GAME 10 • EMPIRE STATE BOWL/COLUMBIA FOOTBALL PLAYERS CLUB SENIOR DAY
CORNELL (3-6, 2-4 Ivy League) at COLUMBIA (5-4, 2-4 Ivy League)
Saturday, November 17, 2018 • 1:05 p.m. ET • Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium • New York
 

---

THE FACTS
 
Television: SNY/ESPN+ live (Lance Medow, Sal Licata; Producer: Sol Steinberg) | WATCH LIVE | ESPN+ FAQ
 
Columbia Online Radio Network: simulcast | LISTEN LIVE
 
Live Stats: www.gocolumbialions.com | LIVE STATS
 
Coaches: Columbia- Al Bagnoli, 4th year at Columbia (18-21), 36th year overall (253-119). Cornell- David Archer, 6th year at CU (15-44), 6th year overall (15-44).
 
Series: Columbia and Cornell meet for the 106th time in series history with Cornell holding a 65-37-3 advantage. Columbia claimed last year's meeting, 18-8 in Ithaca. In games played at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium, Cornell holds a slight 9-8 edge. The series ranks as the 15th most played series in the history of college football.
 

---

 
GAME NOTES
 
NEW YORK—Columbia (5-4, 2-4 Ivy League) concludes its 2018 season when it hosts Cornell (3-6, 2-4 Ivy League) for its annual Empire State Bowl meeting Saturday at Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium. The contest also marks Columbia Football Players Club Senior Day as 19 Lions seniors will be honored prior to kickoff.
 
Columbia and Cornell have faced each other in 97 consecutive years, which ranks as the third longest uninterrupted series in FCS football. In addition, the Columbia-Cornell rivalry ranks as the 15th all-time most played series in the history of college football as the two schools renew their rivalry for the 106th time in 2018.
 
WHERE TO LISTEN/WATCH
 
The game will be broadcast live on SportsNet New York (SNY) and streamed live on ESPN+ with Lance Medow (play-by-play) and Sal Licata (color analyst) calling action. The Columbia Online Radio Network will also air a radio simulcast of the television broadcast for free. The audio-only broadcast is available for free at www.gocolumbialions.com. The game will be replayed on SNY on two different occasions. Those dates are: Monday, Nov. 19 from 8:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 20 from 2-5 p.m.
 
SATURDAY'S TOP STORYLINES

• With a win over Cornell, Columbia can record back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1961 and 1962. With 13 wins combining 2017 and 2018, the Lions have already set a program-record for most victories in back-to-back seasons since 1956.
• Saturday's Empire State Bowl marks Columbia Football Players Club Senior Day as 19 Lions seniors will be honored in a pre-game ceremony.
• Columbia has won seven of its last 11 games and 14 of its last 20 contest dating back to the conclusion of the 2016 season.
• Columbia has 20-plus players who are either sidelined for the year or have suffered injuries this season.

 
LIONS IN SEARCH OF BACK-TO-BACK WINNING SEASONS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1961-62
 
With a victory over Cornell on Saturday, Columbia would secure its first back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1961-62. In 1961, Columbia captured the 1961 Ivy League Championship with a 6-3 overall record and followed that up with a 5-4 record in 1962. Aldo T. "Buff" Donelli coached both teams.
 
This year, Columbia enters its final contest with a 5-4 overall record. Columbia finished 8-2 in 2017.
 
MOST WINS OVER TWO-YEAR PERIOD
 
With its 13 victories over the last two seasons (combining 2017 and 2018), Columbia has already set its school-record for most total victories combining two consecutive seasons since it joined the Ivy League in 1956. The Lions surpassed the previous record of 12 wins in 1996-97.
 
