Goodwin, Freeman combine at QB to lead Columbia to 31-20 win over Lafayette in Lions' season opener

NEW YORK — Chase Goodwin and Cole Freeman each threw for a pair of scores and Columbia opened its season with a 31-20 win over Lafayette on Saturday to give new coach Jon Poppe the win.

Goodwin threw a 20-yard scoring pass to Braden Dougherty over the middle less than three minutes into the game and the Lions stayed in front. Goodwin's 9-yarder to Bryson Canty in the right corner of the end zone led to a 17-9 halftime lead.

Goodwin limped off the field in the third quarter and Freeman, a Northwestern transfer, threw TD passes to Ethan Hebb and Canty.

The Columbia QBs combined to go 21 of 27 for 243 yards. Goodwin threw for 180 and was intercepted once. Canty had 95 yards receiving with two scores. Joey Giorgi rushed 17 times for 90 yards.

Dean DeNobile was 23-of-35 passing with two touchdowns and an interception for the Leopards (2-2), who came in ranked 14th in the FCS coaches poll. This was Columbia's first win over a top-15 team since 1995 and it came against a Leopards team that had totaled 96 points in its previous two games.

Jamar Curtis ran for 102 yards on 25 carries for the Leopards.