VILLANOVA, Pa. – No. 23 Colgate scored 14 unanswered second-half points and relied on a ferocious defensive effort down the stretch to secure a statement 28-21 victory over No. 22 Villanova on a rain-soaked Saturday afternoon at Villanova Stadium.
Jake Stearney turned in an efficient 15-of-21 performance for 158 yards and three touchdown passes. Peyton Way and Chief Montalvo each reeled in their first career touchdown receptions, while first-year running backs Caleb Naumann and O'Shea Faison powered the ground game with 95 combined yards on 33 carries.
Colgate's nationally ranked defense dictated the game, registering a season-high seven sacks and adding its ninth interception of the season. Trooper Price led the way with nine tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack. Five Raiders got in on the pass rush, led by Price and Justin Tedim with 1.5 sacks each.
Jordan Edgecomb delivered the fourth-quarter heroics – recovering a crucial late fumble before dragging down Villanova quarterback Pat McQuaide on 4th-and-30 on the game's final play to seal Colgate's first ranked victory since 2023 and first win over Villanova since 1978.
Moments of the Game
- Q1 (1:35) | After Villanova marched 75 yards on nine plays to open the scoring, Colgate's defense responded with a three-and-out to set up short field position. Stearney and the Raiders cashed in, driving 48 yards on eight plays capped by a 6-yard touchdown run from Naumann to knot the score at 7-7.
- Q2 (12:14) | Villanova answered with its second 75-yard touchdown drive of the afternoon, reclaiming a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter on a 13-yard scamper by Isaiah Ragland.
- Q2 (4:37) | Colgate responded with a 75-yard scoring march of its own, converting on 3rd-and-5 and 4th-and-inches before Stearney hit Way for a 5-yard touchdown pass to tie the contest at 14-14 heading into halftime.
- Q3 (14:18) | Colgate needed just three plays to grab its first lead of the game as Stearney found Matt Fogler on a screen, with Fogler racing 41 yards untouched into the end zone for a 21-14 Raiders advantage.
- Q3 (10:10) | Reece Allan picked off a pass on Villanova's opening drive of the half, recording Colgate's nation-leading ninth interception of the season.
- Q3 (1:28) | Stearney lofted a 12-yard fade to the back corner of the end zone, where Montalvo reeled in a spectacular one-handed catch to extend the Colgate lead to 28-14.
- Q4 (14:54) | Villanova needed just one play in the fourth quarter to trim the deficit, as Ja'briel Mace turned a 25-yard catch-and-run into a touchdown to pull the Wildcats within 28-21.
- Q4 (10:18) | Colgate marched deep into Wildcats territory before an inside run was stuffed on 4th-and-inches for a turnover on downs. Three plays later, Edgecomb pounced on a backfield fumble to hand the ball right back to the Raiders.
- Q4 (2:40) | Colgate executed an 11-play, all-run drive to chew up nearly seven minutes of clock, but a missed 36-yard field goal gave Villanova one final chance.
- Q4 (0:21) | Villanova drove into the red zone, but back-to-back defensive highlights slammed the door shut. Edgecomb capped off the win with his second sack of the game on 4th-and-30 to secure the upset over No. 22 Villanova.
Game Notes
- Saturday's victory marked Colgate's first win over Villanova since Sept. 30, 1978, snapping an eight-game losing streak in the series and securing the program's second all-time win over the Wildcats.
- The triumph represents Colgate's first victory over a ranked FCS opponent since Nov. 4, 2023, when the Raiders defeated No. 16 Lafayette, 37-34, in overtime.
- Colgate remains undefeated against FCS opposition this season and moves to 3-0 in Patriot League play for the first time since 2018.
- Caleb Naumann, Peyton Way, and Chief Montalvo each scored their first career collegiate touchdowns, while Matt Fogler hauled in his league-leading fifth touchdown of the season.
- Colgate's seven sacks marked the program's highest single-game total since racking up nine quarterback takedowns against Fordham on Nov. 2, 2024.
- Entering the weekend leading the FCS with eight interceptions, Colgate extended its streak of recording at least one interception in each of the last four games following Reece Allan's second pick of the year.
Up Next
Colgate (4-1, 3-0 Patriot) travels to Cambridge, Mass., next Saturday to take on No. 25/21 Harvard in another ranked road tilt. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
