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BRONX, N.Y. -- Mike Armiento's 15th career interception was a defensive highlight for Colgate, but 10th-ranked Fordham won a battle of undefeated Patriot League teams, 37-13.
 
It was a one-score game late in the first half here Saturday before the Rams took advantage of three straight Colgate turnovers and a safety. Fordham improved to 8-1 overall and 4-0 in conference; the Raiders are 4-5 and 2-1.
 
Armiento's pick came with 4:18 left on the third-quarter clock. The senior defensive back now has 15 interceptions for his career to move into a tie for second on the Patriot League chart. He's third in Colgate history, just one behind Paul Lawler (1974, 76-78).
 
Charles Cairnie was the game's tackle leader with a career-high 10, including two behind the line of scrimmage. Armiento and Kyle Diener contributed nine stops apiece, while Adam Bridgeforth had eight.
 
Colgate finished with 202 rushing yards. James Holland led the way with 71 yards on just seven carries, and his 46-yarder on the last play of the first quarter was the longest rush by a Raiders tailback this season.
 

Raider touchdowns were scored by Bret Mooney on a 1-yard run and John Maddaluna III on a 32-yard pass from Mooney.
 
Colgate's Senior Day is next Saturday, with Lafayette visiting Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
 
Bottom Line
• Fordham 37, Colgate 13.

Won-Lost Records
• Colgate drops to 4-5 overall and 2-1 in the Patriot League.
• Fordham improves to 8-1 overall and 4-0 in the Patriot League.

Facts & Figures
• Colgate rushed for 202 yards in the game, marking the team's fifth game over 200 this season.
• The Raiders outgained Fordham on the ground, 202-180, but the Rams made up the difference through the air, 279-73.
• James Holland led the Colgate rushing attack with 71 yards on seven carries. His 46-yard burst on the final play of the first quarter was a season-long for the Raider tailbacks. Demetrius Russell added 57 yards, John Wilkins 51 and James Travellin 22.
• Quarterback Bret Mooney scored the first touchdown and then threw the first TD pass of his young career. Mooney scored from 1 yard out early in the second quarter to make it 13-6, and then his strike to Maddaluna late in the fourth closed the scoring.
• Maddaluna finished with three catches for 59 yards and the one touchdown. It was his first score of the season.
• Mooney was making his third straight start at quarterback in place of Jake Melville, who is still recovering from an illness. Mooney was 5-of-18 passing for 73 yards and one touchdown against three interceptions.
• Fordham quarterback Peter Maetzold, playing for the injured Mike Nebrich, was 27-of-38 passing for 279 yards and three touchdowns. Freshman Chase Edmonds carried 25 times for 114 yards and two scores for the Rams.

• The Raiders entered the game leading the Patriot League in turnover margin at +1.00 per game and with just five turnovers for the season. But Colgate turned the ball over three times and finished minus-2 in the turnover column.
 
Turning Point
• Colgate committed three straight turnovers from late in the second quarter to early in the third.
• The Raiders trailed just 13-6 and were coming off a terrific defensive stand in their own territory. But Fordham turned those picks into 12 points and added safety soon after to open a 21-point advantage.
 
Tough Kicking
• There were four blocked kicks in the game, two by each team.
• Colgate's Victor Steffen and C.J. Stempeck got their hands on a pair of Fordham PAT tries. Steffen's play happened in the first quarter, Stempeck's in the second.
• The Raiders had a punt blocked and a PAT attempt batted down.
 
Records Watch
• Mike Armiento's third interception in the last five games and 15th for his career moves him into a tie for second in Patriot League history alongside Lafayette's Angel Colon (1996-99). Holy Cross' Dave Murphy (1986-89) is the all-time conference leader with 28.
• Cairnie's 10 tackles Saturday were a career high. His previous best was five against Princeton.
 
From the Sources
• Colgate head coach Dan Hunt: (On the game) "The first half was played in our own end of the field for the most part. We had a long field to go for most of the first half, and we weren't consistent enough to be able to flip that.
"The blocked punt really hurt us, but our goal all week was to get it to halftime within striking distance and we were there. We turned it over on three straight drives and you can't do that against a team as good as Fordham. They're going to put you away every time. That's where it got away from us.
"But the kids kept playing hard. The identity of this team is they are going to play hard regardless of the score, and they did. Out execution has to get better, particularly on offense. It will come. We're a young team."

(On scoring late) "We had a couple of drives where we were stopped in their territory, so to end with points is always a nice thing. We have to find a way to produce more meaningful points earlier in the games. When our defense is playing that well, we have to be able to reward that with points. That's the next step for us."
(On returning home) "The only thing that happened today is we lost control of our own destiny. We're going to need help if we're going to win the Patriot League championship. We have to look at it one game at a time.
"The chance to finish an undefeated home season, last home game for the seniors – there's a lot to play for. This team will keep fighting."
• Colgate safety Mike Armiento: (On his interception) "We knew they liked to drive on third-and-long, and I was the short-dropper. I got right under the dig and I saw it coming. I just did my job and tried to do my 1/11th like on every play. I was in the right position to make the play.
(On the defense) "We were focusing on swarming to the ball and we did a good job of that. We wanted to keep them from making the big play.
(On next week against Lafayette) "We're undefeated at home, so that's a positive. We just have to take them one game at a time. We don't control our own destiny, but we can still win-out and have a chance to win this league. That's how we're going to attack it."
• Colgate offensive lineman Jordi Dalmau: (On Saturday's position adjustments) "They moved me to right (tackle) and put Jeff (Koch) at left; he's more comfortable there. We were just as comfortable with Jeff in there."
• Colgate linebacker Charles Cairnie: (On his 10 tackles) "Coach had good play-calls. They tended to pull the tackle and I would just get inside. It wasn't really anything new; the plays were there for me to make."
(On looking ahead) "There's nothing we can do about this loss. We just have to win out and hopefully something happens with Fordham. We just have to keep pushing forward."
 
Gate Grab Bag
• Saturday's crowd at Jack Coffey Field was 6,622.
• Dan Hunt was the featured guest Friday night at a "Colgate Football Conversation," held in Manhattan at the New York Yacht Club. Hunt talked football for two hours with more than 60 alumni and parents.
 
Up Next
• Colgate hosts Senior Day next Saturday against Lafayette (3-6, 1-3 Patriot). The Leopards are coming off a 27-24 overtime loss at Bucknell. Kickoff from Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium is 1 p.m.