Game Details
When: Saturday, September 28 at 1 p.m.
Who: Colgate (1-3, 0-0 Patriot) vs. Penn (0-1, 0-0 Ivy League)
Where: Franklin Field, Philadelphia, PA
One Ivy League program wasn't enough — Colgate will test the likes of another Ivy League foe this week.Â
It's the penultimate non-conference game of the season for Colgate football, and the Raiders have an opportunity to head into Patriot League play with even more momentum. This time, Colgate heads to the City of Brotherly Love to face Penn.Â
Here are three things to know before the Raiders take on the Quakers in Penn's home opener.
OFFENSIVE CONNECTION
The win over Cornell proved what Fred '50 and Marilyn Dunlap Head Coach Stan Dakosty has said since Week 1: the Raiders' offense knows how to score, they just needed to click. Well, they did that and more last Saturday.
Colgate's offense is now averaging over 300 yards per game, with both rushing and reception averages hovering at five yards per attempt. The Raiders' trio at quarterback (Michael Brescia, Jake Stearney and Zach Osborne) combine for a 60% completion rate and average 170 passing yards per game.Â
Junior wide receiver Treyvhon Saunders recorded 79 yards on just six receptions, and fellow wideout Brady Hutchinson and running back Marco Maldonado both scored their first touchdowns of the season against Cornell.Â
The win gave the Raiders extra confidence facing their second-straight Ivy League opponent, and now Colgate has the ability to make adjustments to its success last week to keep Penn on its toes this Saturday.
PENN HELD STEADY AGAINST DELAWARE
Penn opens its home schedule after falling to Delaware, 29-22 on the road. The Quakers stayed within 10 points to the Blue Hens the entire game, but a late touchdown and turnover sealed their fate.Â
Penn put up nearly 400 yards of offense against Delaware in its season opener, and was 8-for-16 in third down conversions and a perfect 2-for-2 in fourth down conversions. The defense only allowed just 66 rushing yards, while holding Delaware to less than a 50% third down conversion rate and stopping two two-point conversion attempts.Â
The takeaway — the Quakers found success against a top CAA team in all three phases of the game. Dakosty and Co. will have to prepare for a team that knows how to stop the run game and how to score. The Quakers have a veteran team, so the Raiders will have to rely on their veteran experience. Â
PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAY ON DECK
Regardless of Saturday's outcome, it will be the springboard to the Raiders' start in conference play next week. Patriot League action starts for two future Colgate opponents, Bucknell and Lehigh, on Saturday as well.Â
A win this week would put Colgate as high as second place tie in the conference before its first Patriot League opponent steps foot in Andy Kerr Stadium next Saturday afternoon.Â
Picking up a win in a crucial non-conference game could help fuel the Raiders with momentum before facing defending co-champion Holy Cross on Oct. 5. Dakosty is 3-5 against Ivy League programs, including last week's win over Cornell, grabbing all three wins in the last two seasons.Â
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jake Stearney —So. — QB — Colgate
Stearney started for the first time in 2024 against Cornell last week, helping lead the Raiders' offense with 184 passing yards and a touchdown pass. The sophomore connected for 17 completions, bringing his season completion rate to just over 64%.Â
Christian Sweeney — 5th — LB — Colgate
Similar to the likes of fellow linebacker Cole Kozlowski, Sweeney sits behind his teammate with 31 tackles so far this year. He's recorded 2.5 tackles-for-loss and picked up his first sack of the season against Villanova. In the last two weeks, Sweeney's recorded double-digit tackles.Â
Bryce Myers — Sr. — TE — Penn
The Quakers' senior tight end should be a dynamic player on the offense both as a pass blocker and running routes. Myers has played in every game since his sophomore year, picking up over 300 yards just last season. He has a career average of 9.8 yards per reception, and was an Ivy League Preseason First Team member.
