Saturday, October 14
New York, N.Y.
1:30 P.M.
Columbia University
vs
Penn
Photo by: Columbia University Athletics
Football Faces Penn in Homecoming Battle
10/12/2023 2:13:00 PM | Football
The Lions are looking for four straight home wins against the Quakers
NEW YORK – The Columbia football team will dive back into Ivy League against Penn on Saturday, October 14, 2023 at Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium for its annual homecoming celebration. Columbia has won two of the past three meetings against Penn and the Lions have won the past three meetings at home. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. on SNY. The game will also be streamed online through ESPN+.
THE MATCHUP
Columbia and Penn meet for the 102nd time Saturday for homecoming. This will be the 20th time Columbia hosts Penn for homecoming as the Lions have won the past three straight games against Penn at Wien Stadium. Coming off a loss at Penn last season, the Lions have won two of the past three against Penn. Columbia enters Saturday's contest with a 2-2 overall mark and an 0-1 record in Ivy League play. Penn is 3-1 overall and 0-1 in Ivy League action.
NOTES TO KNOW
• Columbia leads the nation in red zone defense, defensive pass efficiency and scoring defense, allowing just 8.5 points per game.
• On special teams, the Lions lead the nation in kickoff return defense, allowing just 11.6 yards per return.
• Aaron Brebnor ranks No. 9 in the nation in interceptions with 0.5 per game.
• Carter McFadden is No. 8 in the country in punt returns, averaging 18.4 yards per return.
• The Lions' two shutouts this season (Georgetown and Marist) are the most in a season for Columbia since 1972, when they posted three. It is the most at home since 1972, when they registered two and the first back-to-back home shutouts since 1951 (against Harvard and Yale).
• Over the past three games, the Lions have allowed just 10 points, the fewest in a three-game span since posting three consecutive shutouts between the end of the 1950 and the beginning of the 1951 season.
• In two home games this season, Columbia's defense has allowed just 33.5 rushing yards per game.
PENN'S STATUS
The Quakers are coming off a 42-39 overtime win at home against Georgetown last weekend. Malachi Hosley led the Penn rushing attack with 48 yards on six carries for two touchdowns. He also hauled in five catches for 53 yards. The Quakers tallied for rushing touchdowns in the win as Hosley scored two and Liam O'Brien scored two. Bryce Myers led the Quakers in receiving yards with 66 yards on five grabs. John Lista and Jaden Key helped lead the defense with a team-high seven total tackles each. Lista had six solo tackles and recorded a 24-yard interception return.
The passing game has been a highlight of the Penn offense as the Quakers rank 10th in the nation and second in the Ivy League with an average of 301 passing yards per game. The Quakers have a 65.8% pass completion rate, which is 17th in the nation and second in the Ivy League. The Penn defense has been able to slow down its opponents' rushing attack as the unit is allowing an average of just 67 yards per game to rank No. 4 in the nation. Penn is also No. 3 in the nation in first downs defense, allowing just 46 this season.
COLUMBIA ON HOMECOMING
• Columbia will host its homecoming against Penn for the 20th time Saturday. The Lions are 5-14 in homecoming contests against Penn.
• Columbia is 25-55-1 all-time in homecoming games and 14-25 overall in homecoming games played at Wien Stadium.
• The largest win in homecoming history came in 2019 as the Lions posted a 44-6 win over Penn.
• The Lions have won two of their past three homecoming contests after losing to Dartmouth last season. Columbia defeated Penn in 2019 and 2021.
MARIST LEFTOVERS
• William Hughes had a career-long 71-yard punt in the third quarter of the Marist game, which is tied for the fifth-longest in program history.
• With two touchdowns, Ty'son Edwards recorded the first multi-score game of his career against Marist.
• Columbia's offense rushed for 222 yards against Marist, which tied a season-high (September 16 vs. Georgetown).
• Columbia's defense recorded a season-high in sacks (four) and tackles for loss (10) against Marist.
