Football is ready for Friday night clash at Dartmouth

Soccer
22/10/2025 15:00:00

The Lions will open a two-game road series in Hanover on national television

NEW YORK – Columbia Football (1-4, 0-2) returns to action this Friday, Oct. 24, when it faces Dartmouth (4-1, 1-1), which receives votes in the AFCA Coaches Poll, in Hanover, New Hampshire. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. on ESPNU, with Eric Frede handling play-by-play and Jack Ford serving as analyst.

OPENING TRAINING
• Columbia will begin a two-game road series in New England when it takes on Dartmouth on Friday night.
• Friday will mark the Lions’ second of three appearances on ESPNU.
• The Lions are coming off a 35-21 homecoming loss to Penn last weekend.
• Justin Townsend leads the Ivy League in sacks (4.0) and tackles for loss (8.5). He is tied for fifth in the FCS in TFL per game.

A VICTORY IN COLUMBIA WOULD BE…
• End a three-game losing streak.
• Being Columbia’s first Ivy League win of the season.
• Give the Lions their first victory in Hannover since 2021.

SERIES HISTORY
Columbia and Dartmouth will meet for the 95th time in a series that dates back to 1899. The Big Green are 73-20-1 all-time against the Lions, including three straight wins and winning five of the last six meetings.

Columbia’s last win against Dartmouth was a 19-0 shutout at Hanover on October 22, 2021. The Lions’ last home victory against the Big Green was a 9-7 decision on October 22, 2016.

A RETURN IN RETURN…
Dartmouth jumped out to an early lead and held off a fourth-quarter push by Columbia to secure a 24-21 victory. The Big Green took a 24-7 advantage early in the second half. Running back Q Jones led the charge with 182 rushing yards on 19 carries, including a 35-yard touchdown run. DJ Crowther added another rushing touchdown to extend Dartmouth’s lead.

After trailing for most of the way, Columbia found its momentum late. Cole Freeman led the charge with two touchdown passes to senior receiver Bryson Cantywho caught eight passes for 90 yards. The Lions’ offense got within three points after Canty’s 7-yard touchdown run with 34 seconds remaining, capping a 58-yard drive.

DARTMOUTH STATUS
• Dartmouth is coming off a 30-13 victory over Fordham. The Big Green used a 24-point second half to pull away from the Rams and secure the victory. Grayson Saunier threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns, Grayson O’Bara recorded 104 yards and caught a touchdown pass, and Luke Rives recorded his first collegiate receiving touchdown.
• Sammy McCorkle is in his third season at the helm of the Big Green and his 21st season overall at Dartmouth. Dartmouth finished 8-2 last season, going 5-2 in Ivy League Play. The Big Green won a share of the Ivy League championship for its second straight title.
• Dartmouth’s offense averages 422 yards per game. The Big Green’s 4.9 yards per carry leads the Ivy League, while DJ Crowther is second in rushing touchdowns (7) and yards per game (93.8). Grayson O’Bara is tied for third in receptions (27), and Ky’Dric Fisher leads the Ancient Eight in yards per catch (22.7).
• Dartmouth’s defense allows more than 330 yards per game. Sean Williams is tied for the Ivy League lead in interceptions (3), Zyion Freer-Brown leads the Big Green in total tackles (38) and Thaddeus Gianaris is Dartmouth’s leader in tackles for loss (5) and sacks (2.5).
• Owen Zalc has been a force on the Big Green’s special teams. Zalc earned back-to-back Ivy League Special Teams Player honors after recording three field goals and three extra points in Dartmouth’s win at Fordham. Zalc recorded a career-high twelve points against the Rams, following a spectacular performance against Yale that included a game-winning field goal.

REMAINS OF PENN
• The Lions set a season high with 21 points, but Penn rusher Jared Richardson threw for 157 yards and three touchdowns, including two in the second half, to give the Quakers a 35-21 victory and spoil Columbia’s comeback.
• The Lions forced three turnovers in the game, two interceptions and a fumble.
• Caleb Sanchez threw for a career-high 311 yards, going 27 of 47, and added two touchdowns. • Nine different receivers caught a pass in the game.
• Sanchez was named John Toner Player of the Game, awarded to Columbia’s best player at homecoming.
• freshman running back Michael Walters and first year Beckett Robinson scored the first touchdowns of their careers in the victory.
• Second year student Caleb Solomon made seven tackles, had his first interception and forced a fumble.

COLUMBIA/DARTMOUTH CONNECTIONS
• Offensive coordinator of Colombia Seitu Smith spent the 2018 campaign as an offensive quality control assistant.
• Big Green offensive line coach Keith Clark served in the same role with the Lions from 1991-96, helping Columbia go 8-2 in 1996.

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