HAMILTON – Jake Stearney threw three touchdown passes – including two to first-year Peyton Way – and Colgate pitched a 37-0 shutout against William & Mary on Saturday afternoon at Andy Kerr Stadium, limiting the Tribe to just 142 yards of total offense.
The Raiders generated a season-high 519 total yards, driven by a balanced attack that posted 262 rushing yards and 257 through the air. Way led the receivers with a career-high 10 catches for 141 yards and two scores, while Stearney finished an efficient 16-of-25 to go with the three TD strikes.
Cole Fulton paced the rushing attack with 89 yards, combining with O'Shea Faison (58 yards) and Stearney (69 yards) to account for 216 of Colgate's 262 rushing yards.
Defensively, Colgate registered five sacks, with Joe Kelly, Christian Magliacano, Trooper Price, and Brock Winsett each recording a takedown. Magliacano anchored the defense with eight tackles, including six solo stops, to lock down the Raiders' first shutout of the season.
Moments of the Game
- Q2 (11:17) | Following a scoreless opening frame, Colgate found an offensive rhythm on a 13-play, 90-yard march. Stearney set up the score with a 33-yard completion to Cole Fulton out of the backfield and a 12-yard pass to Aleks Sitkowski along the sideline before Faison barreled in from three yards out to put the Raiders ahead 7-0.
- Q2 (7:22) | Justin Tedim and Dawson Rodd teamed up for a sack on William & Mary's next drive to force a three-and-out. Taking over with short field position, the Raiders needed just five plays to cover 55 yards, capped by a 27-yard touchdown strike from Stearney to Way to double the Colgate advantage to 14-0.
- Q2 (1:17) | Luke Vogeler split the uprights on a 23-yard field goal to push the lead to 17-0. The kick capped a nine-play, 65-yard drive after the Raiders' attack stalled inside the red zone.
- Q2 (0:00) | Sacks from Christian Magliacano and Trooper Price set up short field position late in the half, allowing Vogeler to drill a 34-yard field goal at the halftime buzzer to send Colgate into the locker room with a 20-0 lead.
- Q3 (6:22) | Colgate opened the third quarter with a methodical 16-play, 75-yard drive that consumed 8:38 of game clock. Stearney capped the march by connecting with Way for an eight-yard touchdown, where Way toe-tapped in the end zone for his second score of the afternoon to extend the cushion to 27-0.
- Q4 (14:03) | Colgate's offense kept humming, scoring on its fifth consecutive possession when Stearney found P.J. Holmes over the middle for a nine-yard touchdown. The strike marked Holmes' first career collegiate score and extended the Raiders' lead to 34-0.
- Q4 (5:02) | Vogeler drilled his third field goal of the afternoon to become Colgate's all-time leader in career field goals made (36), capping the scoring in the 37-0 victory.
Game Notes
- Colgate recorded its first shutout since blanking Lafayette, 16-0, on Nov. 16, 2019.
- The victory marked Colgate's first win over William & Mary since Sept. 28, 2018—also a shutout (23-0) in Williamsburg, Va.
- The triumph represents the Raiders' first home win over William & Mary at Andy Kerr Stadium since Sept. 19, 1987.
- Drilling three field goals in the afternoon, Luke Vogeler became Colgate's all-time leader in career field goals made (36), surpassing the 40-year-old record of 35 set by Mike Powers '87 (1983-86).
- Jake Stearney set a career high with 69 rushing yards, topping his previous personal best of 56 set earlier this season at Villanova.
- Peyton Way's 141 receiving yards represented the second-highest single-game total by a Raider this season, trailing only Matt Fogler's 180-yard effort last weekend at Richmond.
- P.J. Holmes reeled in his first career touchdown pass while establishing new personal bests in receptions (3), receiving yards (48), and longest catch (22 yards).
- O'Shea Faison set career highs in rushing attempts (14) and rushing yards (58), capping his milestone day with his first touchdown in a Colgate uniform.
Up Next
Colgate (5-4, 4-2 Patriot) hits the road next Saturday for a Patriot League showdown against No. 19/20 Lehigh in Bethlehem, Pa. Kickoff is set for noon.
