BRONX, N.Y. -- With Columbia leading 34-28 late in the fourth quarter, Columbia senior cornerback Jared Morine returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown to seal the victory for the Lions, 40-28, as Columbia captured its first win of the season at Fordham, regaining the Liberty Cup.

In a true team effort, Columbia's offense put up solid numbers and controlled the time of possession, while the Lions' defense stepped up throughout and sealed the game in the final quarter.

With time winding down in the fourth quarter, Fordham got the ball on its own 18 with 5:19 left on the clock.  Rams quarterback John Skelton, rated the seventh best quarterback in the 2010 NFL draft class, completed an 11-yard pass to Asa Lucas. Xavier Martin rushed for five yards to make it second and five from the 34-yard line, when Morine intercepted a pass on the ensuing play and ran it back 36 yards for the touchdown. 

After a 12-yard return by Fordham on Columbia's kickoff, Skelton connected with Patrick Miller for 11 yards to the Fordham 42 and then connected with Lucas again for a 30-yard gain down to the Columbia 28.  Skelton kept for 15 yards, taking the Rams to the Columbia 13.  On third and six from the Columbia nine, senior Andy Shalbrack intercepted Skelton's pass in the endzone to all but seal the win.

The game was an offensive battle from the opening kickoff.  Columbia efficiently marched down the field on the first possession of the game, using almost six minutes of clock, going 38 yards on 11 plays before a missed field goal attempt ended the drive.  Fordham needed just three plays to take a 7-0 lead when Skelton connected with Lucas for a 70-yard touchdown pass.

After each team had a possession, Columbia went to work, on its third drive of the game, by making use of a short punt and nine-yard return by Austin Knowlin, starting the drive on the Fordham 41.  Columbia quarterback M.A. Olawale hit Andrew Kennedy for a 38-yard pass reception, putting the Lions on the Fordham three.  Olawale then kept for the touchdown, while first-year kicker Gregory Guttas's PAT was good to knot the game at 7-7.

Fordham went four plays on the next possession, but Marc Holloway and Alex Gross stopped Darryl Whiting on fourth and one, and the Lions took over on the Columbia 49 on downs.

Ray Rangel and Olawale rushed for 18 yards to the Fordham 32 before the quarter ran out, and the Lions opened the second period with a third and two play. Olawale flicked the option to Knowlin for 10 yards for the first down and then connected with Rangel for a 17-yard gain on the next play to put the Lions on the Ram five-yard line.  Olawale gained four yards to the one on a keep, but failed to score on the next two plays from the one. On fourth and goal, from what looked liked inches, Rangel powered in for the score.  Guttas missed the extra point and Columbia led 13-7.

Skelton led his team 74 yards on seven plays on the next drive, including two 20-plus-yard passes and a touchdown completion of eight yards to his brother Stephen, giving Fordham a one-point lead, 14-13.

Olawale answered with an impressive drive of his own.  After a facemask penalty was assessed to Fordham on the kickoff, the Lions got 15 additional yards to Craig Hamilton's 24-yard return, making it first and 10 from the Fordham 42.  Columbia got hit with a false start, making it first and 15 from the 47, but Rangel rushed for 14 yards to the 33-yard line, and Olawale kept for 28 yards to the five-yard line on the next two plays.  Olawale rushed for the five yards to score his second touchdown of the game, giving the Lions a 20-14 lead and Columbia did not trail again.

Columbia's defense came up big as the half wound down, first with Gross intercepting a pass and returning it 15 yards to the Fordham six.  Olawale found Kennedy for a nine-yard touchdown pass to put the Lions up 27-14. 

Trailing 27-21, Fordham got the ball on its own 39-yard line with 32 seconds left in the half.  Skelton got the ball down to the Columbia 43 and found Brad Pierre for 19 yards and a Columbia roughing the passer penalty got Fordham down to the Columbia 12.  With just three seconds left, Fordham had a field goal blocked to end the half.

The Lions scored 40 points for the first time since 2000 and Rangel ran for a career-best 118 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown.

Olawale completed 13 of 23 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for two scores, earning game Most Valuable Player honors for Columbia. The MVP trophies were sponsored by the NYPD Finest and FDNY Bravest football teams who had members in attendance. Skelton earned Fordham's MVP honor, throwing for 383 yards, going 25-of-47 with three interceptions.

Defensively, Adam Mehrer led the Lions with 16 tackles, while Gross had six, a sack and an interception.  Corey Cameron and Shalbrack also totaled six tackles each. Isiejah Allen led Fordham with 11 tackles and two TFLs.

 The Lions controlled the ball for the majority of the game, holding possession for 36:47 as opposed to Fordham's 23:13.

"I'm proud of this team.  No one thought we could win this game," said Patricia and Shepard Alexander Head Coach of Football, Norries Wilson.  "This is big.  No one thought we could win this game except the 62 players on that sideline.  No one panicked.  We missed a field goal, no one panicked.  We missed a PAT, no one panicked.  We turned over the football, no one panicked.  People stepped up and we made plays when we needed to.  We found a way to win the football game."

The Lions (1-0), host Central Connecticut State for its home opener, next Saturday, September 26, at 12:30 p.m. at Robert K. Kraft Field and Lawrence A. Wien Stadium.