Belated Helmet Stickers & Hoop Kudos

With the All Ivy waiting game distracting me early this week, I neglected to hand out the final edition of this year's helmet stickers.

I was also a little distracted by the doubleheader sweep in basketball for women and men last night at Levien Gym. Both games were exciting and you have to be encouraged about the Lions chances this year on the hardwood.

Back to the Brown game...

Freshman Sean Brackett was my MVP for the Brown game, but obviously there were many other stars of that great win.


-Junior Adam Mehrer picked off two passes to clinch the Ivy League interception lead. The first pick included that great run back and heads up toss to Andy Shalbrack for the 85-yard TD to end the half. The second was remarkable as well because Mehrer had to follow a wobbly pass and almost go completely horizontal to grab it. Mehrer now goes into his senior season with nine INT's, meaning he needs seven more to tie the all-time career interception record of 16 held by both Lou Kusserow and Philip Murray. It would be a stretch, but Mehrer could tie or eclipse that record.


-Junior Mike Stephens had four catches for 65 yards, and two of them were highlight reel-worthy. In the first quarter, he snared a high pass and held on after a massive hit by Russell Leedy for a 21-yard gain on a 3rd and six. On the very next series, Stephens slipped away from a Brown tackler after a short gain and then turned it into a 27 yard advance. That was one of the key plays on Columbia's first scoring drive.

-The Columbia offensive line of John Seiler, Evan Sanford, Will Lipovsky, Ian Quirk and Jeff Adams did not give up a sack, paced the Lions to 7.2 yards per rush, and did not have one holding penalty.


-Junior Augie Williams had 12 tackles, broke up three passes, and was all over the field as he led the team with 12 tackles. He was also a part of a big tackle in punt coverage late in the game.


-Freshman Greg Guttas had some stellar punts, two of which really handcuffed Brown's Buddy Farnham.


-Sophomore Ross Morand continued his excellent work in relief of the injured starting corners. He finished with six solo tackles and a fumble recovery on punt coverage.


-Sophomore Shea Selsor showed rare resiliance, coming right back from a potentially back-breaking roughing the passer penalty and sacking Brown QB Kyle Newhall-Caballero on the very next play.

-Junior Leon Ivery ran the ball very well with 10 carries for 47 yards and no lost yardage on any one of those rushes. Ivery seems to run better on the option with Brackett than any other Lion runner.

-Sophomore QB Jerry Bell saved Columbia from disaster by finally grabbing a ball that was knocked from his hands and passing it safely incomplete before completing two short passes on the next two plays. Bell had to do this all on surprise emergency relief duty after Brackett was knocked out of the game briefly after the first Columbia series.

-Senior Taylor Joseph had two receptions, and they were both key catched for first downs and a total of 36 yards.


-Senior Austin Knowlin just would not be denied on several of his 10 rushing carries, especially his five-yard TD run into the middle of the Brown defense in the second quarter. A Bear tackler had Knowlin by the ankles but he would not go down and he alertly stretched the pigskin across the end zone stripe.

-Freshman Dean Perfetti was a perfect four-for-four in his extra point attempts.

-Senior Jared Morine had another stellar game at corner, and had a tackle for a loss.

-Freshman Will Patterson had two big tackles, again showing his ability to get into opposing backfields.