Quakers hope to be first to tame Lions this season

Columbia, with a 3-0Columbia, with a 3-0start, is on the vergeColumbia, with a 3-0start, is on the vergeof putting its losingColumbia, with a 3-0start, is on the vergeof putting its losingtradition behind it To say Columbia football lacks a recent winning tradition would be a severe understatement. Rarely has a team been more known across the country for its losing ways. In the late '80s, the Lions became the not-so-proud owners of an NCAA record 44-game losing streak. Even when things seemed to be going right in recent years, the Lions could never fully distance themselves from their past futility. Last season, Columbia shocked the world of Ivy League football by jumping out to a 3-2-1 record, including a 3-0 Ivy League record and the distinction of ending Penn's Division I-AA record 24-game winning streak. But disaster struck in the Lions' seventh game in the form of a season-ending injury to quarterback Matt Cavanaugh, which was followed by a four-game losing streak to seal yet another losing season. The Columbia team that Penn (2-1, 0-1 Ivy League) will face tomorrow at Franklin Field at 1:30 p.m. finds itself in a very new position. With a 3-0 record, the Lions are now a proven team. No longer can Columbia sneak up on teams, -- the Lions are no longer overlooked. "The schedule has been in our favor so far," Columbia coach Ray Tellier said. "The teams we have beaten so far have not been the best. I keep telling the players that we are now going from the minor leagues to the major leagues." Penn coach Al Bagnoli is not surprised by Columbia's fast start, especially based on the strength of a Lions defense that measures up with the best in the Ivy League. "Our defense has been the biggest reason for our start," Tellier said. "We've taken the ball away 13 times already this season." Leading the way is linebacker Rory Wilfork, a two-time all-Ivy selection. But Wilfork is by no means the only top-caliber defensive player for the Lions (3-0, 1-0). Mike Jennings and Charlie Bettinelli form the basis of a solid defensive line, while cornerback Roy Hanks is a top-cover man and a sure tackler. Bagnoli believes the Columbia defense is so dangerous because it possesses a dominant player at every position. The Columbia defensive prowess has to be disconcerting for a Quakers offense that can be politely described as out of sync. After struggling against Dartmouth to open the season, the offense appeared to have turned the corner in the second half against Colgate. But last weekend, the offensive inefficiencies reached new levels as quarterback Steve Teodecki struggled to complete 4-of-18 passes. "We need more productivity, better balance," Bagnoli said. "I'm looking for improvement in all areas from A to Z." The Quakers' troubles in the passing game have led teams to key on the running game. Despite the increased attention, running back Jasen Scott has still managed two 100-yard games. A more efficient aerial attack will surely take pressure off Scott and make his job a lot easier. "Some times when I'm in the backfield, I can see people cheating up," Scott said. "They will keep doing that until we can find some consistency in the passing game." Columbia, by contrast, has featured a balanced, if not flashy, offense this season. Paris Childress, after an effective performance against Holy Cross has replaced a struggling Bobby Thomason at quarterback. The main target of both quarterbacks has been wide-out David Ramirez, who has averaged six catches per game this season. Running back Jason Bivens has been the unlikely supplier of most of Columbia's rushing yards, averaging over 100 yards per contest. "They're not going to do anything we haven't seen before," Penn defensive Lineman Tim Foster said. "There shouldn't be any surprises." If recent patterns hold, then Columbia will be expected to challenge the young Quakers defensive backfield. Containing Ramirez is a must if the Quakers hope to disrupt Columbia's offensive rhythm. Unlike last year, the Lions won't be able to sneak up on Penn. While revenge might be in the minds of some of the Quakers, the focus has remained on the current season's troubles rather than past defeats. "We're fortunate to be at 2-1 now," Bagnoli said. "We've made some plays, but we haven't made enough. We haven't played at the level we can play at, and lord knows we've been inconsistent." Tellier, however, realizes he will face a huge challenge in a game Columbia is using as a benchmark for its season. The win last year showed the Lions -- and the rest of the league -- how to defeat the Quakers, but a victory tomorrow by the Lions would still be an upset. "There are two reasons why they really want to beat us," Tellier said. "First, we ended their streak. But most importantly, they don't want to lose a second Ivy League game. They have a lot of motivation to beat us." However, Columbia is not without incentive to defeat the Quakers for a second straight season. A victory will place the Lions right in the thick of the Ivy League title hunt. It will also give them a boost as they try to accomplish the rarest of occurrences for them, a winning season. "The players are aware of what happened at the end of last year," Tellier said. "They realize we won't be judged based on how we start the season, but rather how we finish it."