Football Kicks Off 2023 Season on Saturday

Raiders open 2023 season at Syracuse on Saturday

HAMILTON – With Fall Ball coming to a close, the Colgate football team is ready to begin the 2023 season on Saturday at Central New York foe Syracuse.

Just like the 2022 season, the Raiders will start the new year on the road at an FBS opponent. The series between Colgate and Syracuse is currently tied at 31 wins each, with the last 16 wins going to the Orange.

"We had a lot of work to do coming off the last season," said Fred '50 and Marilyn Dunlap Head Football Coach Stan Dakosty. "As a program, we set some new standards and expectations. We have implemented high levels of accountability with our leadership to keep pushing through and getting this program back to where it needs to be, where it should have been, and where it has been. So, I think that from that standpoint, we're excited.

Colgate was picked third in the Patriot League Preseason Poll for a consecutive year. The Raiders picked up league wins against Georgetown and Bucknell last season. Michael Brescia, Tyler Flick, Bardhyl Gashi, Owen Goss, and Shelby Pruett landed a spot on the 2023 Patriot League All-League Preseason Team.

Colgate returns 15 starters from last season to go along with 29 newcomers. The 2023 roster is made of 26 first-years, 23 sophomores, 15 juniors, 23 seniors, and three fifth-years.

"Overall, we got a good mix of guys that have been around and have played, but we also have some guys that were thrown into the fire last year. They got some experience early on in their careers that they can carry over into this season. At the end of the day, this team is a fun team to be around, a fun team to coach, and very tight-knit. It's easy to see that they love football and love the process."

OFFENSE
Just like the past season and a half, Brescia will lead the offense as QB1. The junior led the offense in rushing yards (751), passing yards (1,656), and rushing touchdowns (13) during last year's campaign. Brescia also hit the 1,000 rushing yards milestone against Georgetown on Oct. 20, 2022, and finished the season at 1,319 rushing yards.

Brescia will be surrounded by plenty of weapons this season as sophomores Brady Hutchison and Treyvhon Saunders are probable starters at wide receiver. Saunders caught 24 receptions for 285 yards, including three touchdowns last season. Hutchison captured 24 receptions for 281 yards in his first-year campaign.

Running backs Jaedon Henry and Max Hurleman are both looking for explosive senior seasons after stellar junior years. Henry rushed for 442 yards and two touchdowns, and Hurleman recorded 397 rushing yards last year.

Senior Gashi returns to the offensive trenches for Colgate after earning a spot on the 2022 All-League Offensive Second Team.

DEFENSE
Fifth-year Flick returns to Hamilton after leading the defense last season. Flick recorded a team-high 93 tackles and 8.5 tackles for a loss of 25 yards while garnering All-League Second Team Defense, Academic All-Patriot League, and NFF Hampshire Honor Society Team honors.

Captain Goss is returning to the gridiron from injury last season and is ready for battle. Goss recorded 20 tackles and three forced fumbles in seven games. The senior recorded a season-high six stops in Colgate's historic win over Maine on Sept. 10, 2022.

The defensive trenches will be back to full strength this year after losing fifth-year Zack Pelland and senior K2 Dickens to injury in 2022. Pelland played in five games for the Raiders last season, recording 10 tackles, one being a tackle for loss. Dickens recorded nine stops in five games, including an assisted tackle for a loss of two yards.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Colgate returns the 2022 Patriot League First Team Punter Shelby Pruett to highlight the special teams. Pruett punted 58 times last season for 2,434 yards. He also recorded 11 punts over 50 yards, with his longest of the season for 57 yards.

Senior Jacob Jaworski gets the nod at placekicker this season after serving in a backup role last year. Two Raiders will make their special teams and collegiate debuts against the Orange in kickoff returner Luke Vogeler and long snapper Terry Mowrey.

SCHEDULE
The Raiders stay on the road after Syracuse heading to Villanova on Sept. 9 before returning to Hamilton for the 2023 home opener against Penn on Sept. 16. Colgate opens conference play on the road at Holy Cross on Sept. 23. The Raiders host four more games at Andy Ker Stadium this season with Dartmouth (Oct. 14), Bucknell (Oct. 28), Lehigh (Nov. 11), and Fordham (Nov. 18) all coming to Hamilton.

"When we play the Power-5 programs, we go into those games with the same mindset as every other game. We're going to line up, fight, and play competitive football. In the locker room after the game, if it's a loss, we are upset. We have a great conference in the Patriot League. We're going to play against a lot of great teams. Add that to playing some of the top teams from a conference like the CAA and Ivy League. There are never any cupcakes on our schedule, but that's who we are. I list every game with the same sense that the opponent's going to be as difficult as the next."

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Players Mentioned

#5 Michael Brescia: QB; 6' 3"; Junior

#0 K2 Dickens: DL; 6' 2"; Senior

#47 Tyler Flick: LB; 6' 1"; Fifth Year

#77 Bardhyl Gashi: OL; 6' 3"; Senior

#27 Owen Goss: DB; 6' 0"; Senior

#3 Jaedon Henry: RB; 6' 0"; Senior

#28 Max Hurleman: RB; 6' 0"; Senior

#14 Brady Hutchison: WR; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#48 Jacob Jaworski: PK/P; 5' 10"; Senior

#52 Terry Mowrey: LS; 6' 0"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#5 Michael Brescia
: 6' 3"; Junior
: QB

#0 K2 Dickens
: 6' 2"; Senior
: DL

#47 Tyler Flick
: 6' 1"; Fifth Year
: LB

#77 Bardhyl Gashi
: 6' 3"; Senior
: OL

#27 Owen Goss
: 6' 0"; Senior
: DB

#3 Jaedon Henry
: 6' 0"; Senior
: RB

#28 Max Hurleman
: 6' 0"; Senior
: RB

#14 Brady Hutchison
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: WR

#48 Jacob Jaworski
: 5' 10"; Senior
: PK/P

#52 Terry Mowrey
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: LS