EASTON, Pa. – Colgate's Michael Brescia ran in a two-yard touchdown with 1:17 left in the game to push Colgate past Lafayette, 20-17, on Saturday in Patriot League action at Fisher Stadium.
 
The Raiders' freshman quarterback finished with 178 rushing yards and 144 passing yards on the afternoon which featured rain, wind and eventually some sun amid 40-degree temperatures. For the Leopards, Jaden Sutton ended the day with 113 rushing yards (105 in the first half), including a 40-yard TD run.
 
The weather affected Senior Day for the 29 graduating players, as it began before the game and finished after the game due to weather forcing the field to be cleared during the ceremony. The start of the game was delayed approximately 20 minutes.
 
The Colgate offense was ready to go, breaking out for the first score of the game on its first play from scrimmage. Brescia ran it in 64 yards around the left end for the 7-6 lead.
 
The Leopards were more deliberate on their initial scoring drive. They used a season-high 18 plays, all selections for the run game, to score their first touchdown of the afternoon. Sutton, who got the start at tailback, picked up three yards when he need one to convert a crucial 4^th-and-1 at the Colgate 33. Seven plays later senior Selywn Simspon punched in a two-yard score. The snap on the PAT was high and the Leopards trailed 7-6 with a minute left in the first quarter.
 
The running game continued to work for the Leopards who rushed for 171 yards when Lafayette beat Colgate in the spring. Sutton continued with a strong first half, ripping off a 40-yard run down the home sideline. The Ed Rogowski snap to Jacob Trestik hold on the PAT was converted by Micah Pettit and Lafayette lead 13-7 with 2:57 left in the half.
 
Colgate used another big run from Brescia to put the Raiders in striking distance before the end of the half. His 59-yard run put the Raiders at the Lafayette 15 before A.T. Ntantang made a touchdown-saving tackle. The Lafayette defense stepped in and forced a 25-yard field by Spencer Biscoe. Lafayette led 13-10 at halftime.
 
The Leopards finished the half with 150 rushing yards while Colgate managed 168. The two offenses combined to throw the ball just five times before intermission amid the windy, rainy conditions. The second half was a different story as Lafayette ran for 47 yards to Colgate's 74 which threw for 139 yards in the second half after five passing yards in the first half.
 
As the second half opened, the Colgate special teams put its offense near midfield to start a drive following a 31-yard return by William Gruber. A 31-yard pass from Brescia to Garrett Oakey set up the game-tying field goal, a 20-yard boot by Briscoe at 9:45 in the third quarter.
 
With four minutes left in the third quarter, the Leopards had a chance to pull ahead with a 39-yard field goal. The attempt by Pettit was wide left and the game remained tied at 13-13.
 
At the start of the fourth quarter, Colgate appeared to take the lead with a field goal, but the Leopard defense was called for a formation penalty for lining up over the snapper. Colgate took the points off the board and was rewarded with a first down. The defense was up to the task, stopping a run up the middle on first down before Jordan Anderson picked off a Brescia pass in the end zone and returned it 14 yards to keep the tie intact. 
 
With nine and a half minutes left in the game, the Leopard special teams put them just short of midfield. A low snap on Colgate's punt allowed Tristan Tritt to pressure Colgate punter Shelby Pruett. Pruett was able to get the punt off, but for just nine yards, setting up Lafayette at its own 43-yard line.
 
With the sun out, the Leopards turned their attention to the pass. They picked up one first down on an Ah-Shaun Davis to K.J. Rodgers connection for six yards on a 3^rd-and-5 at the 48-yard line. The drive stalled just inside Colgate territory and Lafayette was forced to punt.
 
Colgate took over at its own 21 with six minutes left to play. Brescia's 43-yard pass to Oakey put the Raiders at the 13-yard line. Colgate picked up another first down before Brescia punched in a two-yard score to lead 20-13 with 1:27 left in the game.
 
Lafayette took over at its own 25-yard with one timeout left. Davis and the Leopards picked up three first downs, leaving Lafayette with the ball with three seconds left at the Colgate 28-yard line. Davis eluded pressure and got the ball to the end zone, but it was batted away from Joe Gillette to end the game.
 
Defensively, cornerback Caleb Burr made nine stops while Marco Olivas continued his All-Patriot League push with seven tackles and a pair of sacks for a unit that played without linebackers Billy Shaeffer and Preston Forney.
 
The team will shift its focus to Lehigh (2-8, 2-3) for Rivalry 157 on Saturday in Bethlehem with a noon start. The Leopards (3-7, 2-3) have won the last two contests against team brown and lead the all-time series 80-71-5.