Stats       Quotes     Photos

HAMILTON, N.Y. (10/3/2009) - Sophomore running back Nate Eachus (Drums, Pa.) rushed for 129 yards and 3 touchdowns as Colgate defeated Cornell 45-23 on Saturday.

Eachus led an outstanding Raider offensive effort during Homecoming Weekend, as Colgate gained 561 yards overall and 334 yards on the ground. The overall yardage total is Colgate's 11th highest in school history. Furthermore, Colgate is 5-0 for only the eighth time since the football program was created in 1895.
   
Colgate forced a Cornell punt to start the game and received the ball on its own 8-yard line. The Raiders then marched 92 yards in eight plays, capped off by a 34-yard touchdown run from Eachus in his first carry since missing three games due to injury. Eachus took the handoff from Sullivan's right, ran to his left through a gaping hole created by the offensive line, and scampered through the secondary for the score.
   
The Raider defense then forced the Big Red to punt after three straight incomplete passes. Starting with the ball on its 39-yard line, Colgate rushed six times and benefitted from a defensive pass interference call en route to a five-yard touchdown rush from sophomore Jordan McCord (Chicago, Ill.). The PAT gave Colgate a 14-0 lead.
   
Cornell took to the air on its next possession and got down to the Colgate 27. Brad Greenway then hit a career-long 45-yard field goal to cut Colgate's lead to 14-3. Junior Greg Sullivan (Monroe, N.Y.) responded by throwing a great 51-yard pass to McCord, who went out of the backfield and ran down the sideline uncovered before catching the ball. However, Sullivan then fumbled on a botched handoff. Colgate forced another Cornell punt however, leading to the Raiders' third touchdown drive of the game. Eachus capped off that scoring effort with a one-yard touchdown run, giving the Raiders a 21-3 advantage.
   
The Big Red responded in rapid-fire fashion with a 5-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Abdul Taylor took a reverse handoff 21 yards, and then quarterback Ben Ganter found Bryan Walters down the sideline for a 43-yard gain. Three plays later, running back Nick Mlady powered into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown.
   
Colgate then engineered one of its most interesting and impressive drives of the season. The Raiders committed three straight penalties at the start, giving them a 1st-and-32 from its own 10. McCord rushed for four yards and Sullivan then threw an incomplete pass to Simonds on the next play. On 3rd-and-28, Sullivan found freshman wide receiver John Schademan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) open on the sideline for a great 27-yard rainbow pass over a defensive back's outstretch hands. Then on 4th-and-1 from its own 41, Colgate elected to go for the first down, as Eachus rushed for four yards. The drive ended with a 29-yard field goal from Evan Colborne (Tampa, Fl.). Colborne was injured on the play after a roughing the kicker penalty. The Raiders entered halftime with a 24-10 lead.
   
Colgate opened the second half with another touchdown drive after McCord rushed 21 yards for his second score of the game. The key play of the drive was a 3rd-and-7 pass from Sullivan to senior wide receiver Pat Simonds (Sidney, N.Y.). First-year kicker Andy Heagle (East Syracuse, N.Y.) came in and kicked the PAT for his first career point. Cornell then drove into Colgate territory but was forced to punt. Schademan then starred on a 10-play, 90-yard touchdown drive that gave Colgate a 38-10 lead after Eachus' third touchdown run. Schademan caught a 25-yard pass on 3rd-and-15 and took a reverse handoff 19 yards as well. Eachus took a handoff nine yards for the touchdown.
   
Both teams threw interceptions on their next possessions, and Cornell ended up with the ball on the Colgate 32. Ganter threw a short pass to running back Randy Barbour, who took it for a 32-yard score. The PAT was no good. Colgate recovered an onside kick and then quickly scored a touchdown after Sullivan scored on a four-yard rush. Cornell scored its last touchdown when Emani Fenton recovered fumble and ran 32 yards for the score.
   
Colgate went 9-12 on third downs on the day and is 41-74 for the season.
   
The Raiders will now go on the road and play Princeton on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on ESPNU.
   
Game Notes … Colgate held the ball for 38:50 … The Raiders did not punt the ball … Colgate has now won its last 5 games against Ivy League schools … Colgate and Holy Cross remain the only undefeated teams in the Patriot League … Sullivan has only 3 turnovers in 5 games this season.