first half points, 28 total points, and 356 total offensive yards in the contest last week. The defensive line is one of the smaller lines we have faced this season, but they are quick at the point of attack. Defensive tackle Mike Hinton (6’4″, 275 lbs.) and defensive end Daniel Delorenzi (6’2″, 235 lbs.) are the top linemen on the roster. Columbia’s top linebacker, Justin Woodley, is hurt forcing the senior trio of Jacob Young, Cal Falkenhayn, and Sean White to step up in his absence. Falkenhayn and White are sizable linebackers tipping the scales at 245 lbs. and 240 lbs. respectively. Strong safety Landon Baty and free safety Ryan Gilbert are Columbia’s most talented defenders. Baty is returning from an injury suffered in Columbia’s loss to Princeton. Baty and Gilbert are flanked in the secondary by two freshman corners, Chris Park and Fara’ad McCombs. Keep an eye on Park as he is making the first start of his career against our very dangerous receiving corps.
Kicker Chris Alleyne was honored last week as the Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week. Punter Drew Schmid is averaging 36.3 yards per punt this season. Columbia has the fifth best kick return yardage in the FCS and has not had a punt blocked this season.
7 replies on “Columbia Preview”
Weather is going to be really awful so expect to see minimal passing in the wind swept rain. Likely to be a low scoring, grind it out type of game with rbs protecting a slippery ball and treacherous footing on a very wet turf. Winner should be the team with the best running attack and least fumbles. Yale has the rbs who can do what is needed to win.
Question….natural or synthetic turf at Columbia?
Brown has the only natural turf in the league.
Yale has natural mud.
The rest are synthetic.
Thinking back to years spent as chairman of grounds at a golf club. Our field reminds me of a beat up member’s tee in May. You close it down. Reseed it, rope it off and don’t play on it for four weeks while it recovers. Rotate to another tee.
Yale throws sand and seed tee box mix on mud and expects a miracle, all the while practicing on it.
I believe the Elis practice at Clint Frank Field, across Derby Avenue from the Bowl.
Historically correct. However, I am told Coach Reno regularly practices in the bowl once a week, usually Wednesday. The of course there is the usual Friday practice without pads, with the visiting team also on the field as well for their practice if they have traveled.
The turf should have been installed this summer. The alternative would have been to to dedicate the available resources to the installation of the proper drainage, soil and sod like Holy Cross did for their football program. Of course, you would then have to have the proper specialists charged with upkeep and practicing on it would be counterproductive.
This has many of the elements of a “trap”game, but I am sure the coaches know that. On the other hand, with a new starting quarterback I can’t imagine any one taking it for granted.