Football Falls to Brown in Overtime

Saturday, November 11

New York, N.Y.

12:30 P.M.

Columbia

2-7 , 0-6

Brown

5-4 , 3-3

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT	Final F
Brown	0	7	0	7	7	21
Columbia	7	0	0	7	0	14

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Lem Photography

11/11/2023 5:01:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights Final Book (PDF)Photo Gallery

Brown scored first in overtime and held on to take a 21-14 win

NEW YORK — Columbia and Brown had to play an overtime game for the second consecutive year. Unfortunately, for the Lions, the result was not the same as the Bears came away with a 21-14 victory Saturday. After the defeat, the Lions dropped to 2-7 overall and 0-6 in Ivy League play.

Joe Green completed 17 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown. Caden Bell also stepped in and completed two passes for 48 yards and a touchdown. JJ Jenkins led the offense by hauling four receptions for 70 yards and two touchdowns.

"At some point, you want to be celebrating a result and not our effort," interim Mark Fabish said. "But it's hard to ignore the effort our guys play here. Obviously, you want to be sitting here with a better record after week nine, and I can only imagine how hard they'd be playing if it was flipped."

"It's been a privilege to be a part of our seniors' ride the last three years," Fabish continued. "From getting to know them over Zoom their freshman year and seeing their resilience throughout their time here has been just marvelous to be a part of."

With the score tied 14-14 and 5:50 on the clock, Columbia had a chance to win the game in regulation. The Lions drove to the Brown 33 before a Ty'son Edwards rush was stopped short and the Lions faced fourth down. Green targeted Jenkins, but the pass was broken up and Brown (5-4, 3-3) reclaimed possession. The Bears took over with 27 seconds remaining in regulation and reached midfield before time ran out, and the game went to overtime.

The Lions won the coin toss and started on defense in overtime. Brown started the overtime with a four-yard rush and a nine-yard reception from Wes Rockett to secure a first down. Facing third down on the 11-yard line, Willcox found Graham Walker for a touchdown to put the Bears in front for good. Columbia could not achieve a first down as Green's pass on fourth down was broken up to end the game.

On Columbia's first drive of the game, it opened up the playbook, running reverses, laterals, and misdirection in a 15-play, 78-yard scoring drive to take the early lead. The Lions converted on four third-down chances, and JJ Jenkins hauled in an 11-yard touchdown pass with 6:22 left in the first quarter.

Brown flipped the field position battle on its first drive and evened things up early in the second quarter. The drive was keyed by a pass interference call by the Lions, and Nate Lussier punched it in from 3 yards out on the first play of the frame.

From there, both defenses dug in and limited each other's scoring chances. At the end of the first half, the Bears lined up for a field goal, but Aaron Brebnor came up with a block to keep things even at the half.

After a scoreless third, Brown took the lead on a four-yard run from Stockton Owen with 12:51 to go in regulation. The key play was a conversion on 4th and 11 when Jake Wilcox fit one through traffic to Mark Mahoney up the gut.

Green came through with a big play on a 35-yard scramble to start the next Columbia drive, and two plays later, Caden Bell threw a deep ball to Jenkins over the middle for a 32-yard touchdown catch with 10:33 remaining in regulation.

Brown took over after the Columbia touchdown and used a no-huddle attack to drive down the field with the clock winding. Facing third down at the Columbia 28-yard line, Wilcox completed a six-yard pass to Jordan McIntyre. On fourth and two, Wilcox tried to find McIntyre, but Anthony Roussos stepped in to break up the pass and give the Lions the ball back.

Defensively, Roussos led the way with 13 tackles, including two for a loss. Rocco Milia added 10 tackdowns and Justin Townsend was credited with a pair of sacks. Townsend now ranks No. 11 all-time on Columbia's career sack list with 11.5 in two-plus seasons.

The Lions wrap up the 2023 campaign on Saturday, November 18, when they take on Cornell in Ithaca, New York. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

For the latest on the Columbia football team, follow @CULionsFB on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.

POSTGAME NOTES
- Columbia honored its 32-member senior class prior to the game.
- This was the second straight year Columbia and Brown have played overtime.
- Columbia scored a touchdown on its first possession for the second time this season.