WASHINGTON – For the second consecutive week Colgate traded leads in the fourth but ultimately came up one big play short in falling to Georgetown, 21-17, on Saturday afternoon at Cooper Field.
COACH FITZPATRICK'S COMMENTS
"Disappointing loss. We weren't good enough. We can play better and we're going to have to. Credit to Georgetown. They played inspired football. Coming off of their bye week, they were fresh. We had our chances. When we had to make a play, we just weren't quite making it. In the end we were just a big third down, big fourth down conversion short. The disappointing end, it's heartbreaking. There's no good way to say it. The scoreboard resets next week, it's 0-0 and we go from there."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Colgate took its first lead of the game, 17-14, when Jake Stearney rolled out and found Reed Swanson in the corner of the end zone for a 12-yard score with 9:59 left. Georgetown calmly responded with a six-play 69-yard drive ending with a touchdown to reclaim the lead for good, 21-17.
The Raiders failed to score on their final two possessions despite charging into Georgetown territory both times. After converting 4th-and-10 and driving to the Hoyas' 37-yard line in the final minute of regulation, Stearney's second interception of the game sealed the win for the home team.
Both teams got off to a fast start. Georgetown needed five plays to march 70 yards on its first possession. The big play was a 43-yard reception by Jimmy Kibble setting up a Dez Thomas II 14-yard scramble to put the home team in front 7-0 early.
Colgate found the same result on its first possession, using a methodical 16-play, 75-yard drive to knot the score. Two 4th-down conversions and a defensive holding penalty in the end zone set up Danny Shaban for a two-yard touchdown run to draw even 7-7 with 5:25 left in the frame.
Both teams traded possessions and punts for the remainder of the half. Georgetown missed a 42-yard field goal just before halftime, keeping the score 7-7 at the break.
The game's first turnover came in the end zone on Colgate's first possession of the second half. After Swanson caught a deep ball and darted 46 yards to set up the Raiders in Hoyas territory, Stearney's fade to Winston Moore was picked off by Brian Allen inside the right pylon.
Another promising Colgate drive ended with its third turnover on downs in Georgetown territory – and this time the Hoyas cashed in. The big play came on a 4th-and-1 conversion followed by a 20-yard completion setting up a two-yard TD by Savion Heart. Georgetown led 14-7 after three quarters.
NOTES
- With its first loss to Georgetown since 2011, Colgate is now 20-2 all-time against its Patriot League opponent.
- All four Colgate losses to FCS opponents this season have been decided by one possession. The Raiders are 0-4 in such games.
- Reed Swanson collected a career-high 11 receptions for a career-high 183 yards, including a career-high 46-yarder, along with a touchdown.
- Jake Stearney, who now has back-to-back 300-yard games, threw for a season-high 344 yards. He finished 23-of-39 with a touchdown and two interceptions.
- Dane Picariello led the defense with a career-high 11 tackles followed by Trooper Price's 10 stops.
UP NEXT
Colgate (2-5, 1-2 Patriot) is back on the road next Saturday to face Holy Cross (1-6, 1-1 Patriot) at 1 p.m.
