GAME 4 • Final Non-Conference Game
MARIST (1-3, 1-1 Pioneer League) at COLUMBIA (2-1, 0-1 Ivy League)
Saturday, October 6, 2018 • 1:05 p.m. ET • Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium • New York, N.Y.
THE FACTS
Television: ESPN+ (Lance Medow, Ted Gregory and Shawn FitzGerald; Producer: Sol Steinberg).
WATCH LIVE.
ESPN+ FAQ
Columbia Online Radio Network: simulcast/audio only on gocolumbialions.com.
LISTEN LIVE
Live Stats: www.gocolumbialions.com.
LIVE STATS
Coaches: Columbia-
Al Bagnoli, 4th year at Columbia (15-18), 36th year (250-116). Marist- Jim Parady, 26th year at Marist (134-143-1), 26th year overall (134-143-1).
Series: Columbia and Marist meet for the fourth time since the series began in 2007. The Lions have a 3-0 record vs. the Red Foxes including a 41-17 win at Marist in 2017, 10-9 win over Marist in 2012 and 31-7 win in 2007.
GAME NOTES
NEW YORK—Columbia (2-1, 0-1 Ivy League) plays its final non-conference game of the 2018 season when it hosts Marist (1-3, 1-1 Pioneer League) on Saturday, Oct. 6 at Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium. Kickoff for the matchup is set for 1 p.m. ET. The game is slated as Columbia's eighth annual Northern Manhattan Neighbors Appreciation Day.
The game will be live streamed on ESPN+ and simulcast on the Columbia Radio Network with Lance Medow (play-by-play), Ted Gregory (color analyst) and Shawn FitzGerald (color analyst) calling acction. Sol Steinberg will produce. The audio only broadcast is available for free at www.gocolumbialions.com. Gregory will be honored during pre-game festivities as he will serve as an honorary captain.
SATURDAY'S TOP STORYLINES
- Winners of four of its last five games, Columbia hosts Marist on Saturday.
- Columbia plays its final non-conference game and owns a 2-0 record in such contests. With a win over Marist, Columbia would complete non-conference play with a perfect 3-0 record for the second straight season.
- Columbia is currently on a school-record six-game non-conference win streak.
- Dating back to the end of the 2016 season, Columbia Football has won 11 of its last 14 games. The Lions are coming off their most successful season in 21 years after posting an 8-2 record and second place finish in the Ivy League at 5-2 in 2017.
ABOUT THE LIONS
Winners of 11 of its last 14 games, Columbia plays its final non-conference game and fourth overall game of the 2018 season against Marist. The Lions are coming off a 45-10 loss to No. 25 Princeton in their Ivy League opener. Princeton tallied 540 yards of total offense and scored on eight of its first nine possessions in defeating the Lions. Coumbia won its first two games against Northeast Conference champion and NEC preseason favorite Central Connecticut State (41-24) and a Lou Little Cup win at Georgetown (23-15). The Lions sustained several injuries to key players at CCSU. The Lions recovered three fumbles, limited its opponents to 45 yards rushing and used a three-quarterback system to register a convincing win over CCSU in its season opener. In week two, Columbia limited the Hoyas to 25 yards rushing and
Chris Alleyne kicked three field goals as the Lions captured the Lou Little Trophy for the second straight season with a 23-15 win at Georgetown.
Columbia is also coming off one of its most successful seasons in school history in 2017 under Head Coach
Al Bagnoli. The Lions returned 14 of 22 starters (seven on offense and seven on defense) and six All-Ivy League selections from a program that recorded its best season in 21 years. Last year, Columbia posted an 8-2 record, finished second in the Ivy League with a 5-2 record, began a season with six straight wins for the first time since 1996, put together the school's longest win streak since 1935 (seven games) and posted one of the nation's top-five best yearly comebacks in the FCS with a five-win improvement from 2016 to 2017. Along the way, it was the Lions' resiliency, toughness and work ethic that captured the attention of their fans, the New York City media and national media members alike.
COLUMBIA LOOKS TO FINISH 3-0 IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE SEASON
A win over Marist on Saturday would give Columbia a 3-0 non-conference record for the second consecutive season. It would also give the Lions a seventh straight non-conference victory.
In 2017, Columbia completed its three-game non-conference schedule with a 3-0 record for the first time since the 2006 season. The Lions defeated Wagner (17-14), Georgetown (35-14) and Marist (41-17) last season. Columbia has completed perfect non-conference seasons only six times since the Ivy League was formed in 1956: 1963, 1967, 1970 all with 2-0 records and 1996, 2006 and 2017 (3-0).
COLUMBIA ON SCHOOL-RECORD SIX-GAME NON-CONFERENCE WIN STREAK
Columbia will play its final non-conference game on Oct. 6 vs. Marist riding a school-record six-game non-conference win streak. It established the record with a 41-24 victory in its season opener at Central Connecticut State and extended the streak with a 23-15 win at Georgetown.
The current streak, which began at Wagner on Oct. 8, 2016, was previously tied for the record with another four game win streak which began at Fordham on Sept. 28, 1996 and ended at Lafayette on Oct. 4, 1997.
