Colgate’s football team sealed off their stainless season this past weekend defeating the Fordham Rams 41-0 and taking home the Patriot League title. The Raiders finished their league season 8-0 overall, only giving up 23 points all season. The Raiders have scored 239 points total this season. With their fifth shutout under their belt, the Raiders were able to secure their 10th Patriot League title and third title in the past four seasons. Colgate’s number one ranked defense lowered their average points allowed to 2.9 points. They have now won 13 games in a row, the longest winning streak for the pro- gram since 2003, when the team appeared in the Division 1-AA (Football Championship Subdivision) national championship.

Colgate rushed 364 yards, a team high since 2012, and kept Fordham under 50 total yards, an all-time program low. This is not just a decent, less-than-50 yard defensive effort. During this game, the Raiders gave up negative 50 rushing yards. Colgate put up their first touchdown with 11:17 left in the first period with a four yard run from senior tailback James Holland. Holland had a long 52 yard touchdown run just five minutes later, putting the Raiders ahead 14-0 to end the first quarter.

In the second quarter, junior tailback Alex Matthews punched in a one-yard run to boost the lead to 21-0. Sophomore quarterback Grant Breneman, who has followed his 2017 Rookie of the Year performance with another fantastic season, added a touchdown later on in the second quarter to put the Raiders ahead by 31. Long story short, this game was a no-contest blowout by halftime.

Colgate continued to dominate in the second half, giving the Rams no room to run all game. Sophomore tailback Malik Twyman ran in a seven-yard touchdown and junior kicker Chris Puzzi nailed a 34-yard field goal to tally the final points for the Raiders, dominating the Rams 41-0 by the time of the final whistle. During the game, the Raiders were able to gain a net yardage of 364 while holding the Rams to a net yardage of -50. Did we mention that already?

Holland, who ended the day with 16 carries for 165 yards and two touchdowns (missing his career-high by one yard), commented on the offensive effort during the contest.

“Our offensive line did its job and opened the holes for us. Watching film, we thought this was a game that we could have success running the ball. We just did what we were taught and coached to do. It was a team effort,” Holland said.

Senior punter Josh Cerra commented on the Raiders’ incredible success during the past four years.

“It’s been an unbelievable year and I’m grateful to be a part of something this special. To win one championship is hard enough, but to have been able to win three here, it goes to show the culture the program has built and the types of guys we have on this team. I’ll never forget this,” Cerra said.

The Raiders will travel to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to take on the Lehigh Mountain Hawks on Saturday, November 10, who have gone 2-7 so far this season. Colgate will travel to Army West Point for their last game of the regular season on Saturday, November 17.

With this week’s win, the Raiders moved up to #8 in the FCS national poll and remain just one of three remaining undefeated teams in the country after Dartmouth’s loss over the weekend. This means that the team can expect to play a home game in the NCAA tournament, which begins in late November after Thanksgiving break.

Contact Lexi Luthringer at [email protected].