In the 128-year history of Columbia Football, the record is 17 wins over a two-year period in both 1901-02 and 1903-04. Other top winningest two-year periods include 16 wins in 1899-1900; 15 wins in 1900-01, 1933-34, 1932-33 and 1902-03; 14 wins in 1901-02, 1931-32, 1945-46; 13 wins in 2017-18, 1946-47, 1931-32; and 12 wins in 1996-97, 1930-31 and 1925-26.
 
BACK-TO-BACK .500-PLUS SEASONS GUARANTEED
 
With a 42-20 win at Brown last Saturday, Columbia registered its fifth victory of the year and is now guaranteed two straight .500-plus seasons for the first time since 1961-63 when the Lions put together three straight .500-plus years.
 
SIX WINS AMONG THE WINNINGEST ALL-TIME AT COLUMBIA
 
A win over Cornell on Saturday would give Columbia its sixth victory on the year. Even with all the injuries causing uncertainty at a variety of positions, six wins would rank among the all-time winningest seasons in Columbia Football history.
 
Since Columbia joined the Ivy League in 1956, the Lions have won six or more games just four times: 1961, 1971, 1996 and 2017. A win on Saturday would give Columbia its fifth six-win season since 1956.
 
Here is where six wins would stack up against other top seasons in school history:
9 wins season- 1903, 1899
8 wins- 1901, 1933, 1945, 1996, 2017
7 wins- 1900, 1904, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1947
6 wins- 1925, 1926, 1946, 1961, 1971 and possibly 2018!
 
FINAL HOME GAME/SENIOR DAY FOR 19 COLUMBIA SENIORS
 
Columbia will honor its 19-member senior class in a pre-game ceremony. The ceremony will begin at 12:43 p.m. (20:00 on game clock). Seniors and their family members will be announced and then proceed through a tunnel set up by nearly 50 former Columbia alumni players. Seniors and their families will proceed to Head Coach Al Bagnoli at the 50-yard line.
 
This year's senior class includes: Chris Alleyne, Brock Anglin, Adam Armesto, Landon Baty, Kyle Castner, Patrick Eby, Calvin Falkenhayn, Charlie Flores, Tre Gabriel, Ryan Gilbert, Mike Hinton, Daniel Hong, Markham Paukune, Tyler Schonewolf, Ryan Suitt, Peter Szymanski, Jason Vravick, Sean White and Jacob Young. Baty and Paukune will go through senior day for the second straight season. Depending on individual circumstances, a few of these players could return for the 2019 season.
 
Two of these players- Baty and Paukune- endured an 0-10 record in 2014. The group won two games in 2015, three games in 2016, eight games last year and enters its final game with five wins this season.
 
SENIOR CLASS ACCOMPLISHMENTS
 
Columbia Football's 19-member Class of 2018 has achieved numerous records during its time with the program (2015-18). Here are a few:
 

• 18 total victories and counting and 10 Ivy League wins from 2015-18
• The 18 victories currently rank tied for No. 5 among winningest senior classes since Columbia joined the Ivy League in 1956. Here is the list: 20 wins, 1994-97; 19 wins, 1995-98 and 1996-99; 18 wins, 1960-67 and 2015-18. With a win Saturday, the class will move into a tie for second place on that list.
• Helped Columbia set the record for most wins in back-to-back seasons (since 1956) with 13 (five currently in 2018 and eight in 2017).
• Led the Lions to an 8-2 overall, 5-2 Ivy League record and second place finish in the league, Columbia's best overall record, best Ivy League season and highest Ivy League finish in 21 years (since 1996). The eight wins rank tied for the third most wins in school history.
• Led the Lions to a seven-game win streak from Nov. 19, 2016 to Oct. 28, 2017, the school's longest win streak since 1935 and third longest win streak in school history.
• In 2018, helped lead the Lions to a 6-0 start to a season for the first time since 1996. The 6-0 start marked just the second time since 1945 that Columbia began a year with six straight victories.
• Concluded career with back-to-back 3-0 non-conference seasons and a seven-game win streak entering the 2019 season.
• Defeated six of seven Ivy League opponents.
• 12 of the 19 seniors have earned starting roles in at least one game during their career.
• Enrolled at Columbia the same year Al Bagnoli began his coaching career with the Lions.

