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HAMILTON, N.Y. (9/5/09) – Sophomore running back Nate Eachus (Drums, Pa.) rushed 20 times for 139 yards and three touchdowns as Colgate defeated Monmouth 35-23 in the first night football game in school history.

After forcing Monmouth to punt, Colgate started the season in exciting fashion with a 14-play, 98-yard drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown run from Eachus, giving the Raiders an early 7-0 lead. Monmouth responded with a touchdown drive of its own, as running back David Sinisi capped off a 50-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run. The Raiders' offensive attack continued to produce points, however, as junior quarterback Greg Sullivan (Monroe, N.Y.) found senior wide receiver Pat Simonds (Sidney, N.Y.) in the back corner of the end zone with a nine-yard pass. Sullivan connected with Simonds and junior wide receiver Doug Rosnick (Langhorne, Pa.) for big pass plays during the drive, with Simonds catching a 16-yard pass on 3rd-and-11 and Rosnick making a juggling catch on 2nd-and-12 for a 23-yard gain.

Monmouth quickly rebounded after Simonds' touchdown, as Sinisi turned a short pass into a 50-yard touchdown on the Hawks' second play of their drive. The Hawks' extra point attempt was wide left, and Colgate retained a 14-13 lead. Both teams traded scoreless possessions until Monmouth ended the first half scoring by connecting on a 23-yard field goal with 16 seconds remaining.
 
Early in the third quarter, Eachus scored a one-yard touchdown run that gave Colgate the lead for good. Previously in the drive, Eachus ran for 23 yards on a 4th-and-1 from the Monmouth 32 that kept the Colgate effort alive.

On the ensuing kickoff, the turning point of the game occurred when Monmouth fumbled a high and short kick that Colgate running back Zach Lasavage (Carbondale, Pa.) recovered at the Monmouth 36-yard line. Two plays later, Eachus ran through a wide hole created by the offensive line and scampered 35 yards for his second touchdown of the game. The ensuing extra point gave Colgate a 28-16 advantage. On Monmouth's following possession, senior defensive tackle Brandon Buglione (Vestal, N.Y.) sacked Monmouth quarterback Andrew Mandenville at the Colgate 23-yard line, forcing a fumble that was recovered by junior linebacker Zach Smith (Thorafare, N.J.). Colgate fumbled the ball in Monmouth territory on its following drive, but in the fourth quarter, Sullivan found Simonds streaking down the sideline for a 28-yard touchdown pass, effectively sealing the win for Colgate. The Raiders' 35-16 lead did not stand, though, as Sinisi took a handoff and then fired a touchdown pass to Tyler George for an 11-yard touchdown late in the contest.

The Colgate defense was outstanding in the second half, holding Monmouth scoreless until 2:40 remaining in the game. Senior Garrington Spence (Anaheim, Calif.), who was making his first career start, led the Raider defense with eight tackles.

The Raiders will now host The University of Stony Brook Seawolves on Saturday, September 12 at Andy Kerr Stadium. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.
   

GAME NOTES: Eachus is the 26th Colgate running back to accrue 1,000 rushing yards in his Colgate career and tied his personal-best with three touchdowns. Colgate's 98-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter is the longest in school history. The Raiders were 7-for-11 on third down. The game was delayed a half hour due to a local power outage at halftime. Colgate is now 1-1 historically against Monmouth.