GAME 8
HARVARD (4-3, 2-2 Ivy League) at COLUMBIA (2-5, 1-3 Ivy League)
Saturday, November 9, 2019 • 1 p.m. ET • Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium • New York, N.Y.
 

---

THE FACTS
 
Television: SNY/ESPN+ (Lance Medow and Landon Baty; Producer: Sol Steinberg) | Watch Live on ESPN+
 
Columbia Online Radio Network: simulcast on www.gocolumbialions.com | Listen Live
 
Live Stats: www.gocolumbialions.com | Live Stats
 
Coaches: Columbia- Al Bagnoli, 5th year at Columbia (21-26), 37th year overall (256-124). Harvard- Tim Murphy, 26^th year at Harvard (178-78), 33^rd year overall (210-123-1).
 
Series: Columbia and Harvard meet for the 78^th time in series history. Harvard has won 15 of the 18 meetings between the two schools at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium. The last time Columbia defeated Harvard was a 16-13 victory at Wien Stadium on Nov. 8, 2003. Harvard has won 15 straight games in the series.
 

---

GAME NOTES
 
NEW YORK—Columbia (2-5, 1-3 Ivy League) continues its 149th anniversary year and 129th season of college football when it hosts Harvard (4-3, 2-2 Ivy League) for its seventh game of the 2019 season on Saturday, Nov. 9 at Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
 
The contest will be broadcast live on SportsnetNY (SNY) and streamed live on ESPN+ with Lance Medow (play-by-play) and Landon Baty '19CC (color commentary) calling the action. Sol Steinberg will produce. The Columbia Online Radio Network will also provide a free audio-only simulcast broadcast on its website (www.gocolumbialions.com)
 
ABOUT THE LIONS
 
Columbia is 2-5 on the season and 1-3 in Ivy League play after dropping a 45-10 loss at Yale last Saturday. Yale led 21-3 at halftime and scored 31 straight points to take a commanding third quarter lead. Sophomore Mike Roussos led the Lions with 175 all-purpose yards, including a career-long 38-yard reception and a 53-yard kickoff return, and sophomore Mozes Mooney scored his first career touchdown and set career-highs for receptions (four) and receiving yards (53).
 
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.
 
LIONS SCHEDULE PROVES TO BE VERY DIFFICULT
 
Columbia has played an extremely difficult schedule this year. The Lions' five losses have come to teams who have compiled a 33-6 overall record this year: Central Connecticut State 8-1, Dartmouth 7-0, Princeton 7-0, Georgetown 5-4, and Yale 6-1. Three of those teams are currently ranked in national polls: No. 12 Princeton (7-0), No. 15 Dartmouth (7-0) and No. 19 Central Connecticut State (8-1).
 
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 its 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.
 
SCOTT VALENTAS, MIKE ROUSSOS EARN IVY LEAGUE WEEKLY AWARDS
 
Two Columbia football players earned Ivy League weekly honors as sophomore Mike Roussos is the Ivy League's Special Teams Player of the Week and first-year linebacker Scott Valentas is its Rookie of the Week. The conference office announced the honors on Monday, Nov. 4 for week seven of the 2019 season.
 
Roussos earns the Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week award for the fourth time in his career and third time this season. On Saturday at Yale, Roussos led the Lions with 175 all-purpose yards (one rushing yard, 70 receiving yards on five receptions, 75 on kickoff returns, 29 on punt returns) and finished with 104 total return yards. On his 53-yard kickoff return on the opening kickoff, Roussos set a school-record for most 50-yard returns in a career with his sixth 50-yard return. The previous record was five 50-yard returns, held by Eugene Rossides from 1945-48. Roussos also caught a career-long 38-yard pass.
 
On the year, Roussos ranks No. 2 in the nation in both punt returns (20.3 average, 11-223) and punt return touchdowns (1) and No. 4 nationally in combined kick returns (736). He leads the Ivy League in all-purpose yards per game (145.9), punt return average (20.3) and ranks No. 2 in kickoff return average (24.4). He also leads the Lions in both all-purpose yardage (1,021 yards) and rushing touchdowns (three), and ranks second on the team in scoring (five touchdowns for 30 points), receptions (21) and receiving yards (280). Roussos is a native of New Port Richey, Fla. and is enrolled at Columbia College.
 
A Wichita, Kansas native, Valentas earns Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors after he led the Lions' defense with career-highs in both tackles (eight) and tackles for loss (3.0-4 yards) and registered his first career interception at the end of the second quarter at Yale.
 
On the year, Valentas ranks third on the team in tackles with 31 (17 solo), leads the Lions in tackles for loss (6.0-12), and has intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble in three starts at linebacker. In Ivy League statistics, he ranks No. 34 in tackles and No. 9 in tackles for loss. Valentas is enrolled at Columbia College.
 
COLUMBIA, LIONS PLAYERS AMONG 2019 NATIONAL STATISTICAL LEADERS
 
After seven games, Columbia is ranked among the nation's top-25 FCS teams in seven different team statistical categories in 2019. According to the NCAA statistics, Columbia ranked:

• No. 2 in punt returns (20.27).
• No. 4 in first downs defense (128).
• No. 7 in fewest penalties (37).
• No. 10 in fewest penalty yards (329).
• No. 17 in blocked kicks (3).
• No. 17 in fumbles recovered (8).
• No. 19 in kickoff returns (23.32).