 
EMPIRE STATE BOWL
 
When Columbia and Cornell meet annually on the football field, the rivalry is dubbed the Empire State Bowl. The rivalry took on the name "Empire State Bowl" in 2010, emblematic for Ivy League football supremacy in New York State. Each year's winner earns the right to take home the Empire Cup. The two schools have played on the gridiron since 1889 and will meet for the 98th consecutive season in 2018.
 
The game's winner earns the Empire State Bowl Trophy, which will be presented immediately following the conclusion of the game.
 
LIONS SUFFER INJURIES
 
More than 20 players and five returning All-Ivy League selections have suffered injuries for Columbia this year.
 
Columbia has already lost seven players to injury this season: offensive lineman Charlie Flores, starting wide receiver Josh Wainwright, key running back Alexander Filacouris, placekicker Oren Milstein, starting running back Dante Miller, starting middle linebacker Justin Woodley, defensive end LinDon Harris and possibly starting quarterback Josh Bean.
 
Others who have missed action and could miss more action include starting quarterback Josh Bean, backup quarterback Dillon Davis, third-string quarterback Ty Lenhart, fourth-string quarterback Ryan Suitt, running back Lynnard Rose, cornerback Ben McKeighan, cornerback Will Allen, offensive lineman Markham Paukune, safety Landon Baty, wide receiver Christian Everett, offensive lineman Joseph Scowden, tight end Kyle Baskin, wide receiver Ronald Smith and wide receiver Darion Acohido, among others.
 
NEXT MAN UP FOR COLUMBIA
 
With all the injuries, Columbia has still found a way to win. It is a "Next Man Up" mentality for Columbia Football, who has played without its top three quarterbacks, its top two wide receivers, its top two running backs and without nine other players who had started games this year. Bagnoli has depth built on three straight top-25 recruiting classes.
 
Amazingly, Columbia has won five games on the year using four different starting quarterbacks. Columbia has won at least one game in which each of the four started.
 
ABOUT THE LIONS
 
Winners of 14 of its last 20 games, Columbia enters its final game of the year after a convincing come-from-behind 42-20 win at Brown last Saturday. Senior wide receiver/wildcat quarterback Kyle Castner rushed for three touchdowns and threw for two more scores and first-year quarterback Ty Lenhart passed for career-highs of 298 yards and 28 completions as Columbia registered the win.
 
The Lions scored a season-high 42 points and amassed a season-high 515 total offensive yards as they bested the Bears in total yardage (515-254), first downs (24-6), rushing yards (190-88) and passing yards (325-166). The Lions scored 28 unanswered points in the second half to take the lead and secure the win.
 
Columbia's defense was dominant in the second half as Brown was held to zero points, 26 total yards of offense on 30 plays, eight yards rushing, 18 yards passing and only three first downs. The Lions also registered a team-record 10 sacks and intercepted two passes in the contest.
 
In 2017, Columbia completed one of its most successful seasons in school history under Head Coach Al Bagnoli. In 2018, 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, LIONS PLAYERS AMONG NATIONAL STATISTICAL LEADERS IN A VARIETY OF CATEGORIES
 
Columbia ranks among the nation's top-25 FCS teams in 13 different team statistical categories. According to the NCAA statistics, Columbia is ranked:

• No. 1 in blocked punts allowed (0).
• No. 1 in fumbles lost (1).
• No. 6 in fewest penalty yards (343).
• No. 10 in time of possession (32:57).
• No. 10 in fewest penalty yards per game (38.11).
• No. 10 in first downs defense (150).
• No. 12 in fewest penalties (44).
• No. 14 in blocked kicks allowed (1).
• No. 16 in fewest penalties per game (4.89).
• No. 18 in team sacks (2.89).
• No. 20 in turnovers lost (12).
• No. 21 in kickoff returns (23.67).
• No. 24 in third down conversion percentage defense (33%).