• Columbia's defense also recorded a season-high four turnovers (three interceptions and one fumble) against Marist.
RUSHING TO 100
Two Columbia rushers have surpassed the 100-yard mark this season. Joey Giorgi tallied his third career 100-yard rushing performance against Georgetown as he finished with 120 yards on the ground. Giorgi finished the 2022 season with two 100-yard games. He posted his first with 103 yards and a touchdown at Marist (9/17/22). Giorgi followed that up later in the season with a career-high 159 yards on 22 carries with a 60-yard touchdown run in an overtime win at Brown (11/12/22).
Ty'son Edwards became the second Lion to rush for 100 yards this season as he totaled 103 yards in the win against Marist. Edwards recorded his first 100-yard performance of his career. He also scored two touchdowns to register the first multi-score game of his career.
LIONS EARN A GOOSE EGG
Columbia's 30-0 shutout win over Georgetown on September 23 was the first since a 19-0 win at Dartmouth in 2021. It was the first home shutout since a 24-0 win over Iona in 2006. Additionally, it was Columbia's first shutout in a home opener since 1998 - a 24-0 victory over Harvard.
DEFENSE HOLDING STRONG
Columbia has allowed just 10 points in the past three games, the fewest in a three-game span since posting three consecutive shutouts between the end of the 1950 season and the beginning of the 1951 season. In the past three games, the Lions have shutout Georgetown and Marist, while giving up 10 points in the loss at Princeton.
FORCING TURNOVERS
Columbia has forced six turnovers in the past two games, including a season-high four turnovers (three interceptions and one fumble) against Marist. Aaron Brebnor stepped up to register two interceptions in the win over Marist. Columbia had two turnovers on the road at Princeton as Rocco Milia recovered a fumble and Justin Townsend returned an interception two yards for a touchdown.
CAN'T GET CARTER
Carter McFadden has been a weapon for Columbia in both punt and kickoff returns. The senior currently leads the Ivy League and ranks No. 7 in the country in punt returns with an average of 17.8 yards per return. He also ranks No. 2 in the Ivy League and No. 8 in the country in kickoff returns with an average of 28.2 yards per return.
BILLY BIG FOOT
William Hughes was named Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week after averaging 46.8 yards on four kicks last week against Marist in windy and rainy conditions. Earlier this season, he was selected to the FedEx Ground FCS National Honor Roll after a strong season opener at Lafayette. Hughes averaged 47.8 yards on four punts and pinned the Leopards inside the 20 three times. He also had three kicks that went beyond 50 yards, including a game-long 56-yarder. Last season, Hughes stepped up as Columbia's starting punter for the final four games and averaged 43.6 yards per attempt on 16 kicks to earn All-Ivy League honors.
After four games, Hughes leads the Ivy League and is No. 3 in the country in punting with an average of 45.7 yards per punt. He has boomed six punts over 50 yards, including his season long 71-yarder against Marist, which is also the fifth-longest in program history. Hughes has the knack for pinning opponents deep with seven punts inside the 20 this season.
100TH ANNIVERSARY OF BAKER FIELD
The Columbia football team began playing at Baker Field in 1923. Columbia Athletics is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Baker Field this season. A 32,000-seat wooden stadium was built on the site in 1928. It was in use until 1982, when it was demolished to make room for the current 17,000-seat Lawrence A. Wien Stadium. Baker Field played host to the first live television broadcast of an athletics event on May 17, 1939 as Columbia played Princeton in a baseball game at Robertson Field. New England Patriots owner Robert K. Kraft played at Baker Field on the freshman squad in 1959. In October 2007, the playing surface at Wien Stadium was dedicated as Robert K. Kraft Field.
HONORING BUDDY TEEVENS
Columbia, along with the other eight Ivy League schools will honor former Dartmouth head coach Buddy Teevens, who passes away on September 19 following sustaining injuries in a bicycle accident in March. Each institution will wear a decal with his initials on their football helmets this fall in Coach Teevens' honor.
