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HAMILTON, N.Y. (9/3/11) — Colgate senior running back Nate Eachus scored his only touchdown of the game off a one yard run, but that was good enough to cap the Raiders second half rally, as Colgate topped Albany 37-34 in overtime Saturday night at Andy Kerr Stadium.

Eachus finished the game with 165-yards rushing off 36 carries, while sophomore quarterback Gavin McCarney collected 324 yards of total offense and scored four touchdowns in his first collegiate start.

Colgate (1-0) won the coin toss in overtime and declared to play defense first. The Raiders then forced the Great Danes to attempt a 41-yard field goal, which was made by Herb Glass to give Albany a 34-31 lead. Colgate was then held to 3rd-and-10 before McCarney connected with senior wide receiver Dan Basil for a 14-yard gain to the 11-yard line. The Raiders then gave the ball to Eachus four straight times before he found the end zone from one yard out.

After trailing 31-21 at halftime the Raiders defense stood strong holding Albany scoreless for the final two quarters, to give McCarney the opportunity to lead the Raiders back. Colgate's opening drive of the second half covered 95-yards, on 12-plays, while eating 7:15 off the clock to make the score 31-28. The drive was highlighted by a 44-yard pass from McCarney to Eachus and capped off by a four yard touchdown run by McCarney to inch the Raiders closer. The touchdown run by McCarney was his second of the game.

Colgate's defense then took over by holding the Great Danes offense to 114-yards in the second half and picking off two passes. The first interception came on the Raiders 2-yard line as Chad Frey picked-off Buddy Leathley and returned it 32-yards to the Colgate 34-yard line. The Raiders then took advantage of the interception by putting together a 10-play, 59-yard drive to setup freshman Joe Uglietto for a 24-yard field goal to tie the game 31-31.

Albany (0-1) struck first in the game off a 48-yard field goal by Glass to take a 3-0 lead. But the Raiders answered back with a 14-play, 79-yard drive capped off by a 10-yard touchdown run by McCarney to go up 7-3 after the first quarter.

The Great Danes took a 10-7 lead to start the second quarter after five yard touchdown run by Drew Smith. But Colgate again answered back this time with a quick two play, 55-yard drive capped off by a 49-yard touchdown pass from McCarney to Dan Cason to give the Raiders a 14-10. Albany then answered back with its own two play drive capped off by a 75-yard touchdown pass from Leathley to Dillon Romain to grab a 17-14 lead. The Raiders would go up 21-17 after a two yard touchdown pass from McCarney to CJ Stempeck, but that would be their last lead in regulation as Albany closed the half with a pair of touchdowns to take a 31-21 lead.

Albany out gained the Raiders in total yards 314-to-238 in the first half, before Colgate flipped the script in the second half 252-to-114. The Raiders out gained the Great Danes in the game 490-to-427.

McCarney finished the game completing 17-of-24 passes to six different receivers for 210 yards, while carrying the ball 21 times for 114 yards. Chris Looney grabbed a career-high eight catches for 58 yards, while Eachus brought home four receptions for 59 yards.

GAME NOTES: Eachus has rushed for more then 100 yards 21 times in his career … the touchdown in overtime gave Eachus 48 in is career which is tied for third all-time … McCarney's 210 yards passing was the most for a Raider since Greg Sullivan threw for 205 against Cornell last season … the eight receptions by Looney are the fifth most ever recorded in a single game by a Colgate receiver … Colgate has now won four-straight season openers at home … the last time the Raiders lost a season-opener at Andy Kerr Stadium was in 2002 to Villanova … Colgate has now won its last three overtime games and has improved to 6-3 all-time in overtime ... the Raiders are now 2-0 all-time against Albany and 5-2 against the Northeast Conference under coach Biddle.