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ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Colgate forced an opening-drive turnover and turned it into points, and the Raiders added a fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Jake Melville to John Quazza.
 
But Navy controlled in between and posted a 48-10 decision in the season-opener for both teams.
 
The Raiders were up to the task early as Navy on its first possession faced 3-and-20 from its own 5-yard line. Navy's Chris Swain carried for 17 yards but was struck by Kyle Diener.
 
Swain fumbled and Colgate's Keyon Washington was on the spot for the recovery.
 
Colgate marched to the Navy 2 and converted a Jonah Bowman field goal for a 3-0 lead.
 
But Navy rebounded with a field-goal drive on its ensuing possession and then scored four touchdowns before halftime for a 31-3 lead at intermission.
 
It was 38-3 when Melville lofted one to the left sideline. Quazza hauled it in and made his way into the checkerboard end zone for Colgate's first touchdown of the season.
Bottom Line
• Navy 48, Colgate 10

Won-Lost Records
• Colgate opens its season 0-1.
• Navy is 1-0.

Facts & Figures
• Colgate finished with 20 first downs to Navy's 19, and the Raiders easily won the time-of-possession battle with more than 33 minutes on offense.
• But Navy chalked up 371 rushing yards and added four quick strikes that led to four touchdowns.
• Navy scored touchdowns on four consecutive first-half possessions.
• There were three fumbles in the game and all three resulted in points.
• Colgate cashed in for an early field goal and Navy scored a pair of touchdowns, including a 54-yard fumble return by Kevin McCoy late in the fourth quarter.
• Colgate was 3-of-4 on fourth-down conversions.
 
Individual Breakdown
• John Wilkins rushed 15 times for 69 yards, and Demetrius Russell added 11 carries for 64 yards. Wilkins broke free for the team's long gain of 27.
• Jake Melville carried 11 times for 29 yards, and completed 14-of-26 passes for another 127.• He connected with John Quazza for Colgate's first touchdown of the season, a 24-yarder in the fourth quarter that made it a 38-10 ballgame.
• Alex Greenawalt led the Raider receivers with five catches for 48 yards. John Maddaluna III added four for 35.
• Navy's Swain carried 11 times for a game-high 126 yards and the 52-yard TD.
• The Raider defense limited Midshipman quarterback Keenan Reynolds to 21 rushing yards on 11 carries. Reynolds did score on a 1-yard touchdown early in the second quarter.
• Reynolds passed only six times, completing three. But one connection covered 44 yards to Jamir Tillman and set up Quintin Ezell's second TD of the game just before half.
• Tillman caught all three Navy passes for 67 yards.
• Colgate tackle leaders were Washington and Christian Hardegree with seven apiece. Four Raiders had five tackles apiece, including Victor Steffen.
• Steffen had the game's only sack, a 5-yard loss in the third quarter.
• Charles Cairnie posted four tackles, and three of those were for lost yardage to lead all defenders.
 
Turning Point
• Colgate's defense was sharp at the start. Navy's first three snaps resulted in a 5-yard loss, a no-gainer and a holding penalty.
• On Navy's fourth snap of the game, running back Chris Swain broke free for 17 yards but fumbled after being hit by Colgate linebacker Kyle Diener.
• Keyon Washington pounced on the loose ball and the Raiders were in business at the Navy 23.
• Colgate converted one fourth-down try but then was stopped short of the marker on a third-and-2 at the Midshipman 3-yard line.
• Jonah Bowman came on and converted the field goal, but Navy took advantage of that defensive hold and reeled off 38 consecutive points.
First-Timers
• Pat Afriyie at linebacker and Hardegree in the secondary made their first collegiate starts for Colgate.
• Seven first-year Raiders saw action: Ben Hunt, Tyler Castillo, Cortney Mimms, Dillon DeIullis, Owen Rockett, Thomas Ives and Nick Martinsen.
 
From the Sources
• Colgate head coach Dan Hunt: (On Navy) "They were good and we knew they were going to be good. Their scheme was tough and I was impressed with their defense. And we helped them, that's the other thing. We didn't play how we needed to play; that's pretty obvious from watching the game.

"From the offensive side, particularly in the first half when it was still tied or a one-score game, we had a couple of dropped passes and a couple of missed passes and penalties. You can't do that when you're playing a good team and we got bitten.

"Defensively, we were on the field quite a bit and we have to tackle better.

(On the fast start) "It was great to see the defense come out that wasy. Obviously, we needed to get a touchdown there and had to settle for a field goal. But it's always good when you can start your season with a positive play and with a positive start defensively.

"Again, we need to execute that drive, finish and get it in the end zone for seven."
(On the new faces) "We had kids playing who we certainly weren't planning on having play, but we got hit pretty good by the injury bug during the game. A couple had injuries and a couple had cramps. We had kids who were force-fed some experience, which is a good thing, but some kids were playing out of position.

"It is what it is and sometimes injuries happen. We have the mentality that it's the next man up. A lot of kids got experience today, which is only going to help us down the road."

(On moving forward)
"Obviously, we need to improve. We need to improve all three aspects of the game. We are going to look at the film and we'll get better.

"I told the team that the one thing I was happy about was the effort was good. That was the good news. The bad news was the execution wasn't. We've got plenty to work on and we will."
 
• Colgate linebacker Kyle Diener: (On the game) "We didn't respond the way we wanted to when tough situations came our way. I can't speak about the whole game but in the first half we were disappointed in how we responded to tough situations.

(On moving forward) "We can't rely on talent. We have to step up and make things happen, and we didnt' do that today."
 
• Colgate tight end John Quazza: (On his touchdown) "Jake and I just connected. He threw it high and allowed me to go get it. I was right next to the pylon so I just reached over and got it in."

(On bouncing back) "Definitely. We've got to come out Monday and start firing because we have UNH next."
 
Gate Grab Bag
• Saturday's crowd at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium was 28,015.
 
Up Next
• Colgate opens its 2015 home season against New Hampshire in a 6 p.m. start.
• The Wildcats were ranked seventh in the preseason FCS coaches poll but lost 43-13 Thursday night at FBS opponent San Jose State.