 
Individually, several Lions also rank among the top-25 national statistical leaders in six different categories:

• Chris Alleyne (No. 19 in field goal percentage 82.4%; No. 3 in field goals per game, 1.56).
• Daniel DeLorenzi (No. 11 in sacks, 0.94).
• Cameren Carter (No. 18 in fumbles recovered, 2).
• Will Allen (No. 13 in kickoff returns, 27.0).
• Mike Roussos (No. 17 in punt returns, 11.5).

 
COLUMBIA, LIONS PLAYERS LEAD THE IVY LEAGUE IN VARIOUS STATS
 
Columbia and its players rank among Ivy League leaders in a variety of statistics:

• As a team, Columbia leads the league in opponent penalties (59.8) and on-side kicks by (1-2).
• Chris Alleyne leads in field goals (14) and PAT percentage (100.0).
• Daniel DeLorenzi leads in sacks (0.94 per game) and tackles for loss (1.06 per game).
• Cameren Carter leads in fumble recoveries (2).

 
Other Lions are also ranked among league leaders in a variety of statistics including: Ty Lenhart (No. 8 in passing yards per game, 77.4; No. 10 in scoring touchdowns, 4.5; No. 9 in passing efficiency, 111.3), Chris Alleyne (No. 5 in scoring, 7.0; No. 2 in kick scoring, 7.0); Kyle Castner (No. 6 in receptions per game, 4.2); Ronald Smith (No. 5 in receptions per game, 4.7; No. 6 in receiving yards per game, 51.7); Drew Schmid (No. 2 in punting, 38.5); Ryan Gilbert (No. 4 in tackles, 8.6), Sean White (No. 5 in tackles, 7.9), Jacob Young (No. 26 in tackles, 4.4), Arman Samouk (No. 8 in sacks, 0.39), Mike Hinton (No. 3 in forced fumbles, 0.22; No. 14 in tackles for loss, 0.67), and Ben McKeighan (No. 8 in passes defended, 0.71).
 
KYLE CASTNER NAMED IVY LEAGUE CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AFTER BROWN PERFORMANCE
 
Senior wide receiver and wildcat quarterback Kyle Castner was named the Ivy League co-Offensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced on Monday afternoon. Castner, who shares the honor with Princeton's Colinn Eady, becomes Columbia's first Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week honoree this year and the first since Josh Wainwright earned the honor on Oct. 16, 2017, following Columbia's Homecoming win over Penn.
 
In Saturday's 42-20 win at Brown, Castner tied a school-record for most touchdowns responsible for with five as he rushed for three touchdowns and passed for two scores. His three rushing touchdowns tie also for the fifth most in school history. On the day, Castner rushed for a career-high 88 yards and three touchdowns on a career-high 15 carries, caught four passes for 48 yards and threw two touchdown passes while completing 2-3 passes for 27 yards. Castner's five touchdowns included a 2-yard pass to Rory Schlageter in the second quarter, a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, a two-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, a 25-yard TD pass to Ryan Young on a razzle-dazzle play in the third quarter and a 31-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. He accounted for five of Columbia's six touchdowns on the day.
 
On the year, Castner leads the Lions in both receptions (38) and receiving yards (370), ranks second on the team in rushing touchdowns (4), has rushed 20 times for 97 yards (4.8 average) and has completed 4-5 passes for 52 yards and two touchdowns. He also leads the Lions in all-purpose yardage with 467 (51.9 per game).
 
Several other Columbia players earned Ivy League Honor Roll status including first-year quarterback Ty Lenhart, senior linebacker Sean White and senior placekicker Chris Alleyne.
 
