Colgate University’s football team picked up its first win of the season during Homecoming Weekend on Sept. 20 with a 44-21 victory against Fordham University at Andy Kerr Stadium. Despite the team’s 1-3 overall record, they have averaged 31 points per game in those matchups, a significant improvement over last year, when they averaged 20.2 points per game. A large part of the Raider’s success has been due to senior wide receiver Treyvhon Saunders who leads the team with 591 receiving yards. 

Saunders believes the team did a great job putting together a strong performance in all three phases of the game, continuing to keep pressure on their opponents even with a halftime lead in the game against Fordham.

“I think the biggest part is that we learned that, no matter what, to just keep going. Especially in the second half, don’t put your foot off the gas,” Saunders said.

Senior wide receiver Brady Hutchison said the team was dialed in on offense and motivated to put up as many points as possible.

“That was kind of our mentality going to the game, is that at least when we get the ball, we’re going to go down there and score every single time, no matter what,” he said. 

Colgate led 30-21 at halftime behind a pair of touchdown passes from senior quarterback Zach Osborne, including a 78-yarder to junior wide receiver Winston Moore on the Raiders’ first offensive snap of the game. In the second half, junior Jake Stearney took over at quarterback and led the team to two more touchdowns, including a 35-yard score to Saunders in the fourth quarter. Crucially, the defense held Fordham scoreless after halftime, allowing the Raiders to pull away with the win.

Stearney said that despite managing 44 points — the team’s largest output of the year — the offense feels as if they left opportunities for more points on the field. However, Stearney saw that as a positive, knowing there is still room for improvement even after this high-scoring performance.

“There’s a lot of key down plays, third down, fourth down, or even just day-one stuff that we got to clean up,” Stearney said. “But it’s super promising knowing that we put up that many points and didn’t play to our potential.” 

The Raiders had a frustrating season last year, finishing with only two wins. But, as a veteran, Hutchison noticed a difference this year in how the team has approached their daily work on the field.

“We’ve been more intentional and working way harder at practice, in fine-tuning the small details that go into offense, defense and just winning overall,” Hutchison said.

Stearney said part of what has made the team successful to start the season has been their connection with each other, something they have been working to build since spring workouts and have continued to develop throughout the fall.

“Falling back on that trust, building that chemistry with the coaches, coming up with a good game plan each and every week and just ironing all the day one stuff is super key,” he said. 

According to Saunders, the team’s chemistry allows them to have a lot of trust in one another. He never doubts that his teammates will do their jobs, which allows him to have more fun doing his own.

“It’s very fun to be out there and know that everybody’s together and that we can just enjoy each other and celebrate each other’s wins and even the losses that we still learn from,” Saunders said.

The team’s strong chemistry and success can be attributed to not only the players, but also new coaching staff coming in during the offseason, with head coach Curt Fitzpatrick being brought in to replace Stan Dakosty, who was let go at the end of last season’s disappointing finish. Hutchison said Fitzpatrick has had a major impact since his arrival and has been a refreshing and motivating person to play for.

“We hit rock bottom last year. It was a 2-10 season but we have the same players,” Hutchison said. “We knew we were talented, we just couldn’t get it done. [Fitzpatrick] has come in here, he’s rejuvenated the program, gave the program new life and it’s been great playing for him. He’s demanding and he coaches excellence and [perfection], and that’s what we’re striving to do every day.”

Stearney echoed the fact that Fitzpatrick’s coaching style, although demanding, makes the team feel set up for success in every game. 

“He’s a strong believer in consistency and practicing how you play,” Stearney said. “Therefore, in every practice scenario, we’ve got to treat it like a game. Because in the game, everything will slow down, it’ll be easier, and you’ll fall back to your fundamentals.”

Saunders emphasized that Fitzpatrick has had an immense impact on the team’s hunger to win and their trust in the coach himself.

“He says the right thing and he knows when to say it,” Saunders said. “He doesn’t speak a lot, but when he does, everybody listens and we have total respect for him.” 

For this team, a day-by-day mentality is the key to success. Stearney and the rest of the team trust that the work they put in each day in practice will translate into good performances in games.

“The outputs will come right when we focus on our input,” Stearney said. “So, there’s obviously a long season ahead, but as of now, we’re just focused on today’s practice — getting better every single day.”

Hutchison agrees with this sentiment, adding on that being a senior gives him perspective and allows him to enjoy working hard, since he knows his time with the team is limited. 

“Just taking it one day at a time, attack every play, every chance you get because you never know when it could be over,” he said.

Overall, the team’s trust in one another, in Coach Fitzpatrick and his assistants and in the process of improvement will be crucial in terms of their ability to grow and win throughout the remainder of the season. Saunders says he knows the team’s approach to their fundamentals and their resilience will allow them to succeed as the season goes on.

“How you do one thing is how you do everything, so the daily inputs that we do and how we persist in every single day, that will lead to the outcomes that we want,” Saunders said.

The Raiders will look to build on their win against Fordham when they travel to Ithaca on Oct. 4 to face rival Cornell University. Colgate will be well-rested, as the game falls after their bye week. Colgate has won the last two meetings against Big Red, including last season’s game, which they won 41-24 at home.