(Game Statistics)
PRINCETON, N.J. (10/8/05) – Freshman tailback Jordan Scott carried 34 times for 112 yards and one touchdown, and the Colgate defense came up with a superb effort as the Raiders defeated previously undefeated Princeton 16-10 Saturday at rain-soaked Princeton Stadium.
The Raiders (3-2) win their second straight game and third straight over Princeton (3-1) in the final non-conference game of the season.
“This was a big win for us,” said Colgate head coach Dick Biddle. “It gives us two straight wins, and some momentum heading into league play next Saturday. I thought our defense played extremely well under the conditions (field), and our wide receivers came up with some big catches to keep drives alive.”
Colgate’s Geoff Bean took the opening kickoff 60 yards to the Princeton 28-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Scott dashed to the Princeton one-yard line, and two plays later, scored on a one-yard run up the middle to give Colgate a 6-0 lead. Mike Rava’s extra point attempt was wide left.
On the ensuing kickoff, Princeton’s Jay McCareins was stripped of the ball by J.J. Bennett, and Cody Williams recovered the fumble at the Tigers’ 28-yard line. Four plays later, junior quarterback Mike Saraceno connected on a 12-yard touchdown pass with junior wide out Kenny Parker. Rava’s extra point made the score 13-0, just 2:55 into the game.
Poor field position held Colgate in check for the remainder of the first half, as the next four drives started from the Raiders’ 20, 10, 11 and 16-yard lines.
Princeton’s only score of the first half came after a McCareins’ interception at the Colgate 42. He returned the ball to the Colgate 20-yard line where he fumbled, but the Tigers’ Michael Meehan recovered at the 17. Colgate’s defense forced Princeton to kick a 27-yard field goal by Derek Javarone with 6:49 remaining in the half.
Colgate had a chance to put more points on the board in the third quarter after Cody Williams’ interception. Williams picked off his second interception of the season at the Colgate 40, and raced back to the Princeton 31. After moving to the nine-yard line, the Raiders’ Rava missed a 25-yard field goal when the ball hit the right upright. It was his first miss of the season in seven attempts.
Princeton took advantage of another Colgate turnover in the fourth quarter, when Nate Starrett recovered a Saraceno fumble at the Raiders’ 34. On the first play from scrimmage, backup quarterback Bill Foran connected over the middle with Greg Fields for the TD. Javarone added the extra point cutting Colgate’s lead to three points, 13-10 with 10:38 left.
Colgate came right back moving to the Princeton five-yard line, where Rava booted a 22-yard field goal for a 16-10 lead. The big play in the drive was a 50-yard, third-down pass play from Saraceno to sophomore Erik Burke to the Princeton eight-yard line.
After Colgate’s field goal, the Tigers had the ball three more times, but the defense shut down the Tigers on each possession to seal the victory.
GAME NOTES – When Colgate scored on its first possession it was the first time this season that Princeton had trailed in a game … Saraceno completed 12-of-22 passes for 176 yards and one TD … Long had six receptions for 68 yards, and moved into 13th place in career receiving yardage with 1,187 yards … Burke and Parker each had two receptions … Cody Williams had six tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery, one pass breakup and shared a tackle for loss … Jared Nepa and Bean led Colgate with eight tackles … Tom Cassano and Jeff Galletly each had a sack ... senior offensive guard Mark Mushel saw his first action of the season after returning from a preseason knee injury … Parker’s TD reception was his third of the season … Rava’s missed extra point attempt snapped a streak of 10 straight.
