Lions look to avoid first winless year since 1987

When the Columbia football team (0-9, 0-6) takes the field tomorrow for the last time this season, it will be extra special for the 24 seniors on the team. It will be the last day that the team’s leaders strap on their pads, don a light blue jersey, and take the field as Lions.

Though this season has been far from a dream come true, the seniors plan on ignoring the past nine games.

“We all know that this season hasn’t gone as we planned. However we fully intend on playing our best football on Saturday and securing a win in our final game at our home field.” senior captain Ross Morand said. “Look for the Lions to come out hot, playing with passion and heart as we have all season long.”

However, standing between the Light Blue and a season with a win are the Brown Bears (6-2, 4-2), who are currently tied for second in the league.

The Bears are set to pose a big challenge to the winless Light Blue, starting with their offensive attack. Brown quarterback Kyle Newhall-Caballero is an experienced player with ability in the pocket.
“He’s a really good player,” said Columbia head coach Norries Wilson. “He makes the people around him better, but he also has some good help in his receiving corps, and I think his offensive line helps him.”

Given the Light Blue’s recent struggles defensively—the crew let up 62 points against Cornell last weekend—Brown’s offense could be a big threat tomorrow.

“Both the tailbacks can run the ball fast inside or outside,” Wilson said. “They’re physical kids when they run the football. The receiving corps run really good routes, and I think they have really good hands, and they can stretch it vertically.”

Even if the defense can restrict Brown’s offensive attack, the Lions will still need significant improvement on offense if they want a chance at beating the Bears’ defense and earning a win.
Brown’s defense currently leads the league in scoring defense, allowing an average of just 16 points per game compared to Columbia’s seventh-place 33.3 per game. Given the Bears’ ability to shut down the rest of the league and Columbia’s own offensive inconsistency, Brown’s coverage on Saturday could be overwhelmingly dominant.

“They run around and they get to their zones and they keep their eyes where their eyes are supposed to be and they don’t just cover grass—they find open guys and they get them covered up,” Wilson said.

The corps is supported by a variety of strong players. Brown currently has five players with over 50 tackles this season, so instead of squaring off against one or two main tacklers, the Lions will be going head-to-head against a slew of them.

But beneath all of the resistance that Brown will put up and the potential for an entirely winless season, Saturday will still be an important day for all of the seniors.

“I think it means a lot to them [the seniors],” Wilson said. “I don’t think that they made light of any of the previous games this season, but I think that this week at practice, this last few times they’re going to be together as a team … I think it’s going to culminate for each of them.”

“I am extremely proud of this group of seniors and I can’t wait to get out on that field with them,” Morand said. “In my mind, the only option is to end this season the right way, with a home win against Brown.”