Easton, Pa. — After a three and out from Lafayette (3-7, 2-3 Patriot League) to start the game, Colgate (4-6, 4-1 Patriot League) scored on their first play from scrimmage, a 64-yard touchdown run by freshman quarterback Michael Brescia. That was the longest Colgate run since 2016 when quarterback Jake Melville ran 75 yards to paydirt against Lehigh, also on the first play from scrimmage. Lafayette countered with an 18 play, 75-yard touchdown drive that took over 12 minutes. With the weather playing a major factor at this point in the game, all 18 plays were runs. Colgate maintained the lead as a high snap on the extra-point attempt kept it 7-6.
Lafayette took the lead in the second quarter with a 40-yard touchdown run by Jaden Sutton. This time, the extra point was good to make it 13-7. Colgate cut the lead in half thanks to a 25-yard field goal by Spencer Biscoe with 18 seconds to go gn the second quarter. Biscoe then tied the contest in the third quarter by kicking a 20-yard field goal.
The weather improved in the second half but points were still hard to come by as the next score came on a two-yard TD run by Brescia, his second of the day with only 1:27 left in the fourth. A 43-yard pass from Brescia to Garrett Oakey on third and 10 at the Colgate 44 was the highlight of this drive. 20-13 ended up the final score at Fisher Stadium as an Ah-Shaun Davis pass from the Colgate 28 fell incomplete on the last play of the game.
Brescia piled up 178 rushing yards, the most since quarterback Gavin McCarney also ran for 178 back in 2012 against Fordham. Leading the defensive charge was Milton Braasch II. The senior linebacker collected ten tackles and forced a fumble, his third of the season. This is game number 10 for
Stan Dakosty as the Fred '50 and Marilyn Dunlap Head Football Coach but his first in his home state of Pennsylvania.
FROM THE SOURCE
Colgate Head Coach Stan Dakosty
"It was a great team win. Really all three phases. We challenged the defense at halftime, they came out and they fought. Didn't give up any second-half points, got off the field, stopped the run.
Offensively, Lafayette's defense is really good. They have been playing well all year. We knew it was going to be a challenge but our guys fought. Our offensive guys did a great job. We got in the red zone. Obviously, we wanted to make those touchdowns. But (Spencer) Biscoe kicking those field goals kept us in it and helped us win at the end of the game. We challenged our guys at halftime that it's gonna be a street fight just the way the elements were. We're gonna play Colgate Football and we're gonna win. And they came out and they did."
Brescia on career long 43-yard pass and game winning TD run:
"It's funny, me and Oakey actually went to the same high school, never got to play with each other back in high school. But he made a great play. Just put it out there for him to make that play. Big players make great plays. That was great and then on the touchdown, the O-line did a great job blocking that up, giving me holes. I walked into the end zone which was amazing."
UP NEXT
Colgate closes out the 2021 season next Saturday at home. The Raiders host Fordham at 12 p.m. for Senior Day at Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium.