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

• Mike Roussos, No. 2 in punt returns (20.3).
• Mike Roussos, No. 2 in punt return touchdowns (1).
• Will Allen, No. 4 in blocked kicks (2).
• Mike Roussos, No. 4 in combined kick returns (736).

 
COLUMBIA NOTES FROM 45-10 LOSS AT YALE
 
THE LOSS

• Gave Columbia its second straight loss.
• Gave Columbia its second straight loss at Yale.

 
TEAM NOTES

• Columbia's 10 points tied a season-low. The Lions also scored 10 points at No. 23/25 Princeton on Oct. 5.
• Columbia finished with a season-low 193 total offensive yards.
• Columbia's 19-play, 79-yard scoring drive in the first and second quarter, which ended in a 29-yard field goal by Alex Felkins, marked the longest in terms of plays this year for Columbia. It also ranked as the second-longest scoring drive in school history. Columbia had a 21-play drive last year vs. Marist.
• Columbia yielded season-highs of 580 total offensive yards, 433 passing yards, and 27 first downs.
• The turnovers were tied at 2-2.
• Columbia's defense totaled 9.0 tackles for loss for 24 yards. It ranked as the second-highest total of the year for the Lions.
• Columbia finished with three sacks for 15 yards on the day. Daniel DeLorenzi (1-10), Cameren Carter (1-4), and Alex Robin (1-1) registered the sacks.

 
PLAYER NOTES

• With his 53-yard opening kickoff return, sophomore Mike Roussos set a school-record for most returns of 50 yards or more in a career. He now has six 50-yard returns in his career and surpasses the previous record of five set by Eugene Rossides (1945-58).
• Roussos finished the day with 175 all-purpose yards including a team-high five receptions for 70 yards, two rushes for one yards, 75 kickoff return yards on two attempts and a 29-yard punt return.
• Sophomore Mozes Mooney caught his first career touchdown pass on a 23-yard TD from Ty Lenhart in the fourth quarter. He finished with career-highs for catches (five) and receiving yards (53).
• Sophomore quarterback Ty Lenhart started his third straight game and sixth career game at quarterback. He finished with 17 completions on 38 attempts for 165 yards, one touchdown and an interception.
• First-year linebacker Scott Valentas led the Lions with a career-high eight tackles, a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss for four yards and intercepted the first pass of his career at end of the second quarter.
• Junior safety Ben Mathiasmeier registered eight tackles and a pass breakup.
• Sophomore John Harris forced the first fumble of his career in the third quarter. Harris finished with six tackles.
• Sophomore Fara'ad McCombs recovered his first career fumble in the third quarter. He returned it 17 yards.
• First-year Jack Ertz earned his first start of his career at wide receiver.
• Senior Kaleb Pitts made his first start of the season at wide receiver. He finished with one catch for seven yards.
• First-year Alex Felkins converted his third consecutive field goal, a 29-yarder in the first quarter. He is now 6-9 on the year and with his four points on the day, continues to lead Columbia in scoring with 39 points.

 
MIKE ROUSSOS SETS SCHOOL-RECORD FOR MOST 50-YARD RETURNS
 
Sophomore Mike Roussos set a Columbia school record for most combined returns of over 50-yards as he ran for a 53-yard return on the opening kickoff Saturday at Yale.
 
Roussos needs just one touchdown to set a school-record for most career return touchdowns. He currently has three return touchdowns and is tied with four other players. Ironically, Roussos has only played 15 career games.
 
Here is a look at the top-three players in school history in terms of most 50-yard returns:
1.       Mike Roussos (2018-current)           6
          (87 kor, 91 pr, 56 pr, 55 pr, 54 kor, 53-kor)
2.       Eugene Rossides (1945-48)             5
          (86 pr, 70 pr, 70 pr, 53 pr, 55 int)
3.       Travis Chmelka (2000-03)                4
          (91 pr, 59 pr, 59 pr, 57 pr)
 
ABOUT HARVARD
 
Harvard enters its game against Columbia on a two-game losing streak after dropping games to No. 13 Princeton (30-24) and No. 14 Dartmouth (9-6).
 
Quarterback Jake Smith has completed 61.9 percent (120 of 194) of his passes for 1,574 yards and 15 touchdowns. He is averaging 224.9 yards passing per game.
 
Devin Darrington leads the Crimson in rushing with 650 yards and seven touchdowns on 142 carries. He is joined in the back field by Aidan Borguet, who has three touchdowns, and 313 yards on 60 carries (5.3 average).
 
Cody Chrest leads the Crimson in receiving with 450 yards and four touchdowns on 31 catches, while Jack Cook has caught 26 passes for 436 yards and five touchdowns.
 
On defense, Harvard is led by Cameron Kline (40 tackles, 3.5 TFL), Jordan Hill (32 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 FR), Cole Thompson (31 tackles, 2 BrUp) and Max Jones (28 tackles, 5 BrUp, 1INT).
 
Harvard secondary coach Jon Poppe spent three seasons (2015-17) as Columbia's defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator.