The Lions and Bulldogs will face off in primetime on ESPNU
https://gocolumbialions.com/documents/2022/10/25/GameNotes_YALE.pdf
NEW YORK – The Columbia football team is set to wrap up a string of four home games in five weeks when it takes on Yale on Friday, October 28 for a 6:30 p.m. contest on ESPNU. The Lions (3-3, 0-3) will host their first night game since 2018. GoColumbiaLions.com will have live audio as well.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
1. The Lions remain at the top of the nation in rushing defense, holding teams to 54.5 rushing yards per game.
2. Ryan Young enters the game sitting fourth all time on Columbia’s all-time rushing list with a career total of 1,631 rushing yards.
3. Justin Townsend’s six sacks places him sixth on Columbia’s single season sacks list.
4. This is the second night game of the season for the Lions, with Columbia taking its first of the season, 38-3, in the season opener at Marist.
THE MATCHUP
Friday’s game between Yale (4-2, 2-1) and Columbia will be the first game under the lights at Robert K. Kraft Field at Wien Stadium since 2018 when the Lions hosted Princeton. The national stage will be set on ESPNU for the 100th meeting all-time between the two Ivy League programs and Yale enters the game with a 75-22-2 advantage. In New York, Yale is 31-12 all-time, and 13-5 at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium, but the last time Yale visited New York City the Lions came away with a 17-10 win in 2018. This is also the first time since 2016 that Columbia has hosted Yale on a Friday night matchup under the lights. Yale won the previous two meetings between these two programs, in 2019 and 2021, with both games being played at Yale.
LIONS TURN ON THE LIGHTS
The Lions will play its second night game of season when they host Yale, and its the first night game at home since 2018. Columbia won its first night game of the season, a 38-3 win over Marist in the season opener and in 2021, the Lions beat Dartmouth in their lone night game of that season. Columbia is 10-16 all-time in night games.
HONORING THE PAST
Prior to the homecoming contest, Columbia Athletics celebrated the 75th Anniversary of the Lions, 21-20, upset victory over Army in 1947 that halted Army’s 32-game winning streak. Columbia welcomed back one of the two living players from that squad, Bill Olson ’49CC, for a special presentation to commemorate the achievement.
WILD FINISH
Columbia and Dartmouth battled to the finish in the 81st Homecoming game, with Dartmouth hitting a game winning field goal in the final seconds to come away with a 27-24 win. The Lions had scored 15 straight points over the end of the third and into the fourth quarter to draw even with the Big Green, but the field goal in the final seconds gave Dartmouth the win.
FOREVER YOUNG
Ryan Young rushed for 120 yards on 21 carries in Columbia’s loss against Dartmouth (10/22). It was his second game this season with at least 100 rushing yards and the second of his career.
TOWNSEND CAN’T BE BLOCKED
Racking up six sacks so far this season, he collected 1.5 sacks against Dartmouth and he forced a fumble late in the game. Townsend’s six sacks places him first in the nation and he sits sixth all-time in program history for sacks in a single season.
RUSH DEFENSE KEEPS ROARING … THE NATION HEARS IT
The Columbia rushing defense has been solid all year, holding teams to under 50 yards rushing in three out of their five games this year. The solid run defense places them first in the country in rushing yards allowed, allowing only 54.5 yards per game over the season.CAPTAINS’ CORNER PODCAST
Season four of the Columbia Football podcast returned this fall, featuring captains Mitch Moyer, Stew Newblatt, Scott Valentas and Ryan Young. The guys and co-hosts Aliyah Funschelle and Kyle Mattracion give fans an inside look at the program. New episodes premiere on Wednesdays on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Search for Columbia Athletics and subscribe today!
BUY TICKETS FOR UPCOMING HOME GAMES
Season and single-game tickets are on sale and can be purchased by visiting www.gocolumbialions.com/tickets or calling 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.
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