TICKETS
Tickets start at just $13. Click here to purchase game tickets or call 888-LIONS-11
FOLLOW THE LIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For the latest on the Columbia football team, follow @CULionsFB on Twitter and Instagram, on Facebook and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
THE MATCHUP
Columbia and Penn meet for the 102nd time Saturday for homecoming. This will be the 20th time Columbia hosts Penn for homecoming as the Lions have won the past three straight games against Penn at Wien Stadium. Coming off a loss at Penn last season, the Lions have won two of the past three against Penn. Columbia enters Saturday's contest with a 2-2 overall mark and an 0-1 record in Ivy League play. Penn is 3-1 overall and 0-1 in Ivy League action.
NOTES TO KNOW
• Columbia leads the nation in red zone defense, defensive pass efficiency and scoring defense, allowing just 8.5 points per game.
• On special teams, the Lions lead the nation in kickoff return defense, allowing just 11.6 yards per return.
• Aaron Brebnor ranks No. 9 in the nation in interceptions with 0.5 per game.
• Carter McFadden is No. 8 in the country in punt returns, averaging 18.4 yards per return.
• The Lions' two shutouts this season (Georgetown and Marist) are the most in a season for Columbia since 1972, when they posted three. It is the most at home since 1972, when they registered two and the first back-to-back home shutouts since 1951 (against Harvard and Yale).
• Over the past three games, the Lions have allowed just 10 points, the fewest in a three-game span since posting three consecutive shutouts between the end of the 1950 and the beginning of the 1951 season.
• In two home games this season, Columbia's defense has allowed just 33.5 rushing yards per game.
PENN'S STATUS
The Quakers are coming off a 42-39 overtime win at home against Georgetown last weekend. Malachi Hosley led the Penn rushing attack with 48 yards on six carries for two touchdowns. He also hauled in five catches for 53 yards. The Quakers tallied for rushing touchdowns in the win as Hosley scored two and Liam O'Brien scored two. Bryce Myers led the Quakers in receiving yards with 66 yards on five grabs. John Lista and Jaden Key helped lead the defense with a team-high seven total tackles each. Lista had six solo tackles and recorded a 24-yard interception return.
The passing game has been a highlight of the Penn offense as the Quakers rank 10th in the nation and second in the Ivy League with an average of 301 passing yards per game. The Quakers have a 65.8% pass completion rate, which is 17th in the nation and second in the Ivy League. The Penn defense has been able to slow down its opponents' rushing attack as the unit is allowing an average of just 67 yards per game to rank No. 4 in the nation. Penn is also No. 3 in the nation in first downs defense, allowing just 46 this season.
COLUMBIA ON HOMECOMING
• Columbia will host its homecoming against Penn for the 20th time Saturday. The Lions are 5-14 in homecoming contests against Penn.
• Columbia is 25-55-1 all-time in homecoming games and 14-25 overall in homecoming games played at Wien Stadium.
• The largest win in homecoming history came in 2019 as the Lions posted a 44-6 win over Penn.
• The Lions have won two of their past three homecoming contests after losing to Dartmouth last season. Columbia defeated Penn in 2019 and 2021.
MARIST LEFTOVERS
• William Hughes had a career-long 71-yard punt in the third quarter of the Marist game, which is tied for the fifth-longest in program history.
• With two touchdowns, Ty'son Edwards recorded the first multi-score game of his career against Marist.
• Columbia's offense rushed for 222 yards against Marist, which tied a season-high (September 16 vs. Georgetown).
• Columbia's defense recorded a season-high in sacks (four) and tackles for loss (10) against Marist.
• Columbia's defense also recorded a season-high four turnovers (three interceptions and one fumble) against Marist.
