Nov. 6, 2010
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HAMILTON, N.Y. - Colgate generated 415 yards of total offense, including 212 from the legs of Nate Eachus, on the way to a 24-14 win over Lafayette on Saturday at Andy Kerr Stadium.
Colgate (5-4, 2-2) quarterback Pat Sullivan, who was listed as doubtful entering the week, started on the Raiders' senior day. He rushed for 76 yards while completing 11-of-18 pass for 127 yards and two interceptions.
Facing one of the top rushers in the nation in Eachus, the Lafayette defense looked ready to go early on in the game. LB Nick Nardone helped stop the Raiders' opening drive, picking off a pass in the end zone with the Raiders threatening from the Lafayette 24.
Another defensive stop seven minutes into the game forced a Colgate punt to midfield. Jet Kollie returned it 16 yards to the 34 and a personal foul penalty against Colgate followed. The Leopards took over at the Colgate 19 with 7:51 left. Marc Quilling, who was making his second start of the season, hit Kyle Hayes for 18 yards. That strike set up Alan Elder's one-yard touchdown plunge between the tackles. Lafayette led 7-0.
Four seconds into the second quarter, Colgate cut the Lafayette lead to 7-3 on a 26-yard field goal by Evan Colborne.
Later in the second quarter, Colgate was using Eachus to move the ball down the field. He picked up 42 yards on the drive before a 1st-and-10 at the Lafayette 25. On a 14-yard rush by Eachus, Kyle Simmons upended him, forcing a fumble that Mike Schmidlein recovered at the eight.
The Leopards (2-7, 1-2) returned the favor, however, when Zach Smith tipped a Quilling inside screen pass. Lamont Sonds corralled it and returned the interception three yards for a touchdown and a 10-7 advantage.
Lafayette turned it over again on its next possession. Demitri Diamond picked off a pass at the Colgate 32-yard line and returned it 19 yards. Four plays later, Colgate capitalized on the opportunity with a 34-yard touchdown run by Eachus. Colgate took a 17-7 lead into the locker room
In the second half, the Lafayette offense started with a three-and-out. The Raiders took over on the Lafayette 49. A 14-yard run by Sullivan and a 20-yard Sullivan pass to Gigi Cadet, placed Colgate at the 11-yard line. Two plays later Eachus finished the drive with a nine-yard TD scamper that gave Colgate a 24-7 lead.
The Leopards worked their way back into the game, using a nine-play, 90-yard drive that spanned the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarter. Quilling passed to a wide-open Layton in the corner of the end zone for a TD. Lafayette trailed 24-14 with 13 minutes remaining. Layton finished the day with four catches for 90 yards, including a spectacular one-handed grab with a defender draped on him.
The Lafayette coaching staff was looking to the defense for a stop and the Leopards responded. Kyle Simmons picked off a Sullivan pass and returned it 16 yards to the Colgate 31. The Leopard offense got moving when Quilling's pass to Greg Kessel moved the Leopards to the Colgate 18. Lafayette gave up a pair of 10-yard sacks that took the offense out of field-goal range. Quilling's fourth-down pass attempt toward Hayes in triple coverage resulted in a Chris Dimassa interception.
Colgate ticked off seven minutes from the game clock on the ensuing possession, leaving Lafayette with just 1:21. On his second pass attempt of the drive, Quilling was intercepted by Dimassa to keep the final at 24-14. Quilling finished the day 17-of-33 for 253 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions.
Lafayette wraps up the season with a pair of home games, hosting Holy Cross on Nov. 13 and Lehigh on Nov. 20.
NOTES:
Kyle Hayes served as the Special Teams captain.
Freshman TB Pat Mputu faced off against his brother Jonathan, a sophomore wide receiver on the Colgate squad. Pat finished with eight carries for 33 yards and three catches for 44 yards.
