GAME 6
COLUMBIA (2-3, 1-1 Ivy League) at No. 16/17 DARTMOUTH (5-0, 2-0 Ivy League)
Friday, October 25, 2019 • 6:02 p.m. ET • Memorial Field • Hanover, N.H.
 
THE FACTS
 
Television: ESPNU/WatchESPN (Bill Spaulding & Jack Ford; Producer: Chris Damiani) | Watch Live on WatchESPN
 
Columbia Online Radio Network: Lance Medow & Shawn FitzGerald | Listen Live
 
Live Stats: www.dartmouthsports.com | Live Stats
 
Coaches: CU- Al Bagnoli, 5th year at Columbia (21-24), 37th year overall (256-122). DC- Buddy Teevens, 20th year at DC (101-92-2), 29th year overall (135-169-2).
 
Series: Columbia and Dartmouth meet for the 90th time in a series dating back to 1899. The Big Green holds a 69-19-1 advantage in the series, though Columbia has claimed two of the last three meetings. Columbia won a 22-17 decision at Dartmouth in the last game played between the schools at Memorial Field in 2017.
 
GAME NOTES
 
NEW YORK—Columbia (2-3, 1-1 Ivy League) continues its 149th anniversary year and 129th season of college football when it travels to Hanover, N.H. to take on No. 16/17 Dartmouth (5-0, 2-0 Ivy League) on Friday, Oct. 25 at Memorial Field. Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 6:02 p.m. ET.
 
The contest will be televised nationally on ESPNU and streamed live on the ESPNWatch App with Bill Spaulding (play-by-play) and Jack Ford (color commentary) calling the action. Chris Damiani will produce. The Columbia Radio Network will also provide a free audio-only broadcast on its website (www.gocolumbialions.com) with Lance Medow and Shawn FitzGerald providing the call.
 
SATURDAY'S TOP STORYLINES

• Columbia travels to Dartmouth after having won two of its last three matchups vs. the Big Green. In Dartmouth, Columbia faces its second nationally-ranked team of the year.
• The Lions have played a difficult schedule in the early-going as the teams they lost to have compiled a 16-3 overall record this year (Princeton 5-0, Georgetown 5-2, CCSU 6-1).
• Columbia is coming off back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1961 and 1962. With 14 wins combining the 2017 and 2018 seasons, the Lions have set a program-record for most victories in consecutive seasons since joining the Ivy League in 1956.
• Columbia has won 10 of its last 17 overall games and 17 of its last 26 contests dating back to the 2016 season.

 
ABOUT THE LIONS
 
Columbia is 2-3 on the season after registering a 44-6 Homecoming victory over Penn on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium. The Lions have played a difficult early-season schedule as each of their three losses has come to teams with a combined 16-3 overall record, while two of those teams are currently ranked in national polls: No. 13 Princeton (5-0) and No. 23/24 Central Connecticut State (6-1).
 
On Saturday, Columbia sophomore quarterback Ty Lenhart accumulated 253 total offensive yards and was responsible for three touchdowns, Columbia rushed for a season-high 255 yards and the Lions' defense limited Ivy League rushing leader Penn to 93 yards as it registered its largest Homecoming victory in school history with a 44-6 win. The victory was also Columbia's largest since a 38-0 win at Princeton in 2009. Columbia was dominant from the start and played its most complete game of the season. Led by Lenhart, the Lions scored 44 unanswered points and led 44-0 before Penn scored its lone touchdown in the fourth quarter. Columbia outgained Penn 413-232 in total yards, 255-93 in rushing yards and registered 24 first downs to Penn's 14. Columbia's defense limited Penn to just 93 rushing yards, 3.6 yards per play and 0-3 on fourth downs. The Quakers entered the game averaging an Ivy League-best 223.0 yards rushing per game and featured Karekin Brooks, who led the nation in yards rushing per game (157.2).
 
Columbia enters the weekend at 1-1 in Ivy League play after dropping a 21-10 Ivy League opening contest at No. 23/25 Princeton on Oct. 5. The Lions limited the Tigers to just 21 points, its second-fewest points scored in three years. Columbia played well and was in the game up until Princeton completed a 27-yard pass on third-down-and-10 late in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Josh Bean completed 23 of 29 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown, Ronald Smith finished with a season-high eight receptions for 87 yards and a 24-yard touchdown in the second quarter and Ben Mathiasmeier led the defense with a career-high 10 tackles and one interception.
 
