BRONX, N.Y. – Colgate football closed out the 2022 season at Fordham, falling 52-38 to the Rams.
Today's game was all about offense, as 12 total touchdowns were scored, with five coming from the Raiders.
The Colgate offense had a rocky start to open the game as Shelby Pruett was forced to punt after three quick snaps. Fordham opened the scoring in the game with a two-yard passing touchdown.
Jaedon Henry returned the kickoff to Colgate's 22. A penalty on the Rams brought the Raiders up to Fordham's 50-yard line. Right on the first snap of the drive, Michael Brescia passed it to Max Hurleman for a 63-yard touchdown. Spencer Biscoe came out for the extra point to have the game tied up at seven.
Jackson Price picked off Fordham to get the Raiders back the ball at the Fordham 37-yard line. A penalty on Colgate's offense brought the Raiders back to Fordham's 43-yard line. On third down, Brescia threw it 24-yards to senior Joshua Szott to bring the Raiders down to Fordham's 35.
Henry was able to continue to move the ball down the field to Fordham's 39. Garrett Oakey got the first down for Colgate at Fordham's 20-yard line after catching one from Brescia. Biscoe came out to nail his only field goal of the game to give Colgate the lead for the first time and only time in the game.
Fordham came out with a chip on their shoulder, scoring an 11-yard passing touchdown to take their lead back to 14-10.
Brescia opened the Raiders' fourth possession with a nine-yard pass to freshman Treyvhon Saunders at Colgate's 39. A penalty on the defense brought the Raiders down to their 24-yard line. A penalty on Colgate brought the Raiders back to Fordham's 18, ending any more offensive opportunities.
Fordham ended the first quarter with possession of the ball at their 10-yard line. The Rams opened the second quickly, moving down the field. A penalty on the Rams' offense brought them back a few yards but not much. Fordham scored a 10-yard touchdown to extend their lead to 21-10.
Brendan Cassamajor returned the Rams' kickoff for 12-yards to Colgate's 37. On third down, Brescia brought it home for a 58-yard rushing touchdown. Biscoe kicked his second extra point of the game to have the Raiders trail by only four points.
The Rams swiftly passed down the field, getting into touchdown territory at Colgate's six-yard line. Fordham scored their second touchdown of the second quarter to bump their lead up to 28-17.
Cassamajor returned his second straight kickoff return to Colgate's 42-yard line. Brescia threw a 46-yard dagger to Saunders on third down to bring the Raiders down to Fordham's 29. Oakey caught one for 19-yards to bring Colgate down to first and goal. Cassamajor rushed for four yards to score his second touchdown of the season. Biscoe came out to trim Fordham's lead to 28-24.
The Raider defense came to play as freshman Taitwoine Sanders picked off the Rams at their 35-yard line. Unfortunately, the offense couldn't capitalize off Sanders' interception as Jacob Jaworski came out to punt.
The Rams opened their final possession of the second quarter, briskly bringing the ball down to Colgate's 45. An intentional grounding call on Fordham forced special teams to come out for the field goal, which was unsuccessful, keeping the score at 28-24 to end the first half of play.
Both defenses came out strong open the second half of play, as both teams were forced to punt away their first possessions.
The Rams opened their second possession with a 33-yard rush on third down to end up at Colgate's 13. Fordham was able to score a field goal to lead 31-24.
Colgate had a quick one, two, three before punting away for the second straight possession.
The Rams were making strides down the field, but on third down Christian Sweeny tipped the ball, shaking up Fordham's quarterback. The Rams were forced to punt for the second time in three possessions.
Brescia rushed a few yards to start the Raiders' third drive but wasn't able to produce anything else, making Pruett come out again to punt.
The Rams scored on their next possession after three straight passes down the field to lead 38-24.
The Raiders were not going to go down quietly, as Hurleman returned the kickoff for 41-yards to Colgate's 45. Hurleman rushed it up eight yards to open the drive. Brescia converted on fourth down, rushing 20-yards to Fordham's 22. Hurleman then passed it to Brescia for 18-yards to get the Raiders in touchdown territory to end the third quarter.
Brescia opened the fourth, handing the ball off to Szott for his first touchdown of the 2022 season. Biscoe nailed his fourth extra point kick to have Colgate trailing 38-31.
The Rams felt the Raiders knocking at the door, rushing for 38-yards to Colgate's 25 on third down. Pushing for another 11-yards, Fordham was in touchdown territory at Colgate's 14. The Rams had a fumble on the goal line but recovered their mistake. The Rams then scored a two-yard rushing touchdown to bring their lead to 45-31.
Hurleman continued his pace, returning Fordham's kickoff for 22-yards to Colgate's 38. Brescia ran in a touchdown, but a penalty on Colgate negated the touchdown and brought the Raiders back to Fordham's 47.
Hurleman tried to gain back the penalized yards, rushing 15-yards to Fordham's 15. Brescia passed it 37-yards to Saunders. Brescia then passed it to Saunders again to score the Raiders' last touchdown of the day. Biscoe nailed his final extra point kick to have Colgate trail 45-38.
The Rams answered with another touchdown to lead 52-38. Fordham then got an interception on the Raiders' next possession. Fordham tried to capitalize off the interception but missed their second field goal of the game.
Harry Kirk came in to take snaps for Colgate on their next possession, but sadly the junior quarterback couldn't spark anything for the offense. Fordham had three quicks snaps before Colgate got the ball again. Nick Frey made his first appearance of the season for Colgate at quarterback, but it was too late for a Raider comeback.
NOTES
- Biscoe tied his career high five extra-point kicks.
- J.C. Gaughan tallied a career-high 14 tackles, including two tackles for loss.
- Saunders led the Raiders in receptions capturing five for 99-yards.
