NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — Junior linebacker
Cole Kozlowski led the game in tackles for the sixth time this season, but Colgate fell to Merrimack in its last non-conference game of the season, 51-17.
Senior running back Brendan Cassamajor punched in his second rushing touchdown in as many games, and junior wide receiver Brady Hutchison caught Colgate's other touchdown, a 47-yard score on a crossing route.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both sides traded long drives on their opening series, but a penalty set Colgate behind the sticks and forced a 32-yard Luke Vogeler field goal as the Raiders only score of the first quarter.
- Colgate was gashed for 88 rushing yards on Merrimack's opening two drives, including a pivotal fourth-and-one conversion in the red zone that allowed the home side to claim a 10-3 lead halfway through the second.
- On the next possession, Merrimack took a screen pass 36-yards for a score to extend a 17-3 lead.
- The Raiders capitalized on two Warrior personal fouls in the second quarter with a powerful two-yard touchdown run from Cassamajor.
- With under two minutes remaining in the half, Kozlowski forced a fumble in the Colgate redzone, but a Merrimack interception kept the score at 17-10 entering halftime.
- Another Pruett punt was blocked by the Warriors on the Raiders' first drive of the second half, and they converted with a 19-yard touchdown run.
- Colgate did not fold, as Brady Hutchison hauled in a 47-yard touchdown pass that brought the Raiders to within two scores at 31-17.
- A quick Merrimack answer reasserted a three-score lead that would hold for the remainder of the game, extended by a pair of Warrior touchdowns with under three minutes left to play.
GAME NOTES
- Cassamajor ran in a touchdown for the second-straight game. He also added the longest rush of his career with a 16-yard burst in the third quarter in addition to the longest reception of his career, a 12-yard snag in the second quarter.
- Maldonado logged a new career high 16 carries. He also hauled in a personal-best 24-yard pass.
- Kozlowski forced his first fumble of the season, and Brody Hock recovered the first fumble of his career.
- Kozlowski led the game in tackles for the sixth time this season, posting nine tackles, a half of a tackle-for-a-loss, and a forced fumble.
- Junior wide receiver Treyvhon Saunders moved into sixth-place all time with 150 career receptions. He trails John Maddaluna '16 who caught 153 passes in his career.
UP NEXT
Colgate (2-6) stays on the road with a trip to Fordham (0-8) next Saturday, Nov. 2, at 1 p.m.