Columbia opened its 2019 season after registering back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1961 and 1962. The Lions returned 15 starters (eight on offense and seven on defense) and nine total All-Ivy League selections from a program that won 14 of its 20 games over the previous two seasons (8-2 in 2017 and 6-4 in 2018).
 
Last year, Columbia endured a season that saw it suffer injuries to over 25 of its key players. It started four different quarterbacks and won with all of them, lost its top two running backs and top two receivers to injuries and still registered a winning season.
 
LENHART SPARKS LIONS AGAINST PENN
 
Sophomore quarterback Ty Lenhart accumulated 253 total offensive yards and was responsible for three touchdowns, rushed for a career-high 95 yards on 11 carries and completed 70 percent of his passes (14-20) passes for 158 yards in Columbia's 44-6 victory over Penn last week. He scored on two 1-yard runs and threw an 11-yard TD pass and most importantly led a Columbia offense that scored on 5-5 of its red zone opportunities and dominated time of possession (35:51) with its run game. He was named the Lenhart was named the John Toner Homecoming Player of the Game for his efforts.
 
Lenhart started his fourth career game and first of the year in place of Josh Bean, who was injured. The Lions play a two-quarterback system.
 
LIONS SCHEDULE PROVES TO BE VERY DIFFICULT
 
Columbia has played an extremely difficult schedule in the early-going this year. The Lions' three losses have come to teams who have compiled a 16-3 overall record in the early-going this year: Central Connecticut State 6-1, Princeton 5-0, Georgetown 5-2. Princeton and CCSU are both ranked in this week's national polls.
 
LIONS REGISTER BACK-TO-BACK WINNING SEASONS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1961-62
 
With a 24-21 victory over Cornell in its 2018 season finale, Columbia secured its first back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1961-62. In 1961, Columbia captured the 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.
 
In 2018, Columbia concluded its year with a 6-4 overall record. Columbia finished 8-2 in 2017.
 
LIONS AMASS MOST WINS OVER TWO-YEAR PERIOD SINCE 1956
 
With its 14 victories over the previous two seasons (combining 2017 and 2018), Columbia 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 combining 1996 and 1997.
 
In the 129-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 and 2017-18; 13 wins in 1946-47, 1931-32; and 12 wins in 1996-97, 1930-31 and 1925-26.
 
PLACEKICKER ALEX FELKINS NAMED IVY LEAGUE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
 
For the second straight week and third time this season, a Columbia football player was named Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week as first-year placekicker Alex Felkins claimed the honor from the conference on Monday.
 
In Columbia's 44-6 Homecoming win over Penn on Saturday, Felkins scored eight points, converted a 43-yard field goal and five of his six point after attempts (one was blocked), and registered six touchbacks in seven kickoffs.
 
Felkins earns his second Ivy League weekly honor as he was named the Rookie of the Week on Sept. 23.
 
A Tulsa, Okla. native, Felkins has converted five of his seven field goal attempts (one was blocked) and 13 of his 14 point after attempts (miss was blocked) on the year. After only five games, Felkins is the only player in school history to convert at least two field goals of 50 yards or more (51-yarder vs. Princeton, 50-yarder at SFU) and is one of only five players in Ivy League history to achieve the same distinction. On kickoffs, Felkins has registered 11 touchbacks in 22 attempts. He leads the Lions in scoring with 25 points, ranks second in the Ivy League in field goals made (five) and fifth in the Ivy League in both PAT kicking (13-14) and kick scoring (25 points).
 
DELORENZI SETS COLUMBIA CAREER SACKS RECORD
 
With his 2.0 sacks against CCSU on Oct. 12 senior defensive end Daniel DeLorenzi set Columbia's all-time career sacks record. He entered the game needing 1.5 sacks to break the record and now holds the record outright with 20.0 sacks, which was previously held by Lou Miller, who finished with 19.0 from 2006-09.
 
Last year, DeLorenzi earned First Team All-Ivy League honors after he registered 9.5 sacks for 56 yards, led the Ivy League and ranked No. 12 nationally in sacks per game (0.95). His 9.5 sacks established a new season record for sacks at Columbia. DeLorenzi has led the Lions in sacks in each of his previous three seasons at Columbia.
 