CASTNER DOES IT ALL AGAINST BROWN
 
Every time Columbia needed a big play on offense, it turned to Castner. With his five touchdowns, Castner tied a Columbia school-record for most touchdowns responsible for in a game. He rushed for touchdowns of one, two and 31 yards and threw touchdown passes of two and 25 yards. On the day statistically, Castner rushed for a team-high 88 yards on 15 carries, caught four passes for 48 yards and completed 2-3 passes for 27 yards and two touchdowns. He also led the Lions with 136 all-purpose yards.
 
Castner's all-around performance was not a surprise. As a three-year starting high school quarterback at Indianapolis' Ben Davis High School, Castner was named Indiana's Mr. Football, led his team to a 28-7 career record and threw for 6,944 yards passing and 63 touchdowns, both school records. He was recruited by Columbia to play quarterback, but he switched to wide receiver prior to his junior season. He has been a starting receiver ever since the position switch.
 
"We made a conscious effort this week to get Kyle more involved in the offense," Bagnoli said. "We said, 'he's one of our most dynamic guys so we have to expand his package.' They were forecasting rain in the weather so that was a factor. We have to generate offense the best we can and try to take some heat off our quarterback considering all of the conditions and situation involved, so we expanded his package by 4-5 plays. The pieces this week were different than last week. You try to get your best and most explosive players to touch the ball as much as you can."
 
DELORENZI SETS SEASON SACKS RECORD
 
Upon entering the season's final game vs. Cornell, junior defensive lineman Daniel DeLorenzi set Columbia's official season sacks record. DeLorenzi, who leads the Ivy League in both sacks (0.94 per game) and tackles for loss (1.06 per game), has recorded 9.5 sacks on the season which surpasses Columbia's previous record of 9.0 set by Lou Miller two times in both 2008 and 2009. Columbia sacks records are inflated to reflect changes in the way sacks were recorded through history.
 
ALLEYNE SETS SEASON POINTS SCORED BY PLACEKICKER AND FIELD GOALS RECORD
 
With regular field goal/PAT kicker Oren Milstein sidelined for the season with an injury, senior Chris Alleyne has filled in nicely for the Lions. He has already set two season records for most points scored by a placekicker (currently 63 and climbing) and most field goals made (14). Alleyne has earned two Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week honors (Sept. 24 and Oct. 22).
 
On the year, Alleyne is 14-17 on field goals, a perfect 21-21 on extra point attempts and leads the Lions in scoring with 63 points. He ranks No. 3 nationally in field goals per game (1.56) and No. 19 nationally in field goal percentage (82.4). He has also totaled 25 touchbacks on 46 kickoffs this year.
 
With one game left in 2018, Alleyne is also ranked among Columbia all-time season placekicking leaders:

• His current 82.4 percent field goal accuracy currently ranks fifth in season records.
• His current PAT accuracy of 100 percent (21-21) ties Columbia's season record with seven other players.
• His 21 consecutive PATs made ranks third on Columbia's season consecutive extra points list. The record is 26 set by Luke Eddy in 2010.
• His 14 field goals on the year have already set Columbia's record for most field goals by a senior. The previous record was 10 by Tom Boccafola in 1991.
• His field goals of 51, 46 and 46 yards all rank among the top-15 longest field goals in school history. HIs career-long 51-yard field goal against Yale ranks as the No. 2 longest field goal in school history and ties for the longest field goal in Lawrence A. Wien Stadium history.

 
ABOUT THE BIG RED
 
Cornell enters Saturday's game on a three-game losing streak following losses at No. 17 Princeton (66-0), Penn (20-7) and No. 23 Dartmouth (35-24). The Big Red are 3-6 overall and 2-4 in Ivy League play.
 
Cornell is led by quarterback Dalton Banks, who has thrown for 1369 yards and nine touchdowns while completing and 63.1 percent (137-217) of his passes. Banks also has rushed for a touchdown and 195 yards on 70 attempts. He has averaged 173.8 yards of total offense per game.