CU hopes for divine intervention in likely loss to league leader

Columbia football (0-7, 0-4 Ivy) will attempt to get the first win of its 2011 campaign when they face Harvard (6-1, 4-0 Ivy) on Saturday at Baker Field.

The Crimson are in first place in the Ivy League and have won six straight contests since its opening loss at Holy Cross.

“Harvard is a good football team,” Columbia head coach Norries Wilson said. “They are normally very balanced but this year they are throwing it a bunch. They are picking people apart. They are picking it up in chunks on the run and the pass. I’m really impressed with their offense. I think they are a machine.”

The Crimson offense, which averages 36.7 points per game, is led by senior quarterback Collier Winters, who beat out Heisman front-runner Andrew Luck in an offseason accuracy competition at the 2011 Manning Passing Academy.

“Their quarterback is a good player,” Wilson said. “He can really play. He throws balls right on the money.”

Playing just three games due to a hamstring injury, Winters has completed 71.9 percent of his passes for 261.3 yards per game while throwing seven touchdowns.

For the Lions to have a chance on Saturday, Wilson believes that his secondary must make plays in order to slow down Winters. With a turnover ratio of +7, the Crimson has played nearly mistake-free football most of the season. Its one loss against Holy Cross was primarily the result of three turnovers (two interceptions and a fumble), one of which was returned for a touchdown.

“We got to make plays in the secondary,” Wilson said. “We got to pick some balls off. We have got to get some pressure on this quarterback. We’ve got to keep him contained because he keeps plays alive by getting outside the pocket when there is pressure on him. We can’t wait for guys to catch balls and then try and rally up. We have to be able to make plays on the football.”

Columbia’s rushing defense has been porous throughout its 2011 campaign. The Lions defense has given up an average of 186.4 rushing yards per game. In the past two weeks against Dartmouth and Yale, Columbia gave up 267 and 276 yards, respectively.

Harvard’s rushing attack is led by junior Treavor Scales and freshman Zach Boden. Scales has rushed for 615 yards and six touchdowns while Boden has rushed for 320 yards and four touchdowns. In last week’s 41-10 victory over Dartmouth, the two running backs rushed for a combined 265 yards and four touchdowns.

“Up front they run their feet fast. They know how to take back leverage,” Wilson said. “Treavor’s always been a good back since he’s been there. They have more than two good backs that you have to stop.”

However, despite the Crimson’s pass-oriented offense, many expect it to run early and often against Columbia.

Even though Harvard’s offense steals most of the spotlight, its defense is very sound. The Crimson defense has given up just 17.6 points per game.

If Columbia’s offense is to have success against Harvard’s defense, it will most likely be through the air. Statistically, the Crimson’s secondary has been the second worst in the Ivy League. While they allow just 92.6 yards per game on the ground, the Crimson has given up 243.6 passing yards per game.

Columbia’s rushing attack, which has been mediocre all season, will also have to overcome key injuries. Its best offensive lineman, senior left tackle Jeff Adams, will not be playing on Saturday, and it is unclear whether the Lions’ leading rusher, sophomore running back Marcorus Garrett, will play either.

Junior quarterback Sean Brackett will need to have a big passing day for the Lions to keep up with the high-scoring Crimson. Brackett, who returned from injury last week, has his full arsenal of receivers back on the field.

While the Lions are heavy underdogs, they have consistently played their best football against the top teams in the league. The Lions nearly beat both Penn and Yale in the past three weeks, who are in a three-way tie for second place in the league. However, both coaches and players have reiterated that close is simply not good enough.

“We keep telling our players: Don’t accept trying,” Wilson said. “Do it. Execute. Get it done. Defeat the challenge. Win your one on one competition and we will have an opportunity to win the football game.”

If the Lions are able to defeat the Crimson for the first time since 2003, it will send shock waves throughout the Ivy League. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. at Robert K. Kraft Field at Wien Stadium.