COLUMBIA, LIONS PLAYERS AMONG 2019 NATIONAL STATISTICAL LEADERS
 
After five games, Columbia is ranked among the nation's top-25 FCS teams in 18 different team statistical categories in 2019. According to the NCAA statistics, Columbia ranked:

• No. 1 in blocked punts allowed (0).
• No. 2 in red zone defense (0.583).
• No. 3 in first downs defense (83).
• No. 3 in punt return average (21.33).
• No. 4 in fewest penalties (23).
• No. 4 in fewest penalty yards (220).
• No. 10 in scoring defense (17.8).
• No. 10 in blocked kicks (3).
• No. 15 in fewest penalties per game (4.60).
• No. 18 in total defense (324.8).
• No. 18 in team sacks (2.80).
• No. 20 in rushing defense (110.0).
• No. 20 in team passing efficiency defense (117.96).
• No. 21 in fumbles lost (3).
• No. 22 in fourth down conversion defense (37.5).
• No. 21 in kickoff returns (23.73).
• No. 22 in fewest penalty yards per game (44.0).
• No. 23 in third down conversion defense (32.4).

 
     Individually, the Lions rank among the top-25 national statistical leaders in four categories:

• Mike Roussos, No. 1 in punt return touchdowns (1).
• Mike Roussos, No. 2 in punt returns (21.3).
• Will Allen, No. 2 in blocked kicks (2).
• Mike Roussos, No. 19 in combined kick returns (453).

 
LIONS LEAD IVY LEAGUE IN THREE STATISTICAL CATEGORIES
 
Columbia enters week six leading the Ivy League in three total categories including team punt return average (21.3), red zone defense (58.3, 7-12) and Mike Roussos leads the conference in kickoff return average (23.7).
 
COLUMBIA NOTES FROM 44-6 HOMECOMING WIN OVER PENN
 
THE WIN

• Gave Columbia its largest Homecoming win in school history (38 points). Previously, Columbia's largest win on Homecoming was a 35-0 victory over Harvard on Oct. 6, 1951.
• Gave Columbia its largest margin of victory in a game (38 points) since a 38-0 victory at Princeton on Oct. 3, 2009.
• Tied for Columbia's second largest win in Ivy League play (38 points). The largest Ivy League win in school history is a 50-0 win at Brown on Sept. 30, 1961.
• Tied for the third largest home win in school history since 1945 (38 points).
• Tied for the largest Ivy League home win in school history (38 points) with a 44-6 win vs. Cornell on Oct. 29, 1960.
• Gave the Lions their largest victory in the 99-game history vs. Penn. Previously, Columbia's largest win vs. Penn was a 37-6 victory over the Quakers in 1961.
• Gave the Lions their third victory in their last four Homecoming Games.
• Gave Columbia its second victory over Penn in the last three years. Prior to that streak, Columbia had lost 20 consecutive games vs. Penn.
• Gave Al Bagnoli his second career win vs. Penn. As Penn's coach, Bagnoli went 20-3 vs. Columbia.
• Gave Columbia its 10th win in its last 17 games and 17th victory in its last 26 contests dating back to the 2016 season
• Improved Columbia to 27-18 in games played vs. Penn in New York City.
• Improved Columbia to 1-1 in Ivy League play and 2-3 in overall games.

 
TEAM NOTES

• With its 44 points, Columbia scored its most points in a game since Oct. 21, 2000 when it defeated Dartmouth 49-21.
• Columbia held Penn to six points. The last time Columbia held Penn to under 10 points was on Oct. 3, 1981, a 20-9 Lions victory.
• The last time Columbia held a team to six points or less was on Nov. 18, 2017 when it defeated Brown 24-6.
• Columbia led 17-0 at halftime. The 17-point lead represented Columbia's largest halftime lead since it led by 38 points at Marist (38-0) on Oct. 7, 2017
• The last time Columbia rushed for four touchdowns was at Brown (4) on Nov. 10, 2018.
• Columbia rushed for 255 yards today. The last time Columbia rushed for over 200 yards in a game was at Cornell on Nov. 17, 2017 (203 yards). The Lions entered the game with only 273 rushing yards through their first four games.
• In the first half alone, Columbia rushed for more yards (122) than it had rushed for combining each of the previous three games (116 yards vs. Georgetown, Princeton and Central Connecticut State).
• Columbia scored six touchdowns on the afternoon. The last time the Lions scored six touchdowns was at Brown on Nov. 10, 2018.
• Penn was held to just 93 yards rushing on 28 carries. The Quakers entered the game as the Ivy League team leader in rushing with a 223.0 yards per game average.
• Columbia broke up 11 passes on the day.
• Today's attendance of 10,452 ranked as the 14th largest Homecoming Game attendance since Lawrence A. Wien Stadium opened in 1984.
• Columbia hosted its 75th annual Homecoming Game this afternoon.

