HAMILTON, N.Y. (10/7/06) – Trailing by one point in the first overtime period, Colgate (2-3) elected to go for a two-conversion and the win, but quarterback Mike Saraceno (Sunrise, FL) was stopped short on a draw play giving undefeated Princeton (4-0) a 27-26 overtime victory at Andy Kerr Stadium.

 

Colgate, playing its first overtime game since the 2002 season, saw a streak of three straight overtime victories come to an end.

 

Princeton had the ball first in overtime, and on the seventh play, quarterback Jeff Terrell ran four yards up the middle for a touchdown.  Conner Louden’s extra point put the Tigers in front 27-20.  Colgate appeared to have Princeton stopped at the 16-yard line, but after a Princeton timeout, the Tigers elected to go for a first down instead of attempting a 33-yard field goal on fourth down.  Terrell got the first down with a two-yard run.

 

Needing a touchdown to tie the score, Colgate struck quickly.  After Jordan Scott (Hyattsville, MD) lost one yard, Saraceno connected with Scott on a 26-yard screen pass for the touchdown.  Colgate, which missed one earlier extra point attempt, elected to go for the two-point conversion but failed when Princeton’s Tom Methvin hauled down Saraceno.

 

Colgate had an opportunity to win the contest on the final play of regulation, when Jacob Stein (St. Petersburg, FL) was short on a 39-yard field goal attempt as the clock expired.

 

Colgate jumped out to a 7-0 lead on its opening possession of the game, marching 25 yards in five plays.  The Raiders got the ball when defensive end Ryan Keller (Colts Neck, NJ) ripped the ball away from Princeton’s R.C. Lagomarsino, and Chris Ekpo (Jonesboro, GA) recovered the fumble.

 

Three plays later, junior running back J.J. Bennett (Cleveland, OH) ran 14 yards to the Princeton one-yard line, before Saraceno scored his second rushing TD of the season.

 

The reminder of the first quarter was a punting dual between Colgate’s Jason Sutton (North Easton, MA) and Princeton’s Ryan Coyle.  Early in the second quarter, Princeton took over the ball at its own 20-yard following a Sutton punt into the end zone.

 

The Tigers took only three plays to tie the contest.  On the first play, Lagomarsino rushed 33 yards to the Colgate 47.  Terrell completed a 14-yard pass to Rob Toresco, and then hooked up with Brendan Circle on a 33-yard touchdown pass with 11:33 remaining in the first half.

 

Princeton took a 10-7 lead on its next possession on a 33-yard field goal by Louden, before Colgate scored with 1:36 remaining for a 13-10 halftime lead.  Scott capped off a 14-play, 77-yard drive with a one-yard run.  Scott finished with 79 yards on 33 carries.

 

In the third quarter, Princeton recaptured the lead 17-13 when Toresco scored on a one-yard run with 3:49 remaining.  Colgate answered back taking a 20-17 lead in the fourth quarter, when Saraceno scored his second rushing touchdown from two yards out.

Princeton came right back on its next possession to tie the contest at 20, when Louden kicked a 34-yard field goal.

 

Colgate appeared to be driving for the game-winning points on the ensuing possession when Geoff Bean (Oneonta, NY) returned the kickoff 30 yards to the home team’s 40-yard line.  Princeton was hit with a 15-yard face mask penalty on the return giving the Raiders possession at the Princeton 45.

 

Colgate moved to the Princeton 22-yard line, but was pushed back to the 29-yard line, forcing the Raiders to settle for a 39-yard field goal attempt on fourth-and-17, that sailed short and left.

 

Terrell connected on 17-of-32 passes for 293 yards and one TD, and ran for one score to lead Princeton.  Princeton out-gained the Raiders 397-359.  Colgate had only 123 yards on the ground on 45 carries.  Saraceno was 14-of-26 for 243 yards and one TD, and ran eight times for 17 yards and two touchdowns.

 

Colgate’s leading receiver was Kenny Parker (Stratford, NJ) with four catches for 80 yards, while Scott finished with three grabs for 42 yards and one TD.

 

Mike Gallihugh (Midlothian, VA) had 15 tackles to lead Colgate along with one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry.  Carlton Walker (Columbus, OH), Nate Johnson (Avenel, NJ) and Owen Brenner (Ringoes, NJ) had quarterback sacks for the Raiders.