CSJ Patriot League Power Rankings, Week 7

 

Here is the College Sports Journal’s Patriot League Power Rankings for the week of 10/18/2016. (Last week’s ranking in parenthesis.)

1. (1) Lehigh 5-2, 2-0

This week: Lehigh 35, Georgetown 3

Though a 14-3 game at half, Lehigh scored on their first three possessions in the second half and shut the Hoyas out as well on defense. Despite an injury to starting QB Nick Shafnisky, QB Brad Mayes didn’t miss a beat in the second half, connecting with WR Gatlin Casey for a touchdown and a long gain to set up another score. Casey ended with 6 receptions for 164 yards and 2 TDs.

A huge trip to Worcester awaits for the Mountain Hawks in a critical Patriot League battle this weekend.

Next up: Saturday at Holy Cross, Noon

2. (2) Fordham 4-2, 1-0

This week: Fordham 44, Yale 37

It was an old-fashioned shootout in the Bronx – and one that showed that Fordham QB Kevin Anderson can sling the ball with the best of them. He went 18 of 27 for 270 yards and threw for 5 touchdowns, including a back-breaking 69 yard pass to WR Austin Cantelli.

Fordham will remain at home this week and welcome the Hoyas to town this weekend.

Next up: Saturday vs. Georgetown, 1:00pm

3. (5) Holy Cross 3-4, 1-1

This week: Holy Cross 27, No. 20 Harvard 17

Sophomore QB Geoff Wade hit on 23 of 35 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns, as the Crusaders knocked off No. 20 Harvard 27-17 at Fitton Field. Holy Cross’ upset of the Johnnies was keyed by a strong second half effort that had their offense eat up the clock for more than 20 minutes and allowed them to connect on two Zane Wasp field goals, while the Crusaders’ defense held Harvard to only nine minutes on offense.

Holy Cross will be looking to ride that momentum this weekend as Lehigh comes to town.

Next up: Saturday vs. Lehigh, Noon

4. (6) Colgate 2-4, 1-1

This week: Colgate 27, Bucknell 7

Even though Bucknell was fiendishly close to going ahead of the Raiders, Colgate’s defense limited the Bison to just 32 yards of total offense over the final 15 minutes and didn’t allow a Bucknell snap from inside Colgate territory, eventually relying on a pair of touchdowns from QB Jake Melville to pull away from the Bison 27-7.

Next up: BYE

5. (3) Bucknell 2-5, 1-1

This week: Colgate 27, Bucknell 7

The Bison couldn’t get anywhere on the ground, averaging a paltry 1.2 yards per carry even as their defense kept things close. As the field position battle kept getting worse in the second half, Colgate eventually would wear Bucknell down and get the two scores they needed to pull away.

The Bison will try to right the ship this week vs. Lafayette.

Next up: vs. Lafayette, 1:00 PM

6. (4) Georgetown 3-3, 0-1

This week: Lehigh 35, Georgetown 3

The defense did everything right in the first half, forcing two turnovers and winning the field position battle at the end of the first half. But the Hoyas’ struggles on offense were eventually to much to overcome, as repeated 3-and-outs would ultimately end up with Lehigh pulling away with three straight scores at the start of the second half.

Georgetown will try to right the ship as they head to the Bronx to face Fordham this week.

Next up: Saturday at Fordham, 1:00pm

 

 

7. (6) Lafayette 1-6, 0-2

This week: Army-West Point 62, Lafayette 7

It was over pretty much from the first five minutes of the game when QB Ahmad Bradshaw faked a pitch and went more than 60 yards for Army’s first touchdown of the game. It got even worse for the Leopards, too – they gave up three passing touchdowns to the notoriously ground-oriented Black Knights.

Next up: Saturday at Bucknell, 1:00pm