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HAMILTON – In a season defined by injuries and adversity, Colgate saw another offensive starter sidelined early and dropped a 31-14 decision here to Lehigh.

The Raiders did something Saturday afternoon they had not done all season, and that was take the lead in front of the home fans. Colgate's opening drive covered 82 yards in 10 plays and culminated in a Demetrius Russell 2-yard TD run.

During the drive, however, starting fullback Ed Pavalko suffered a leg injury and did not return. The junior rushed for a first down to the Lehigh 37 and then caught a swing pass from Gavin McCarney that he carried 15 yards to the 22-yard line.

But Pavalko was injured on the play and never returned. Colgate's offense never quite recovered.

"We've got a banged-up offense and it's hard for us to generate offense because we're running out of skill players," Raiders head coach Dick Biddle said. "That puts a lot of pressure on the quarterback."

Colgate's season of injuries has been well documented, but it has concentrated on the skill positions: tailback, wide receiver and quarterback. Saturday's loss of Pavalko was a first for the tight ends/fullback corps.

"When Eddie Pavalko (pictured right) got hurt, it took away some of the things we could do on offense with a lead blocker," Biddle said. "And our quarterback is banged up."

After allowing 82 yards on that opening march, Lehigh held the once-again-hobbled Raiders to just 35 more yards the rest of the half while scoring 17 consecutive points. It was 17-7 Mountain Hawks at the break.

Sack-TD Changes Things
A big play that turned the tide in Lehigh's favor was a sack and fumble return for a touchdown late in the first quarter. The Raiders were leading 7-0 but were backed up by a Lehigh punt out of bounds at the Colgate 2.

McCarney rushed for a first down out to the 13-yard line only to be sacked two plays later by Lehigh's Noah Robb. The ball popped right into the arms of Mountain Hawks tackle Tim Newton, who walked into the end zone for the tying touchdown.

"The key to this game is we went up 7-0 and then we fumbled the ball and they got the touchdown, so they got some momentum," Biddle said.

Lehigh used that advantage to score 10 more points in the second quarter. Nick Shafnisky hit Lee Kurfis on a 6-yard TD pass with 9:19 to play, and Ryan Pandy added a 36-yard field goal with 1:10 showing for the 17-7 margin. The first score was set up by a nifty 38-yard flea-flicker pass from wideout Josh Parris to Kurfis to the Colgate 5.

"It was a game of big plays for them with the reverse pass and things like that," Biddle said. "We weren't able to generate big plays."

The Mountain Hawks increased their lead to 24-7 on their first possession of the third quarter, needing only five plays to cover 51 yards. Shafnisky and Kurfis hooked up from 9 yards out this time.

Striving for One-Possession Game
Colgate then put together one more drive and got a defensive stop to make a game of it.

The Raiders first marched 72 yards in 12 plays, converting a third-and-18 and a fourth-and-8 in the process. The first conversion came thanks to McCarney's completion to John Quazza along with a Lehigh penalty for hitting late. On the fourth-and-8, McCarney hit Kevin O'Connell in the flat and the Raiders tight end dodged and weaved his way to the marker. Two plays later, Jimmy DeCicco slipped through a hole and raced 24 yards to make it 24-14 with 4:49 left in the third.

After the Raiders defense held, Colgate took over and again began to move. DeCicco carried for 11 yards on an early fourth-and-1, and the McCarney hit Brian Lalli (pictured right) on third-and-6 for 19 yards to the Lehigh 37. But the drive stalled at the Mountain Hawks 24 after three straight incompletions and Colgate still trailed by 10.

"We hoped we could get it into a one-possession game but we never were able to do that," Biddle said. "That last one was a gray area – long field goal or do you go for it. I just felt I would rather have it in the hands of Gavin and we were playing to win.

"We could never get it to where we could have a final possession to win the game, and we had to take some chances and do some things we don't normally do."

Lehigh answered with a clinching touchdown drive, culminating in Keith Sherman's 2-yard run with 8:19 to play. Sherman rushed 27 times for a game-high 184 yards to lead the Mountain Hawks. Sherman finished with 224 all-purpose yards.

"For most of the game we played pretty well on defense," Biddle said. "We just kind of wore out at the end and had to take some chances to get field position. They did a good job and they're a good football team."

Armiento's Best Punting Day
McCarney started the game 6-of-6 passing before finishing 13-of-29 for 132 yards and two interceptions. DeCicco rushed for 65 yards and Russell 61. During the game, McCarney moved into fourth on Colgate's career passing chart with 5,682 yards.

"We weren't able to consistently run the football and Lehigh is a very good football team," Biddle said. "Their defensive line and linebackers were very athletic and we had a hard time blocking them. We couldn't run to the sideline on them and we probably should have run more inside."

Defensively, Colgate's Vinny Russo and Adam Bridgeforth led the way with seven tackles apiece. Kyle Diener, Kris Kent and Mike Armiento each added six tackles. Cameron Buttermore (pictured right) had his first career interception after a Kent deflection, and Andrew Nairin posted a sack and forced a fumble.

Raiders punter Nikko Armiento had his best game of the season, punting four times for a 45.8-yard average with a long of 51.

Lehigh's Shafnisky finished 11-of-21 passing for 134 yards. His favorite target, Kurfis, caught eight for 103 yards and the two TDs.

"We've just got to regroup and play," Biddle said. "We're a very proud football team and we had a chance. With all the injuries that happened, we were playing for a championship. We just couldn't make the plays."

Lehigh improves to 8-2 overall and 3-1 in the Patriot League. The Mountain Hawks host Lafayette next week for the Patriot League title. Colgate drops to 4-7 overall and finishes 3-2 in conference play.

The Raiders host Fordham (10-1) in next week's season finale. Kickoff from Andy Kerr Stadium is 1 p.m.