September 28, 2016
Daniel Ware
Public Relations Representative
Email: waredt@dukes.jmu.edu
Other Dates of Note
The Salamanders will be teaming up with Play 60 for a football camp for Columbia’s children on September 30, 2016 at 11:00 a.m at Williams-Brice Stadium. Activities will include playing catch/running routes with quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Matthew Stafford, a punt-pass-kick competition and drills to teach kids the correct techniques that the game of football requires. Participants don’t need to bring any equipment with them.
Week 3 Game Notes
9/22 – 9/26
Columbia Salamanders (W) vs. Austin Armadillos (L)
Final Score: 143.7 – 141.84
Recap: Quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Matthew Stafford carried the Columbia Salamanders (2-1) to a narrow 143.70-141.84 victory to give the Austin Armadillos (2-1) their first loss of the season in. While Winston and Stafford provided the bulk of the scoring (combined to score 86 points), wide receiver Brandin Cooks gave the Salamanders the edge with 3.90 points. Trailing by 2.04 entering Monday night, Cooks’ two catch, 13-yard performance put the Salamanders on top for good. The Salamanders’ defense came to play on Sunday afternoon, forcing two takeaways and coming up with four sacks. Kicker Mason Crosby chipped in as well, going 2-for-2 on field goal attempts and making all four extra points. The Armadillos got huge contributions from wide receivers Jarvis Landry (29.90 points) and DeSean Jackson (21.60) and running backs Charles Sims (24.40) and David Johnson (26.10), but the duo of Winston and Stafford proved to be too much for the Armadillos to overcome. The Salamander’s 1.86 margin of victory is the smallest in the league so far this season.
Next Week Matchup Preview:
Vs. Baltimore Bayhawks (2-1)
It appears the Salamanders will see running back Jamaal Charles (knee) and tight end Rob Gronkowski in the lineup together for the first time this season, which should give a significant boost to the team’s offensive production. Both teams enter the game with identical 2-1 records.
Some notes about the upcoming matchup:
- Tight end Rob Gronkowski made his season debut last week against the Armadillos, but did not pull in any catches. The Salamanders will need him to play well in order to defeat the Baltimore Bayhawks.
- Bayhawks quarterback Cam Newton looks to get back on track after a disappointing Week 3 performance, in which he was sacked eight times and threw three interceptions.
- Kicker Matt Prater will make his season debut this week against the Bayhawks.
- Salamanders WR Brandon Cooks looks rebound from a disappointing Week 3 in which he scored just 3.9 points.
- The Bayhawks receiving duo of Brandon Marshall and Odell Beckham will be tough to stop, as Marshall looks to come back from a 5-point performance, while Beckham looks to build off a 20-point performance in Week 3.
- Salamanders running back Latavius Murray has scored a touchdown in every game this season and looks to continue that streak.
Columbia Salamanders Week 4 Notes
- Rob Gronkowski (hamstring) played just 14 snaps in Week 3 as he continues to ease into the season. Look for a heavier workload in Week 4.
- The Salamanders have added kicker Matt Prater to the team for week 4.
- With Jamaal Charles’ status for Week 4 still uncertain, the team may look to add some running back depth before the weekend.
- There was a shooting at Townville Elementary School on Wednesday September 28 in Anderson County, South Carolina. Two students and a teacher were injured and a suspect is in police custody.
- Columbia city councilwoman and Columbia native Leona Plaugh lost her two-year battle with cancer on Wednesday.
- The Salamanders look to pick up their second road win of the season against Baltimore on Sunday