HAMILTON, N.Y. (11/3/07) – Junior quarterback Alex Relph (Victor, NY) connected on 9-of-13 passes for 120 yards and one touchdown, and ran for another to lead Colgate to a 21-7 win over Lehigh Saturday at Andy Kerr Stadium.

 

Colgate (6-3, PL 3-1) snapped a three-game losing streak against the Mountain Hawks (4-5, PL 1-3).  The Raiders assured themselves of their 11^th winning season in 12 years under head coach Dick Biddle.

 

“I think our defense won this game,” said Biddle.  “They were put in some situations in the first half, but responded with interceptions and a fumble recovery keeping them off the scoreboard after the first drive.”

 

“I think we are playing as well as we did two years ago,” continued Biddle.  “We’re probably playing a lot like we did in 2005.  Probably better offensively.”

 

Colgate running back Jordan Scott (Hyattsville, MD) carried 37 times for 114 yards to tie the school record for consecutive 100-yard games with his 11th.  He has rushed for 1,489 yards this season for the fourth best single-season total in school history.

 

“We just won three straight,” said Scott.  “That’s something we didn’t do last year, we didn’t win two straight.  We’re on a stretch run and this is the right time to be playing our best football.  It’s a good feeling to get three wins in a row.”

 

Lehigh opened the scoring on its first possession marching 90 yards in 13 plays capped by Sedale Threatt’s four-yard run.  Jason Leo added the extra point for a 7-0 lead. 

 

Colgate came right back to tie the contest on the ensuring possession when Relph connected on a 34-yard touchdown pass to Pat Simonds (Sidney, NY).  The drive covered 69 yards in six plays as Simonds grabbed his fourth TD pass of the season.  Mike Buck’s (Basking Ridge, NJ) extra point tied the contest with 41 seconds left in the opening quarter.

 

The rest of the first half was a series of mistakes by both teams.  Colgate came up with interceptions by Chris Ekpo (Jonesboro, GA) and Uzi Idah (Rolling Hills Estate, CA), and Mike Gallihugh’s (Midlothian, VA) fumble recovery but couldn’t cash in. 

 

After a scoreless second quarter, Colgate took a 14-7 lead with 5:45 remaining in the third quarter when Relph scored on a three-yard run on third-and-goal.  The Raiders started the drive at the Colgate 43 after Greg Hadley (Fayetteville, NY)tackled the Lehigh holder Justin Weaver for an 18-yard loss on a busted 43-yard field goal attempt.

 

After moving into Lehigh territory, Colgate faced a fourth-and-one on the Lehigh 10-yard line, where coach Biddle elected to go for the first down.  Scott carried five yards for the first down and three plays later Relph had his first rushing TD of the season.  It also was the first rushing touchdown by someone other than Scott this season for the Raiders.

 

Eight seconds into the final quarter, Colgate upped its lead to 21-7, when senior J.J. Bennett (Cleveland, OH) bolted untouched off right tackle for a 26-yard touchdown run to cap a 43-yard drive.  Buck added the final point with his 31^st consecutive PAT.

 

Colgate’s defense held Lehigh to 77 yards rushing and 220 passing, while the Raiders managed 154 rushing and 120 passing.

 

NOTEBOOK: Freshman free safety Mike Barry (Naples, FL) led Colgate with nine tackles, while Gallihugh and Hadley had eight apiece.  Gallihugh and Hadley each had a fumble recovery … Wayne Moten (Forestville, MD) had his fourth interception in the last three games … Erik Burke (Traverse City, MI) had three receptions for 23 yards to move into seventh place in career receiving yardage with 1,701 yards.