Still Lookin' Good

The Rams still look like champs (CREDIT: Fordham Athletics)

Fordham looked generally impressive in their opener against URI today. QB John Skelton looked pretty good going 14 for 26 for 267 yards, two TD passes and one interception.

Sophomore tailback Xavier Martin, who shredded the Lions last year, had an even better game with 169 yards on 29 carries.

The most impressive stat was Fordham's defense against the run. They gave up just 23 yards rushing to the tailbacks, and when you add in the yards lost after Fordham's seven sacks, you get -26 yards rushing for Rhode Island.

Rhode Island is not exactly a strong team this year, but even after this one game it looks like Fordham has outstanding offensive and defensive lines.


Game of the Day (Day 13)

November 15, 2003

Columbia 34 Cornell 21

A day after a snowstorm hit Ithaca, a Columbia Lion team on a high after stunning Harvard the week before hit Schoelkopf Field and made the big plays when they needed to.

A fumble recovery on the opening kickoff set the Lions up on the Big Red 42 to start things off. Four plays later, QB Jeff Otis found tight end Wade Fletcher for a 16-yard TD pass and the 7-0 lead.

Another turnover set the Lions up at the Cornell 13, but Columbia could only get a field out of it and the 10-0 lead midway through the first.

The Big Red settled down after that and put together a 71-yard TD drive to get back in the game. But the Lions struck back quickly, needing just three plays to go 59 yards and finishing off the scoring in the first quarter with a 35-yard Otis to Travis Chmelka TD pass.

Things quieted down in the second quarter, but the Lions had one impressive drive going all the way from their 11 to the Big Red 26 and setting up Nick Rudd's 43-yard field goal.

When the Lions scored on another Otis to Fletcher TD pass, (this one for six yards after a turnover gave Columbia the ball at the Cornell 19), it seemed like the game was totally over.

But the Big Red mounted a comeback. Cornell QB D.J. Busch hit Trent Carvolth for a 45 yard TD pass to finish a quick 4-play drive and make it 27-14 with about three minutes left in the third quarter.

The defenses were at a standoff for the next 13 minutes before Cornell put together a 76 yard drive in nine plays to make it 27-21 with five minutes to go.

Then the Lions pulled off an odd play to seal the win. Running back Ayo Oluwole, (who had an outstanding 2003 season), broke free for a 50+ yard run but almost blew it by losing the handle on the ball even though no one was near him! He recovered control however, and kept possession. A few plays later, Otis took it in from the 3 and the Lions were 34-21 winners.