 
PLAYER NOTES

• Sophomore Ty Lenhart was named the John Toner Homecoming Player of the Game. He became the second offensive player to earn the award since its inception in 2009.
• Lenhart made his first start of the year at quarterback and the fourth start of his career. Lenhart finished with 253 total yards, including a career-high 95 yards rushing on 11 carries and 158 yards passing on 14 of 20 passes.
• Lenhart scored two rushing touchdowns including his eighth and ninth career on two 1-yard runs (second quarter and fourth quarter). Lenhart also ran for two longest runs of his career, a 23-yard scamper in the second quarter and a 29-yard run in the third quarter.
• Lenhart's 95 rushing yards rank as the 12th most rushing yards in a game for a quarterback in school history.
• Sophomore Mike Roussos registered career-highs for receptions (four) and receiving yards (92). On the first play from scrimmage, Roussos caught the longest pass of his career on a 47-yard flea flicker pass from Ty Lenhart. He led the Lions with 103 all-purpose yards.
• Sophomore Dante Miller scored his first touchdown of the season on a 17-yard run in the second quarter. It was his second career touchdown and he finished with 28 yards on six carries.
• Junior Broderick Taylor scored the first touchdown of his career in the third quarter when he ran for an 11-yard TD to give the Lions a 23-0 lead. He finished with 25 yards on five carries.
• Sophomore Ernest Robertson made his first career catch in the first quarter. He finished with a career-high two catches for 11 yards.
• Rory Schlageter scored his first touchdown of the year on an 11-yard pass from Ty Lenhart. It was Schlageter's third career touchdown reception. He caught two passes or 17 yards.
• First-year Alex Felkins kicked a 43-yard field goal and registered touchbacks on six of seven kickoffs. He also finished with eight points on the day.
• First-year linebacker Scott Valentas led the Lions with seven tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. It was his first career start.
• Sophomore Fara'ad McCombs intercepted his first pass of the season and second of his career.
• Senior cornerback Ben McKeighan broke up three passes and made three tackles on the day.
• Junior Luke Adams scored the first touchdown of his career on a 20-yard fumble recovery return. He became the first Columbia player to score on a fumble recovery in 40 games and since Max Keefe scored on a 2-yard fumble return vs. Wagner on Oct. 10, 2015.
• Sophomore Paul Akere registered his first career sack.
• Junior Cooper Wilson registered a sack and forced fumble which was recovered by senior Daniel DeLorenzi.
• Junior Will Allen blocked a point after attempt. It marked Allen's fourth career blocked kick. He moves into second place on Columbia's all-time career blocked kicks list and is tied with Marcellus Wiley with our (1993-96). The record is seven blocked kicks held by Mark Calveric (1991-93).

 
ABOUT DARTMOUTH
 
Dartmouth enters its contest against Columbia ranked No. 16 in the AFCA poll and No. 17 in the STATS FCS national poll. The Big Green sit atop the Ivy League standings with a 5-0 overall record and 2-0  Ivy League records.
 
Through five games, Dartmouth has outscored its opponents 192-41, averaged 38.4 points per game and limited opponents to 8.2 points per game.
 
Quarterback Jared Gerbino leads the Big Green in both rushing (225 yards, 6.1 average) and passing (640 yards while completing 41 of 57 passes. Gerbino has thrown nine touchdown passes and completed 71.9 percent of his passes. Derek Kyler has also thrown for 394 yards (28-38).
 
Other rushers include Dakari Falconer (194 yards, two TD) and Caylin Parker (138 yards, four TD).
 
Drew Estrada leads the team in receiving with 20 catches for 466 yards, six touchdowns and a 23.3 yards per catch average. He averages 93.2 yards receiving per game. Hunter Hagdorn (13 catches for 146 yards, 2TD), Zach Bair (nine catches for 117 yards, TD) and Dale Chesson (seven catches for 52 yards) are other top targets.
 
Dartmouth's defense has limited opponents to 8.2 points per game, 121.0 yards rushing per game and 173.0 yards passing per game. The Big Green is led by Nigel Alexander (32 tackles, 3.0 TFL), John Pupel (28 tackles, two breakups), Jack Traynor (27 tackles, 2 INT, 2.5 TFL, FR) and Jackson Perry (21 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks).