When facing off against two big-play running backs and one of the best receiving tight ends in the country, it is easy for a defense to overlook a lanky outside receiver who caught only four passes last season. <P>
No one is overlooking Columbia junior Brandon Bowser anymore.<P>
With its All-Ivy tight end, Wade Fletcher, sitting out the opening games and the graduation of two prominent wide receivers, Columbia went from having a balanced attack last season to a run-dominated offense at the start of this season.<P>
In order to remain competitive, the Lions needed someone to shoulder the receiving load so defenses did not just focus on their two senior tailbacks, Rashad Biggers and Ayo Oluwole.<P>
After spending the majority of two seasons on the junior varsity roster, Bowser was the Lions’ secret weapon at the beginning of this season.<P>
The secret’s out.<P>
In his first four games of the season, Bowser has pulled down 28 catches for 327 yards, which accounts for 46 percent of the Lions’ total receiving yardage.<P>
His effect on the Columbia offense has been so dramatic that coach Bob Shoop said he was surprised that Bowser was responsible for only half the team’s receiving.<P>
“Every time we need a big play, he seems to come up with it,” Shoop said.<P>
Bowser has made leaps and bounds as a player since traveling to Morningside Heights from his St. Paul, Minn., home.<P>
After being the most improved receiver on the team his freshman year, Bowser was expected to make varsity as a sophomore, but he came to training camp unprepared and out of shape.<P>
“He labored sophomore year, kept his mouth shut and worked hard,” Shoop said. “He got faster and stronger after a real productive summer, came back to campus and has paid great dividends for us this year.”<P>
Bowser became the primary target for Columbia quarterback Jeff Otis after Fletcher got hurt. Bowser delivered immediately, notching 84 receiving yards in the Lions’ opening game against Fordham.<P>
In their next game, a blowout at the hands of Bucknell, Bowser began to revel in his role as secret weapon.<P>
When the dust cleared, Bowser came down with 118 of Columbia’s 184 receiving yards and a 36-yard touchdown reception.<P>
And in last week’s contest against Lafayette, Columbia fans got a great view of what the Lions’ offense looks like when healthy and playing together.<P>
Starting his first game of the season, Fletcher tallied 121 yards, but Bowser complemented him well with 81 of his own, 24 of which capped Columbia’s first touchdown drive of the game.<P>
“I don’t think [Lafayette] was game-planning toward Brandon,” Shoop said.<P>
Fletcher’s successful return last week changes the way defenses can cover Bowser.<P>
“You lose some options on what you can do to the outside kids,” Penn coach Al Bagnoli said. “They’re dangerous now.”<P>
Bagnoli said that his team is hoping to outsmart and outlast Bowser, given his lack of experience.<P>
“He has only started three or four games, so my hope is that he is still not a really experienced guy,” he said. “We’re going to try to confuse him a little bit with different looks and coverages for him.”<P>
While Bowser is certainly no longer a secret, he may still be ignored on the outside, as defenses have to plan for two good Columbia running backs pounding the line and a top-notch tight end catching passes up the middle.<P>
“People immediately plan to stop Fletcher and single-man [cover] our guys on the perimeter,” Shoop said. “I think they need to rethink that strategy now.”<P>
Penn says that no rethinking is necessary.<P>
“We’re going to play the game like we always do,” Penn senior defensive back Duvol Thompson said. “Our defensive style usually isn’t to stay back. We just have to come at them hard and not let them dictate the game.”<P>
The Red and Blue currently rank second in total defense in the Ivy League this season, so while they welcome a challenge, they are also coming prepared for a grudge match.<P>
“That’s what good offenses do, they stretch you and force you to defend the field,” Bagnoli said. “Our jobs got considerably harder … They’re a whole different offense when [Fletcher] came back.”<P>
And in going up against one of the league’s top defenses, Bowser has to take pressure off Fletcher for the Lions to compete.<P>
“For us to have any chance to win, our best players have to step up,” Shoop said. “Brandon has to … It’s a tremendous challenge for our team.”