RUSHING TO 100
Two Columbia rushers have surpassed the 100-yard mark this season. Joey Giorgi tallied his third career 100-yard rushing performance against Georgetown as he finished with 120 yards on the ground. Giorgi finished the 2022 season with two 100-yard games. He posted his first with 103 yards and a touchdown at Marist (9/17/22). Giorgi followed that up later in the season with a career-high 159 yards on 22 carries with a 60-yard touchdown run in an overtime win at Brown (11/12/22).
Ty'son Edwards became the second Lion to rush for 100 yards this season as he totaled 103 yards in the win against Marist. Edwards recorded his first 100-yard performance of his career. He also scored two touchdowns to register the first multi-score game of his career.
LIONS EARN A GOOSE EGG
Columbia's 30-0 shutout win over Georgetown on September 23 was the first since a 19-0 win at Dartmouth in 2021. It was the first home shutout since a 24-0 win over Iona in 2006. Additionally, it was Columbia's first shutout in a home opener since 1998 - a 24-0 victory over Harvard.
DEFENSE HOLDING STRONG
Columbia has allowed just 10 points in the past three games, the fewest in a three-game span since posting three consecutive shutouts between the end of the 1950 season and the beginning of the 1951 season. In the past three games, the Lions have shutout Georgetown and Marist, while giving up 10 points in the loss at Princeton.
FORCING TURNOVERS
Columbia has forced six turnovers in the past two games, including a season-high four turnovers (three interceptions and one fumble) against Marist. Aaron Brebnor stepped up to register two interceptions in the win over Marist. Columbia had two turnovers on the road at Princeton as Rocco Milia recovered a fumble and Justin Townsend returned an interception two yards for a touchdown.
CAN'T GET CARTER
Carter McFadden has been a weapon for Columbia in both punt and kickoff returns. The senior currently leads the Ivy League and ranks No. 7 in the country in punt returns with an average of 17.8 yards per return. He also ranks No. 2 in the Ivy League and No. 8 in the country in kickoff returns with an average of 28.2 yards per return.
BILLY BIG FOOT
William Hughes was named Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week after averaging 46.8 yards on four kicks last week against Marist in windy and rainy conditions. Earlier this season, he was selected to the FedEx Ground FCS National Honor Roll after a strong season opener at Lafayette. Hughes averaged 47.8 yards on four punts and pinned the Leopards inside the 20 three times. He also had three kicks that went beyond 50 yards, including a game-long 56-yarder. Last season, Hughes stepped up as Columbia's starting punter for the final four games and averaged 43.6 yards per attempt on 16 kicks to earn All-Ivy League honors.
After four games, Hughes leads the Ivy League and is No. 3 in the country in punting with an average of 45.7 yards per punt. He has boomed six punts over 50 yards, including his season long 71-yarder against Marist, which is also the fifth-longest in program history. Hughes has the knack for pinning opponents deep with seven punts inside the 20 this season.
100TH ANNIVERSARY OF BAKER FIELD
The Columbia football team began playing at Baker Field in 1923. Columbia Athletics is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Baker Field this season. A 32,000-seat wooden stadium was built on the site in 1928. It was in use until 1982, when it was demolished to make room for the current 17,000-seat Lawrence A. Wien Stadium. Baker Field played host to the first live television broadcast of an athletics event on May 17, 1939 as Columbia played Princeton in a baseball game at Robertson Field. New England Patriots owner Robert K. Kraft played at Baker Field on the freshman squad in 1959. In October 2007, the playing surface at Wien Stadium was dedicated as Robert K. Kraft Field.
HONORING BUDDY TEEVENS
Columbia, along with the other eight Ivy League schools will honor former Dartmouth head coach Buddy Teevens, who passes away on September 19 following sustaining injuries in a bicycle accident in March. Each institution will wear a decal with his initials on their football helmets this fall in Coach Teevens' honor.
TICKETS
Tickets start at just $13. Click here to purchase game tickets or call 888-LIONS-11
FOLLOW THE LIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For the latest on the Columbia football team, follow @CULionsFB on Twitter and Instagram, on Facebook and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Players Mentioned
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