NEW YORK—Columbia totaled 511 yards of total offense, averaged 6.5 yards per play and amassed 22 first downs as it registered a 32-27 football win over Montclair State in a preseason scrimmage Friday afternoon at Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium.
 
Over 50 Columbia players, returning starters and upperclassmen did not play or saw extremely limited roles. Another group of players saw action in only one series. Returning players who did not suit up for the Lions on Friday included Josh Wainwright, Ronald Smith, Landon Baty, Markham Paukune, Mike Hinton, Oren Milstein, Sean White, Jalen Williams, Michael Murphy and Kyle Castner.
 
Junior running back Van Neils sealed the win for Columbia when he broke two tackles and bulled his way into the end zone for a game-winning touchdown with 3:03 left in the game. The Lions trailed by seven points (27-20) early in the fourth quarter, but rallied back when senior quarterback Ryan Suitt led the Lions on a 13-play, 70-yard scoring drive which ended with a three-yard touchdown pass to first-year Trajen Johnson. After the Columbia defense forced a three-and-out, the Lions took advantage of two late hit penalties and an 11-yard pass from junior quarterback Matt Dame to first-year Ernest Robertson to set up Neils' touchdown run.
 
It was Columbia's running game that was on full display as the Lions scored three rushing touchdowns, finished with 227 yards rushing on 41 carries and averaged 5.5 yards per carry on the day. Junior Lynnard Rose rushed for 58 yards on eight attempts, first-year Ryan Young piled up 47 yards on nine carries and sophomore Marquavious Moore added 38 yards on four carries. In addition, the Lions also combined to pass for 284 yards after completing 20 of 38 passes. Sophomore Josh Bean completed a team-best eight of 13 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown and sophomore Dillon Davis completed six passes for a team-high 103 yards and Suitt finished 4-6 with 35 yards and a score. Columbia's defense held Montclair State to just five first downs and 241 total offensive yards. The visiting Redhawks completed just 12 of 32 passes on the day.
 
Columbia took a 7-0 lead when Alexander Filacouris scored on an 18-yard touchdown run with 4:38 left in the first quarter. The Lions made it 14-0 when sophomore Myles Davis caught a four-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Josh Bean in the second quarter. A 53-yard pass from Bean to sophomore Emerson Kabus setup the score.
 
Montclair State answered with a 12-yard touchdown pass from JaQuill Burch to Vinny LoVerde. After Columbia missed a field goal attempt, Burch found Kason Campbell for an 80-yard touchdown pass, which pulled MSU within one point, 14-13 at halftime. Columbia blocked the ensuing point after attempt to keep its slim lead. The Redhawks took the lead 21-14 in the third quarter when Ryan Adzima found Ricky Tate for a seven-yard touchdown pass. After Columbia tied the game at 20-20 when first-year quarterback Ty Lenhart scored on a six-yard run, Montclair State went back up 27-20 when Jalen Golino found Luke Spitaletta for a seven-yard touchdown pass.
 
Sophomore Cameren Carter led Columbia's defense with four tackles, a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery. First-year Joshua Smythe-Macaulay added four tackles and first-year Cam Dillon registered two tackles for loss.
 
Columbia had many chances to score as it ventured into MSU's red zone territory nine times but came away with only five scores. The Lions also committed four turnovers on the day (two interceptions and two fumbles).
 
The scrimmage began with special teams plays and simulations (kickoff, punt and field goal/PAT), then proceeded into a full four quarter scrimmage. The scrimmage also featured a play clock, down and distance, officials and game clock, but no punts or kickoffs.
 
Columbia has two more weeks of practice before it officially opens its season on Saturday, Sept. 15 when it travels to Central Connecticut State for a 5 p.m. game in New Britain, Conn. Including Friday's scrimmage, the Lions have practiced 13 times since August 18. They put the pads on for the first time last Wednesday. The first day of fall classes is Tuesday, Sept. 4.
 
Friday's scrimmage marks the second time in as many years that Columbia and Montclair State met in the preseason. Led by NCAA Division III's winningest active head coach Rick Giancola, who begins his 36^th year in 2018, Montclair State finished 5-5 last season and 5-4 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference last year. It is the third time that Bagnoli and Giancola met on the sidelines as the duo's teams first met in the NCAA Division III Playoff Quarterfinals on November 25, 1989, when Bagnoli coached at Union College, N.Y. Union defeated Montclair State 45-6 that day to advance in NCAA Championship play. Bagnoli's Union team advanced all the way to the national title game/Alonzo Stagg Bowl before losing to Dayton 17-7 in Phenix City, Ala.
 
Columbia returns 15 of 22 starters 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 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.
 
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