HAMILTON, N.Y. (9/23/06) – For the second straight season a Northeast Conference opponent came into Andy Kerr Stadium snapping victory away from the Raiders.  David Sinisi tallied a pair of rushing touchdowns to lead undefeated Monmouth (4-0) to a 17-12 upset win over Colgate (1-2) Saturday.

 

The Raiders have won 22 of their last 25 games at Andy Kerr Stadium with two of the three losses coming against Northeast Conference foes.  Last year, Central Connecticut, out of the Northeast Conference, snapped Colgate’s 21-game home winning streak in the season opener.

 

Monmouth opened the scoring on its second possession of the game driving 91 yards in 17 plays for a 7-0 lead.  The Hawks had their backs to wall after Colgate’s Jason Sutton (North Easton, MA) nailed a 53-yard punt to the Monmouth nine-yard line.

 

Colgate appeared to have the Hawks stopped at the home team’s 47-yard line with a fourth-and-six situation.  However, Monmouth punter Sean Dennis took off down the sideline after receiving a high snap from center.  He scrambled to the Colgate 35 for a first down.  Seven plays later, Sinisi scored the first of his two touchdowns with a three-yard run.  Fred Weingart added the extra point.

 

Midway through the second quarter, Colgate appeared to have something going until Mike Saraceno (Sunrise, FL) was intercepted by Monmouth’s David Jiles at the visitors’ 10-yard line.

 

On the final drive of the opening half, Colgate again moved deep into Monmouth territory, before the drive stalled when the clock run out with the Raiders on the 11-yard line.

 

In the third quarter, Colgate had a 58-yard touchdown pass from Saraceno to flanker Erik Burke (Traverse City. MI) called back on a holding penalty on the first offensive series.  The Raiders overcame the penalty and appeared to have another touchdown later in the drive, but Burke dropped a pass in the end zone.  Two plays later, Colgate misfired on a fourth-and-six pass play, turning the ball over to the Hawks.

 

With under two minutes left in the quarter, Monmouth took a 14-0 lead on Sinisi’s one-yard run that capped a 74-yard drive in nine plays.  The Hawks started the drive in excellent field position at their own 41-yard line following a 15-yard kicking catching interference penalty on the kickoff.  The big play in the drive was a 22-yard pass play from Brian Boland to Adam San Miguel to the Colgate 34 on third-and-seven.

 

A 48-yard kickoff return by David Morgan (Davie, FL) jump started Colgate’s first touchdown of the game.  Seven plays later, Robert Wenger (Coral Springs, FL) bolted in from one-yard out for the first touchdown of his career.  The extra point attempt was blocked by Monmouth’s Matt Hill.

 

On Monmouth’s next possession, wide receiver Chris Kiley fumbled a completed pass at the Colgate 28-yard line.  The ball was picked up by Colgate strong safety Geoff Bean (Oneonta, NY), who raced 72 yards with the longest fumble recovery for a touchdown in school history.  Colgate was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty on the return, and was forced to attempt a two-point conversion from the 19-yard line.  The attempt failed leaving Colgate trailing 14-12.

Monmouth came right back on its next possession to score on a 26-yard field goal by Weingart to take a 17-12 lead.  Colgate’s final attempt to win the game ended in an interception of Saraceno at the Colgate 35-yard line, allowing the Hawks to run out the clock.

 

Colgate had 340 yards of offense (100 on the ground and 240 through the air), while Monmouth managed 289.  The Raiders’ leading rusher was sophomore Jordan Scott (Hyattsville, MD) with 21 carries for 43 yards, while Saraceno finished 16-of-30 passing for 240 yards and two interceptions.  Morgan had a personal best five receptions for 84 yards.

 

Junior linebacker Mike Gallihugh (Midlothian, VA) led the way with a career-high 16 tackles, while David Wesley (Dupont, PA) had nine tackles and defensive end Ryan Keller (Colts Neck, NJ) eight.