NEW YORK - Columbia's Ray Rangel rushed for 130 yards on just ten carries, and the Lions took a 13-0 lead early, but Central Connecticut State countered with 22 unanswered points for a 22-13 victory at Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium.
On the first drive of the game, Craig Hamilton returned the ball 32 yards from the Lions' 12, and a personal foul penalty put Columbia at the CCSU 41 to begin play. Columbia's quarterback M.A. Olawale passed right to Taylor Joseph for a 28-yard gain to the 13. Rangel took an inside handoff to the right side, but a CCSU penalty put the Lions at the eight-yard line. Rangel rushed two more plays for the touchdown and Greg Guttas' point after made it 7-0 Columbia with 13:44 left in the first.
At the end of the first quarter, Columbia sent Michael Williamson out to punt, and James Mallory blocked the punt and recovered it at the Lions' two-yard line. Columbia stopped CCSU four consecutive plays, including two tackles by middle linebacker Marc Holloway who had a career-high 18 tackles, and Columbia took over on downs at the Lions' one.
Neither team sustained a significant drive until midway through the second quarter when Columbia started a drive from its own 26 and Olawale quickly connected with Austin Knowlin near the right sideline for a 35-yard gain. The Lions picked up another first down on an eight-yard lateral to Mike Stephens and a three-yard pass to Knowlin.
On fourth and nine from the CCSU 27, Olawale hit Joseph for a 24-yard gain and a first down on the three. A Columbia holding penalty pushed the Lions back, and on third and 11, Olawale found Knowlin on the right side of the end zone to give Columbia the 13-0 lead. The Blue Devils' Dominque Rose blocked Guttas' PAT and ran it back for a defensive two-point conversion.
On CCSU's next possession, Aubrey Norris took over at quarterback and he and Mallory combined for all of the 79 yards in the drive, culminating in Norris keeping up the middle for a 28-yard touchdown. With the PAT good, the Lions led 13-9 at the break.
Mallory and Norris dominated the first possession of the third quarter, with four first downs and Mallory scoring up the middle for a touchdown, giving the Blue Devils a 16-13 lead.
The final scoring drive of the game came when CCSU went 99 yards in 12 plays over six minutes and 39 seconds, giving the Blue Devils the 22-13 win.
For the game, CCSU amassed 325 yards rushing to Columbia's 144, and 151 yards passing to Columbia's 149. Defensively, Holloway led both sides with 18 total tackles, including two for a loss. Adam Mehrer had 14 total tackles, while Andy Shalbrack (13), Alex Gross (12) and Corey Cameron (11) each had double-digit tackles.
Knowlin had eight catches for 73 yards, while Joseph had 52 yards on just two catches.
Norris finished 8-of-8 passing for 135 yards and added 75 yards rushing. Mallory totaled 128 yards on 26 carries.
Columbia (1-1) opens the Ivy League slate next weekend, when the Lions travel to Princeton for a 3 p.m. matchup on Saturday, October 3.
