CSJ Patriot League Power Rankings, Week 4
September 24, 2016
Cooper Field | Washington, D.C.
Celebration
At College Sports Journal, we proudly present our first Patriot League Power Rankings for the week of 9/27/2016.
1. Colgate 1-2, 0-0 (Nationally ranked #25, FCS Coaches’ Poll)
This week: No. 7 Richmond 38, No. 25 Colgate 31
A furious Raider comeback against the nationally-ranked Spiders fell just short in Colgate’s 38-31 loss to Richmond, making the defending Patriot League champions’ second loss on the season. DE Pat Afriyie stood out with nine tackles and three tackles for loss, including two sacks. With their only losses to the nationally-ranked Spiders and Syracuse of the FBS, Colgate will be further tested this weekend versus their regional rivals, the surprising 2-0 Big Red.
Next up: Saturday vs. Cornell, 1:00pm
2. Fordham 2-1, 0-0
This week: Fordham 31, Penn 17
Behind four touchdowns by RB Chase Edmonds and the Ram defense forcing three turnovers, Fordham would jump to a 24-7 lead and then hang on for the victory against the 0-2 Quakers, the defending Ivy League champions.
Next up: Saturday @ Monmouth (N.J.), 1:00pm
3. Lehigh 2-2, 0-0
This week: Lehigh 42, Princeton 28
Lehigh would surge to a 35-21 lead early in the second half and then comfortably coast to a 42-28 win over the 1-1 Tigers. Quarterback Nick Shafnisky would nearly set a single-game passing record at Murray Goodman with 461 yards, with WR Troy Pelletier hauling in 6 of those passes for 190 yards and a touchdown.
Next up: Saturday @ Yale, 1:30pm
4. Georgetown 3-0, 0-0
This week: Georgetown 17, Columbia 14
Georgetown jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first half and fought off a late charge by Columbia for a 17-14 victory on Saturday afternoon at Cooper Field in front of a near-sellout Homecoming crowd of 2,367. With the win, the Hoyas claimed the Lou Little Trophy, named after the College Football Hall of Fame Head Coach who coached at both schools, for the second-straight season. The Hoyas are one of FCS’ few undefeated teams at this point in the season, but they will be in for their toughest test by far this Firday when they go up to Cambridge.
Next up: Friday @ No. 19 Harvard, 7:00pm
5. Holy Cross 1-3, 0-0
This week: Dartmouth 35, Holy Cross 10
The Crusaders jumped to a 7-0 lead, but after that it was all Big Green as they outscored Holy Cross 35-3 the rest of the way. Of deeper concern as the Crusaders enter league play is the question as to whether Peter Pujals, their star QB, will play. He was injured in the first half of the game and didn’t return.
Next up: Saturday @ Lafayette, 3:30pm
6. Lafayette 1-3, 0-0
This week: No., 14 Villanova 31, Lafayette 14
After a great effort to cur the score to 17-14, disaster struck for the Leopards in the middle of the second half, where a blocked punt set up one score for the Wildcats then an interception return for touchdown ended up sealing the deal for nationally-ranked Villanova. QB Drew Reed passed for 229 yard, but yielded two costly interceptions.
Next up: Saturday vs. Holy Cross, 3:30pm
7. Bucknell 1-3, 0-0
This week: VMI 23, Bucknell 17 (3OT)
In one of the wackiest overtimes you’ll ever see, VMI and Bucknell went scoreless in five consecutive possessions at the 25 yard line before the Keydets finally put one across on the Bucknell defense. Bison RB Chad Freshnock managed 156 yards net on the ground for Bucknell – but no touchdowns.
Next up: BYE
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:
