This weekend the Raiders had another record-setting day on offense as they defeated the Lafayette Leopards 65-41.

Colgate was led by junior quarterback Gavin McCarney, who set school records for total offensive yards in a game (512), total rushing yards by a quarterback in a season (1,010) and consecutive games with a touchdown pass (12).

The Raiders put up 65 points, which is the most by Colgate football in 71 years. Senior tailback Jordan McCord rushed for 203 yards alongside McCarney’s 288, giving Colgate it’s first pair of 200-yard rushers in the same game.

Scoring for the Raiders started early and came often, as Mc- Carney found senior Chris Looney for a 27 yard touchdown pass on the first drive. After the defense forced a 3-and-out, it only took McCarney four plays to go 68 yards down the field. McCarney capped off the play with a 4-yard rushing touchdown. After another defensive stop by the Raiders, the offense capitalized on an eight play drive with McCord rushing in from two yards out to give the Raiders a big 21-0 lead early in the second quarter.

From this point on through the second quarter, the Lafayette defense seemed to go invisible, as the next six drives all resulted in points. After a McCarney touchdown run and a McCord rush, junior Andrew Burgess kicked a 37-yard field goal to send the Raiders into halftime with a 37-20 lead.

As the second half started, the Raiders took no time in get- ting back into their rhythm from the first half, marching 75 yards downfield ending with a 17 yard run from McCord for a touch- down. After the Leopards struck back with a touchdown, Mc- Carney took the ball and only needed one rush, as he raced 75 yards down the sideline for an electrifying touchdown.

With that run midway through the third quarter,

McCarney put the Raiders up 51- 26 and put the game nearly out of reach from the Leopards. After two straight Leopard scores, the Raiders fired back with two more, with McCarney throwing 64 yards to junior Ryne Morrison and McCord rushing from four yards out.

As the Raiders kneeled off the final ticks to end the game, the Raiders successfully kept their punter off the field, as they con- verted on 10 of their 12 drives,

with the other ending an inter- ception and the end of the game. McCarney continued his dominance as quarterback this year, rushing for 288 yards on 19 rushes and getting in the endzone three times. Through the air, McCarney completed 13 of 17 and threw 224 yards and two touchdowns. Morrison was the favorite target of McCarney, catching five passes for 124 yards and a touchdown. McCord was again a workhorse in the backfield, rush- ing 27 times and for 203 yards to go with his four touchdowns on the ground.

McCarney has been one of the most efficient players in the FCS this season, as he ranks in the top 10 for total offense. McCarney attributes his success this year to “the overall team effort. I wouldn’t be able to do the things I do without my offensive line giving me time to throw the ball and making hole in the run game. Having Jordan next to me in the backfield is another reason I am able to run the ball efficiently.”

On top of their exceptional offense, the Raiders have also been great on defense, with sophomore Mike Armiento stepping up with eight tackles while breaking up two passes. The Raiders lost leading senior tackler Pat Friel midway through the third quarter.

“He is our team captain and the quarterback of the defense. Unfortunately, football is a violent sport and there are injuries that occur. We really didn’t change much in our play calling, we just needed people to step up and that’s what they did,” Armiento said about Friel’s injury.

After their big win against the Leopards, the Raiders are focusing on next week in a highly anticipated matchup against number six Lehigh Mountain Hawks, who are 8-0. The winner of that game will be the winner of the Patriot League title and will recieve the automatic berth into the FCS Playoffs.

Contact Spencer Serling at [email protected].