SATURDAY IS NORTHERN MANHATTAN NEIGHBORS APPRECIATION DAY
Columbia Athletics is thrilled to be hosting its eighth annual Northern Manhattan Neighbors Appreciation Day this Saturday, Oct. 6 when the Lions host Marist for their final non-conference game. All residents of the Northern Manhattan communities of Inwood and Washington Heights are invited to attend this Columbia Football game as our special guests! Residents from Northern Manhattan will receive complimentary game tickets by presenting proof of address at the entrance to Lawrence A. Wien Stadium beginning at 10:30 a.m. Northern Manhattan residents can reserve their tickets online.
Our neighbors and their families are invited to experience a fun-filled day which includes special promotions such as:
- Free hot dogs and beverages in our Pre-game Picnic Area.
- Free posters, schedule cards and game programs.
- Photo opportunities with our mascot, Roar-ee the Lion.
- Family fun inflatables will also be available for kids of all ages.
AL BAGNOLI WINS CAREER NO. 250
Columbia Head Football Coach
Al Bagnoli captured career victory No. 250 on Sept. 22 in the Lions' 23-15 win at Georgetown. In his fourth season as Columbia's head coach and 36th year overall, Bagnoli has a career record of 250-115. Friday's game marks Bagnoli's 365th career game as a head coach.
WILL ALLEN NAMED IVY LEAGUE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
For the second consecutive week, a Columbia football player was named the Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week as defensive back/kickoff returner
Will Allen earned the honor, the conference office announced on Monday.
Last week, placekicker
Chris Alleyne earned the Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week award. The last time Columbia earned back-to-back Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week honors in consecutive weeks was Jon Rocholl on Sept. 18 and Sept. 25 in 2006.
Against Princeton on Friday night, Allen finished with 120 kickoff return yards on four kick returns (40.0 average), led Lions in all-purpose yardage (120) and returned the opening kickoff 91 yards, his career-long return. The 91-yard kick return ranked as the eighth-longest in school history.
For the year, Allen leads the Ivy League and ranks No. 13 nationally in average yards per kickoff return (28.6). He has gained 200 yards on seven kickoff returns. On defense, Allen ranks fourth on the team in tackles with 13 and has made 2.5 tackles for loss for five yards with a pass breakup. Allen, who led the Ivy League in average yards per kickoff return last year, earned All-Ivy League honorable mention honors in 2017.
COLUMBIA, LIONS PLAYERS AMONG NATIONAL STATISTICAL LEADERS IN A VARIETY OF CATEGORIES
Through only three games, Columbia ranks among the nation's top-25 FCS teams in 13 different team statistical categories according to the NCAA. Through only two games, Columbia is ranked:
- No. 1 in fourth down conversion percentage (1.000).
- No. 1 in blocked kicks allowed (0).
- No. 1 in blocked punts allowed (0).
- No. 2 in fewest penalty yards (102).
- No. 3 in fewest penalties (13).
- No. 6 in fewest penalty yards per game (34.0).
- No. 8 in kickoff returns (28.6).
- No. 9 in first downs defense (53).
- No. 13 in fumbles lost (4).
- No. 15 in team sacks (3.00).
- No. 21 in time of possession (32:18)
- No. 21 in red zone offense (91.7).
- No. 24 in kickoff return defense (17.2).
Individually, several Lions also rank among the top-25 national statistical leaders in six different categories:
COLUMBIA, LIONS PLAYERS LEAD THE IVY LEAGUE IN VARIOUS STATS
Through only three games, Columbia leads the Ivy League in a variety of statistics:
- Columbia is ranked No. 1 in field goals (6).
- Will Allen leads the league in kickoff return average (28.6).
- Chris Alleyne leads the league in field goals (6) and field goal percentage (6-6).
- Ryan Gilbert leads the league in tackles with 33 (11.0 per game).
ABOUT THE RED FOXES
Marist enters its Saturday matchup at Columbia with a 1-3 overall record and 1-1 Pioneer League record. After three straight losses to start the 2018 season, Marist defeated Dayton 28-17 on Saturday, Sept. 29 for its first victory.
Marist has been outscored 100-56, has rushed for 93.5 yards per game and passed for 191.0 yards per game. Two quarterbacks have seen action for Marist: Mike Husni, who has played all four games and has thrown for 544 yards and five touchdowns while completing 36 of 81 passes. Jacob Hallenbeck has thrown for 220 yards and one touchdown and completed 21 of 33 passes (63.6 percent).
Darryn Jordan leads Marist with 175 yards rushing on 35 carries, followed by Husni (89 yards on 39 carries, two TD) and Areg Nazarian (83 yards on 40 carries, one TD). Juston Christian leads the Red Foxes in receiving with 14 catches for 285 yards and three touchdowns. He averages 20.4 yards per catch. Jon Kanda (11 catches 164 yards, 3 TD) and David Shannon (10 catches for 81 yards) are both receiving threats.
On defense, Marist has allowed 438.0 yards per game and 5.3 yards per play. Brandon Miller leads the team in tackles with 30, along with 3.5 tackles for loss. Wesley Beans has made 29 tackles, Grant Dixon has 28 tackles and Willie Barrett and Maliek Carr have 27 tackles apiece. Barrett leads the team in sacks (3.0) while four players have one interception.
Columbia and Marist have one common opponent: Georgetown. The Lions defeated the Hoyas 23-15 on Sept. 22, while the Red Foxes lost to the Hoyas 39-14 on Sept. 1.
