STATEN ISLAND. N.Y. — The Columbia football team used a quick start to build an early lead and never looked back in a 24-6 victory over Wagner on Saturday. The Lions (3-1) rushed for 228 yards, keyed by 111 by
Joey Giorgi, who added a touchdown.
Malcolm Terry II also had a strong day, racking up 77 yards on 12 carries with a long of 31. Carter McFadden posted two interceptions in the second half, posted a pass breakup and added five tackles. Jack Smiechowski led the defense with seven takedowns.
"Today was a whole team effort," Patricia & Shepard Alexander Head Coach of Football
Jon Poppe said. "Our offense ran the ball well for the most part, which controlled the clock, and then the defense got some big stops early to set the tone. We were able to limit their explosive plays, made stops when we needed two and did a great job of getting off the field and points off the board."
Columbia had four rushes of over 20 yards in the first half and scored on four of its first five possessions to race out to a 24-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Giorgi opened the scoring after going off the right tackle for a 22-yard score with just 2:38 into the game.
On Columbia's second scoring drive, a 29-yard Giorgi rush led to a 12-yard Dougherty touchdown catch. Goodwin found his tight end inside the five on third down before Dougherty plowed his way into the endzone with 3:33 left in first.
A reverse flea-flicker to Dougherty highlighted a 67-yard scoring drive that was capped by Griffin Johnson's first career touchdown, an 11-yard rush to make it 21-0. Columbia followed with a big fourth down stop deep in Wagner territory, which led to a Hugo Merry 30-yard field goal with 7:07 remaining in the second quarter.
Wagner got on the board after a short punt gave them the ball at midfield with under two minutes left in the half. Mark Didio, Jr. caught a nine-yard touchdown pass with 1:28 left in the half to get the Seahawks on the board. Wagner went for two, but the try was batted down to keep it 24-6.
The Seahawks moved the ball better in the second half, but a pair of fourth-down stops by Columbia and costly penalties prevented them from getting any closer. Wagner had one last chance with just over 2:00 remaining before McFadden iced things with a pick in the endzone, and Columbia ran out the clock.
The Lions return to Ivy League play next Saturday, October 19, at Penn. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Franklin Field. Fans can catch the action on ESPN+.
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.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Giorgi is the first Columbia running back to rush for over 100 yards in back-to-back games since Dante Miller in 2021.
- Merry tied Columbia's record for most consecutive field goals made with his eighth straight make, tying him with Oren Milstein.
- The Lions rushed for over 200 yards for the third time this season, all victories.
- Columbia secured a winning non-conference record for the eighth consecutive season.
- Jon Poppe earned his first road win as head coach of the Lions.
