HAMILTON – Colgate's first punt return for a touchdown allowed since 2013 came at an inopportune time, as Richmond's Ja'Vion Griffin's 87-yard fourth-quarter score with less than five minutes remaining made the difference in a 24-19 decision on a fall-esque Saturday afternoon at Andy Kerr Stadium.
Colgate came in having shut out each of its last two opponents in the fourth quarter, but two scores from Richmond led to four lead changes in the final 15:00. The Spiders scored two plays into the frame on a 75-yard pitch and catch from Ashten Snelshire to Andreas Hill to giving the visitors a 17-13 lead.
Jake Stearney immediately orchestrated a nine-play, 79-yard response capped off by an eight-yard touchdown strike to Reed Swanson. Colgate converted three third downs on the drive, and after a missed extra point, led 19-17 five minutes into the final quarter.
The Raiders forced a three-and-out on defense but couldn't capitalize on offense, with a 3rd-and-5 opportunity falling short before Griffin's go-ahead punt return gave Richmond the lead for good with 4:28 showing. A penalty flag seemingly against Richmond was picked up on the play.
Despite the outcome Stearney became the eighth quarterback in program history with multiple 300-yard passing games. He threw for 322 yards on 25-of-45 with two touchdowns. Reed Swanson tallied a career-high 113 yards on seven receptions – including a career-long of 42 – in the absence of the nation's leading receiver, Treyvhon Saunders, who was injured on the first drive of the game and did not return.
Richmond scored the only points of the first quarter on a 12-play 80-yard drive that finished with a one-yard touchdown run by Snelsire. Colgate drove 54 yards in eight plays, highlighted by a 42-yard catch by Swanson, to set up its first points of the day when Luke Vogeler split the uprights from 38 yards to trim the deficit to 7-3 early in the second quarter.
The Raiders found the end zone late in the first half – a 13-yard strike from Stearney to Hutchison to cap a 92-yard drive and give Colgate a 10-7 lead with 5:24 remaining. The Spiders finished the half on offense, going 71 yards in 11 plays before a 24-yard field goal tied the game at 10-10 at the intermission.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, but the Raiders opened the fourth quarter with a 1st-and-goal from the Richmond 6-yard-line. After two short runs and an incomplete pass, Vogeler's go-ahead 20-yard field goal put the Raiders in front 13-10 early in the frame.
Richmond quickly responded with a 75-yard touchdown from Snelsire to Hill at 14:00, taking a 17-13 lead. Colgate regained the lead at 9:52 with a touchdown pass from Stearney to Swanson, but the missed extra point left the score at 19-17.
The fourth and final lead change of the quarter came on Griffin's 87-yard punt return that gave the Spiders a 24-19 lead. Colgate's last gasp ended with an interception deep in its own territory. Richmond took a knee to close out the final minute and secure the 24-19 final.
NOTES
- Colgate accumulated 402 total yards, its fourth game eclipsing 400 yards of total offense.
- Jake Stearney's 322 passing yards were the second most in his career, trailing only his career-high 360-yard game vs Lehigh in November 2023.
- Stearney became the eighth player in program history and first since Jake Melville '17 to have multiple 300-yard passing games in a Colgate career.
- Reed Swanson's 113 receiving yards bested his previous high of 110 earlier this season at Syracuse. His 42-yard reception in the first quarter was a career-long.
- Brady Hutchison tied his career high with eight receptions on his way to his 10th career touchdown catch.
- Kenny Langston, Christian Magliacano, and Elijah Hamilton led the defense with six tackles apiece. Langston's six stops tied his career best.
UP NEXT
Colgate (2-4, 1-1 Patriot) is on the road for three of its next four games, starting next Saturday when the Raiders face Georgetown (3-3, 0-1 Patriot) in Washington, D.C., with kickoff set for 1 p.m.
