HAMILTON – First-year wide receiver
Matt Fogler scored his fifth touchdown of the season and racked up 83 receiving yards but it wasn't enough to stop fourth-ranked Lehigh in a 27-7 loss to the Mountain Hawks on Saturday afternoon at Andy Kerr Stadium.
Colgate's defense limited Lehigh's rushing attack to 134 yards – far below its league-leading 225.8 average. Christian Magliacano and Trooper Price anchored the defense with nine tackles apiece, followed by Elijah Hamilton (8). Magliacano and Hamilton added a half-sack apiece.
Fogler caught just three passes but totaled a team-leading 83 yards including Colgate's lone score. It was the first-year's third consecutive game with a touchdown and fifth TD in the last three contests. Brady Hutchison had four catches for 38 yards.
After a one-hour delay, the game was called due to persistent lightning with 3:54 left in regulation.
COACH FITZPATRICK'S COMMENTS
"First of all, credit to Lehigh. They're having a great season and have a great team and make you earn everything you get. I'm disappointed that I didn't have us prepared well enough offensively in that game. We played the run well defensively, which was a big emphasis for us in this game especially coming off of last week. We had our chances in the third quarter to tighten the game and just came up short. We've got one more chance next week to build on the foundation that we've laid so far this season, for our seniors, and for the young guys that are the future of our program. As always, I'm proud of our fight and determination. This group will do everything in their power to finish strong."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Colgate ran nine plays for 12 yards in a slow first quarter. Lehigh capitalized with two scoring drives – the latter a 32-yard chip shot by Connor Poole that gave the visitors a 10-0 lead. Poole extended Lehigh's lead to 13-0 with a 30-yard field goal early in the second quarter.
Colgate's opening first down came early in the second quarter – an 11-yard dart by Danny Shaban. After advancing into Lehigh territory, the promising drive ended with a missed field goal. Lehigh answered with a 64-yard bomb to Geoffrey Jamiel for a touchdown and a 20-0 lead.
Complementary football led to points at the end of the half for Colgate. Their defense forced a punt and Jake Stearney capped a six-play, 55-yard drive that took just 42 seconds with a 28-yard fade to Fogler in the corner of the end zone to close within 20-7 at the intermission.
Colgate marched deep into Lehigh territory in each of its first two drives of the second half. Stearney was picked off in the end zone to halt an encouraging drive that carried into the red zone. The Raiders got the ball right back and took it down to the Lehigh 10, but a penalty led to a missed 48-yard field goal to keep the score 20-7 through three quarters.
The defense limited Lehigh to a 1.8 average yard per rush in a strong third quarter but that changed quickly when Jaden Green bounced outside for a 28-yard scoot to the end zone extending the Mountain Hawk lead to 27-7 with 10:04 left in the game.
Colgate's final possession was halted by a sack, and Lehigh bled the clock down before the game was called due to persistent lightning with 3:54 left in regulation.
NOTES
- Matt Fogler caught a touchdown for the third consecutive week. The first-year now has five touchdowns over the last three games. His 47-yard reception was a career-long.
- Christian Magliacano and Elijah Hamilton teamed up for their first career sack on Lehigh quarterback Hayden Johnson in the third quarter.
- Adam DeSantis tied his career high with five tackles.
- Colgate's seven points were its fewest since Oct. 5, 2024, at Holy Cross (37-7).
UP NEXT
Colgate (4-7, 2-4 Patriot) wraps up its season with Senior Day next Saturday when the Raiders host Bucknell (5-6, 2-4 Patriot) at 1 p.m. at Andy Kerr Stadium.
