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HAMILTON – Colgate wrapped its 2013 season Saturday with a look toward 2014. Fordham was focused much more on the coming weeks.

Fordham piled up plenty of style points for the NCAA selection committee in a 56-19 decision here Saturday at Andy Kerr Stadium. The Rams improved to 11-1 this season and are vying for an at-large selection to the FCS playoffs, which begin next weekend.

The Raiders, meanwhile, fielded nearly an entire roster of players who will return next season. It was one last dress rehearsal at the end of a 4-8 season for those wearing the home colors.

"Twenty of the 22 starters in that game will be back," Colgate head coach Dick Biddle said. "Also, of the kids who started on offense for us at Air Force (in the season opener), only two were starting at the end of the year.

"We ended up playing a lot of people, so hopefully the experience can pay off."

One Last Goodbye
One of Colgate's starters was for ceremonial purposes only. Senior Gavin McCarney took Colgate's opening offensive snap of the game, handed off the tailback Demetrius Russell, and then departed to the sidelines to the cheers of the home crowd.

"We did that so people could recognize him one last time for all he's done for Colgate football," Biddle said. "Even though he was injured and could not play, it was a chance for Gavin to take one final snap. He deserved that, and we deserved a chance to honor him coming off the field for the final time at Andy Kerr Stadium."

McCarney (pictured right) missed his third complete game Saturday and never really had a chance this season to repeat as Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year. Still the Jefferson Township, N.J., native finishes his Colgate career third in total offense with 8,465 yards and fourth in passing yards with 5,682.

McCarney's rushing total of 2,783 yards is a Colgate record, one of 19 times he appears in the Raider records book.

Early Style Points
Fordham scored touchdowns on its first four offensive possessions, all in the opening quarter, to take a 28-0 lead. Colgate answered late in the period with a 79-yard march that was capped by Demetrius Russell's 1-yard run to make it 28-7 after 15 minutes.

The Rams put 14 more points on the board in the second quarter as Brian Wetzel scored two of his four touchdowns for the day. The wide receiver caught three TD passes in the game and also returned a punt 81 yards for a score that made it 42-7 at halftime.

Fordham quarterback Michael Nebrich threw for 302 of his 395 passing yards in the first half alone. The junior completed 29 of 38 attempts.

"You've got to give Fordham a lot of credit; that's a very good football team," Biddle said. "I was hoping they would be down after they lost to Lafayette, but they knew what was at stake and they really came to play.

"They had to look good today to make sure they got a bid. My hats are off to them – that's a good football team."

Armiento Gets His Sixth
The Raiders defense tried to rally with a pair of interceptions. Sophomore Adam Bridgeforth picked up his first career and junior Mike Armiento his sixth of the season and 12th career. Armiento finished the year with six picks for 148 returns yards.

Armiento's interception total moves him into a tie for fourth on the Colgate season list and places him in a tie for fifth all-time heading into his senior year.

The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native (pictured right) also ended up with seven tackles to finish as the team leader with 94, one better than Kris Kent at 93.

James Travellin raced for a 6-yard TD run in the third quarter, and then quarterback Jake Melville – who went the distance at quarterback for the second time this year – found John Quazza for a 5-yard score in the fourth quarter to account for Colgate's points.

Melville was the team's rushing leader with 71 on 19 carries, while Travellin (pictured below right) added 64 and Russell 50. Melville chipped in 111 yards through the air.

"We did play a lot of young guys and, hopefully, that will be a good experience for them and they'll hit the weight room and become better football players," Biddle said. "It hindered us a little bit but we knew we had to bring our A-game and couldn't make mistakes.

"We made some mistakes early and Fordham put a lot of pressure on us. We had a hard time handling their speed on offense."

Diamond, Steffen Shine
Safety Demitri Diamond had an all-around day for the Raiders. He not only was in on eight tackles but also carried the ball once for a 7-yard gain and returned four kickoffs for a 25-yard average, including a long of 46.

Victor Steffen finished as Colgate's tackle leader, posting 11 stops. Vinny Russo was next with nine, while Bridgeforth and Diamond had eight apiece. Russo, Kent and Anto Almasian had sacks in the game. In addition, punter Nikko Armiento had another good outing with eight boots for a 41.1-yard average to finish the season at 40.1.

For Fordham, Tebucky Jones caught 12 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown, while tailback Carlton Koonce rushed 29 times for 148 yards and two scores. Defensively, tackle DeAndre Slate made eight stops that included 2½ tackles for loss and one sack.

Biddle says the look to next season already has begun.

"It's a disappointing end for us. These last two games, we didn't play particularly well. We got down early and our defense struggled a little bit.

"Well get on to recruiting; that's big for us. The players have to hit the weight room and get bigger and stronger, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines where we have a lot of returners. But we have to recruit playmakers on offense and defense, and that will be a priority."