Box Score

EASTON, Pa. (11/5/11) – Lafayette's Darius Safford returned an interception 100-yards in overtime to seal a 37-24 win over Colgate Saturday night at Fisher Stadium. The Leopards scored on their first possession in overtime to make the score 31-24, before Safford picked off a pass in the right corner of the end zone and returned it for another score.
 
Colgate (4-6, 0-4 PL) scored with 1:35 remaining in regulation to take a 24-17 lead, before the Leopards found pay dirt with 30 seconds remaining to force overtime.

Colgate was led by Gavin McCarney, who completed 22-of-34 passes for career-high 274 yards and one score, while Jordan McCord ran for a season-high 172 yards and two scores. McCord made his second start of the season at running back, filling in for the injured All-American Nate Eachus, who missed his fourth game of the season. McCord and Jonathan Mputu each recorded a career-high five receptions, while Daniel Cason caught four for a career-high 102 yards and one score.

The Raiders opened the scoring in the first quarter when McCarney found Cason wide open for a 36-yard touchdown pass. But the lead only lasted 11 seconds as Ross Scheuerman returned the ensuing kickoff 78-yards to tie the score 7-7. The score would stay the same the rest of the first half as both defenses would bend but not break.

Lafayette (4-5, 1-2 PL) took its first lead midway through the third quarter when Austin O'Brien made a 21-yard field goal to put the Leopards up 10-7. Colgate would respond with 10 points on its next two possessions to build a 17-10 lead. The Raiders first score was a 5-yard touchdown run by McCord, to cap off a 10-play, 59-yard scoring drive. The next possession saw McCarney connect with Cason for a 56-yard gain to the Leopards 1-yard line, but a penalty forced the Raiders to settle for 20-yard field goal by Joe Uglietto to open the fourth quarter.

Lafayette then took the momentum from its defensive stand and scored on a 1-yard run to cap and 8-play, 48-yard drive to tie the game 17-17 with 8:00 remaining. The Raiders answered back with one of their best drives of the season when they marched 68-yards down the field eating 6:25 off the clock before McCord found the end zone for the second time to give Colgate a 24-17 lead with 1:35 remaining.

Lafayette was led by Andrew Shoop who completed 21-of-34 passes for 262 yards and two scores, while rushing for one more. Colgate out-gained Lafayette in total yards 490-361 and won the time of possession battle 35:07 to 24:53. Senior captain Chris DiMassa led the Raiders defenses with nine tackles, while classmate Adam Lock recorded seven tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Colgate will conclude its 2011 season at home on Nov. 19 when it host rival Bucknell at Andy Kerr Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. and will be aired live by GateTV on Colgate All-Access.

GAME NOTES: Colgate leads the all-time series 39-12-4 … The Raiders have played in three overtime games this season and have a 2-1 record … Colgate's all-time record is 7-4 in overtime … McCord has now rushed for 256 yards and four touchdowns in his two starts at running back … The kickoff return for a touchdown was the second allowed by Colgate this season … McCarney has now completed 152 passes this season, which is the most for a Colgate quarterback since Alex Relph completed 158 during the 2007 season … McCarney has also passed for 1,593 yards which is the most since Greg Sullivan threw for 1,952 yards in 2009 … McCarney's 272 yards passing is also the most since Greg Sullivan threw for 279 yards against Lafayette in 2009 … Cason's 102 yards receiving was the most since Doug Rosnick had 141 yards last season against Princeton … DiMassa now has 91 tackles this season, just nine away from becoming the first Raider to record 100 or more since Mike Gallihugh recorded 123 in 2007 … Colgate is 0-4 in Patriot League play for the first time since 1995.