CSJ Patriot League Power Rankings, Week 5
At College Sports Journal, we proudly present our first Patriot League Power Rankings for the week of 10/4/2016. (Last week’s ranking in parenthesis.)
1. (3) Lehigh 3-2, 0-0
This week: Lehigh 63, Yale 35
In a surprise, it wasn’t QB Nick Shafnisky at the helm for that Mountain Hawks, but backup QB Brad Mayes leading Lehigh up at the Yale Bowl this Saturday. Mayes had a mammoth day, setting all sorts of Yale Bowl passing records in an extraordinary 63-35 win over Yale (33/46 passing, 524 passing yards, 6 TDs, 0 INTs). Like Shafnisky, he’d find WR Troy Pelletier (13 catches, 213 yards, 3 TDs) in a thorough offensive performance.
Next up: Saturday vs. Colgate, 12:30pm
2. (2) Fordham 2-2, 0-0
This week: Monmouth (NJ) 42, Fordham 41 (OT)
It’s hard to say what was more disappointing: that the Rams let a two-touchdown lead evaporate twice, or that RB Chase Edmonds’ 208 yard 4 touchdown day didn’t end up being a Fordham victory after Monmouth head coach Kevin Callahan gutsily went for it on a 2 point conversion after scoring in overtime, and making it.
Next up: Saturday vs. Lafayette, 1:00pm
3. (1) Colgate 1-3, 0-0
This week: Cornell 39, No. 25 Colgate 38
Raider fans still don’t know what happened against their nearby New York State rival. Up 21-0 thanks in part to a pair of touchdown passses from QB Jake Melville to WR John Maddaluna, Cornell was able to erase that deficit by outscoring the Raiders 27-7 in the second half and taking an improbable lead with a touchdown pass with 30 seconds left in the game.
Next up: Saturday at Lehigh, 12:30pm
4. (5) Holy Cross 2-3, 1-0
This week: Holy Cross 38, Lafayette 28
Behind the leadership of backup QB Geoff Wade, the Crusaders would ultimately pull away from the banged-up Leopards in their first conference victory of the season. WR Brendan Flaherty was a major weapon for Holy Cross, racking up 121 all-purpose yards and a touchdown.
Next up: Saturday vs. Bucknell, 1:00pm
5. (4) Georgetown 3-1, 0-0
This week: No. 19 Harvard 31, Georgetown 17
Harvard jumped out to a 24-7 lead and never really were threatened as they coasted to a 31-17 win last Friday evening at Harvard Stadium. Helping the Hoyas stay in it was a good defensive performance, including forcing four turnovers. DE Marquis Parris had 6 tackles and 2 1/2 tackles for loss.
Next up: Saturday vs. Princeton, 1:00pm
6. (6) Lafayette 1-4, 0-1
This week:Holy Cross 38, Lafayette 28
How snakebitten is Lafayette right now? QB Drew Reed was knocked out in the first offensive series, and later their start linebacker, LB Brandon Bryant, would also get injured and wouldn’t return. The Leopards fought gamely but were ultimately overwhelmed, 38-28.
Next up: Saturday at Fordham, 1:00pm
7. (7) Bucknell 1-3, 0-0
This week: BYE
Next up: Saturday at Holy Cross, 1:00pm
Chuck has been writing about Lehigh football since the dawn of the internet, or perhaps it only seems like it. He’s executive editor of the College Sports Journal and has also written a book, The Rivalry: How Two Schools Started the Most Played College Football Series.
Reach him at: this email or click below:
