LEWISBURG, Pa. – Colgate football wins back-to-back games for the first time this season after beating Bucknell 13-7.
A win on both sides of the ball, the Raiders held the Bisons scoreless in three-quarters of play while scoring two rushing touchdowns to secure the first Patriot League road win of the season.
Though Michael Brescia was 3-3 in completed passes, the Raiders were forced to punt to start the game.
Three straight defensive plays by Arthur Hamlin forced the Bisons to punt away their first possession of the game.
Back-to-back rushes by Jaedon Henry steadily brought the Raiders 23-yards down the field, but nothing more happened for the Raiders in their second drive.
The defense held strong, forcing Bucknell to punt for the second straight drive.
The Raiders were forced to punt for the third straight drive, but after a fumble recovery at the Colgate 47-yard line by senior linebacker Tyler Flick, the Raiders kept possession of the ball. Sadly, the Raiders couldn't capitalize off Flick's recovery, forcing Shelby Pruett to punt the ball for the fourth time in the first quarter.
Bucknell ended the first quarter on their 20-yard line after converting the first down play. Both teams were still looking to get on the board after the first.
The Bisons started the second with back-to-back penalties. It looked like Bucknell was going to make up for the penalties as they rushed down the field, but Jackson Leak brought the Bison down before anything else could happen on the drive.
After gaining five straight first downs to start the first drive of the second, the Raiders were looking to convert on fourth down. Brescia got the first down for Colgate at the Bucknell 14-yard line.
Zach Osborne came in for a snap, rushing for a yard, but the Raiders still needed the first down deep into touchdown territory. Brescia carried it home for his 10th touchdown of the season. Unfortunately for Spencer Biscoe, his extra point attempt was blocked, keeping the Raiders' lead to six points.
The defense did not take the blocked kick lightly, forcing Bucknell to punt away the ball for the second time in the quarter.
Looking to convert on the third down, Brescia rushed for 12-yards to get the first. After back-to-back completed passes to Brady Hutchison and Jake Ryan, the Raiders found themselves at the Bucknell 45.
With 20 seconds left in the first half, the Raiders looked to extend their lead. Brescia passed for 6-yards to Ryan for the first down. With 3 seconds remaining, Biscoe and the rest of the special teams unit came out, but Biscoe's field goal was not good, keeping the Raiders lead at 6 points to end the first half.
Starting the second half with the ball, Bucknell was forced to punt for the fifth time after back-to-back tackles by Mikey Jarmolowich.
Even though senior Garrett Oakey grabbed one out of the air to get the first down at the Raider 37-yard line, Pruett was forced to punt for the fourth time in the game.
Bucknell was forced to punt again in the third, this time at their 10-yard line after three quick snaps.
Brescia came out hot to start the Raiders' second possession throwing a 46-yard dart to freshman Hutchison. The sophomore doing it all, Brescia rushed in for his second touchdown of the game to extend the lead to 12-points. Biscoe's extra point kick was finally good, bumping the lead to 13-points.
Bucknell had three successful third-down conversions ending up the Colgate 47 but still had to punt the ball away by the red-hot Raider defense.
Though Henry had three carries for the Raiders, nothing else came from the drive, forcing Pruett and friends to come out to punt.
Bucknell, with a chip on their shoulder, caught Pruett's punt return at their 26-yard line to start their fourth drive of the third quarter. The Bisons kept the offense going, gaining the first down from an 11-yard rush. Fortunately for the Raiders, pressure by Jarmolowich got Colgate the ball to end the third.
Continuing the fourth with ball possession, Colgate couldn't capitalize off Jarmolowich's play, punting the ball away.
Bucknell rushed down the field to start their first possession of the fourth. The Bison were in touchdown territory at the Colgate 9-yard line with a third down. Going for the fourth down conversion, the Bisons were successful in pushing forward for three yards. Unfortunately for the Raiders, a penalty would put Bucknell at the one-yard line allowing them to score their first touchdown of the game. The Bisons trailed by six-point with less than seven minutes left in the game.
Continuing the passing offense, Brescia tossed a 12-yard pass to Hutchison, which brought the Raiders to their 32-yard line. Feeling the pressure for the Bison defense, Colgate was forced to punt for the second possession in a row.
After thinking the Raiders' defense was in the clear after a failed Bison fourth down conversion, a penalty on Colgate put the offense at their 26-yard line.
Taking the penalty with strides, Brescia rushed up the field on three snaps for a total of 15-yards, bringing the Raiders to their 41-yard line. A penalty on the offense brought the Raiders back five yards on third down.
Though Colgate couldn't score on the drive, there wasn't enough time for the Bisons to add points to the board, securing the 13-7 win for the Raiders.
NOTES
- Jarmolowich led the Raiders with 11 tackles, tallying nine in the second half.
- Brescia passed for a total of 176-yards, completing 20-of-28 attempts.
- First-year Hutchison led the Raiders with six receptions.
- After nabbing four receptions, Oakey now sits seventh all-time with 131 career receptions.
UP NEXT
The Raiders return to Hamilton on Saturday, Nov. 5, for the final home game of the season. The Lafayette Leopards come to town for a Senior Day showdown slated for 1 p.m. inside Andy Kerr Stadium.
