Box Score Sept. 26, 2009
Final Stats |
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Hamilton, N.Y. - Football coaches talk about points left on the field. Such was the case for Fordham on Saturday night as the Rams missed two field goals and two extra points as they fell to Colgate, the defending Patriot League champions, 20-12 in the league-opener for both teams at Andy Kerr Stadium. With the loss, Fordham falls to 0-3 overall on the year while Colgate remains perfect at 4-0.
The game ended on an odd play as Fordham quarterback John Skelton was sacked with under ten seconds left on the Colgate 28 and the Rams out of time outs. Fordham rushed to the line and appeared to have gotten the snap off in time but the players were confused. Some stopped playing, assuming the game was over while others started running the play. Skelton himself took a few steps back and stopped before rolling out to his right and finding David Moore in the end zone but there was no touchdown signal from the officials. The referee gathered with some of the other officials and, after a few minutes, signaled that the snap did not happen before the game ended.
The final Fordham drive almost ended back on the Fordham one as the Rams faced a fourth and 22 from the one after Skelton was sacked with 48 seconds left. But Skelton found Jason Caldwell over the middle for a 33-yard gain and three plays later, hit Caldwell again for a 46-yard gain, on fourth down from the Fordham 34. But Skelton was sacked back to the 28 on the next play and then the officials ruled that the final play didn't start in time.
The scored was tied at six at the break as each team scored a touchdown and missed a PAT. Colgate took the second half kickoff and drove from its own 23 to the Fordham 19 where an Evan Goldszak 36-yard field goal attempt was no good.
On their next possession, the Raiders took over on their own 20 following a 73-yard Patrick Murray punt into the end zone. Colgate covered the 80 yards on eight plays with Greg Sullivan finding Pat Symonds in the end zone with an 18-yard scoring strike to put the Raiders up 13-6 with 4:52 left in the third.
The Rams responded with a seven-play, 70-yard drive of their own with Darryl Whiting taking it in from the two but Murray's extra-point attempt was tipped and Fordham trailed 13-12 with 2:14 remaining in the quarter.
After the Rams held the Raiders to a three-and-out, Fordham took over on its own 38 following a punt. On third and ten, Skelton found his brother, Stephen Skelton, for an 11-yard completion and, three plays later, Skelton kept out of the pocket for a 14-yard pick-up and a first down on the Colgate 36. Two plays later, Skelton hit Patrick Miller over the middle for a 20-yard gain to put the ball on the Colgate 15. But the drive would stall and a 38-yard Murray field goal attempt was wide right.
The Raiders running game took over as eleven straight rushes put the ball on the Fordham seven where Sullivan rolled right and threw back to the left to a wide open Nick Cvetic in the end zone to put Colgate up, 20-12, with 5:30 left in the game.
Both teams had multiple chances to score in the first half but each defense responded. The Raiders had the first opportunity on their second possession as they drove from their own 41 to the Fordham one where Colgate faced a first and goal. Three running plays couldn't get the Raiders into the end zone and on fourth down, Jordan McCord fumbled as he crossed the goal line and the ball was recovered by Fordham's James Crockett for a touchback.
The Rams wasted no time moving into Colgate territory as John Skelton found Asa Lucas over the middle with a 37-yard pass, putting the ball on the Colgate 43. Skelton moved Fordham down to the Colgate four but he couldn't pick up the first down on a keeper on fourth and one and the Rams turned the ball over.
The Raiders took over and drove to the Fordham 19 where Evan Goldszak lined up or a field goal attempt. But the snap was low and Isa Abdul El-Quddus pounced on the ball for the Rams.
Xavier Martin took a screen pass from Skelton on the third play of the ensuing drive, placing the ball on the Colgate 38. The Rams got the ball down to the 23 but a penalty backed them up to the 33 where the drive stalled and Kevin Heinowitz attempted a 49-yard field goal. The kick had the distance but sailed wide left.
Colgate took over on its own 32 and nine plays later had a second and goal from the Fordham one where Greg Sullivan scampered around the left side for the score.
The Rams enjoyed good field possession as Darryl Robinson returned the kickoff to midfield where Skelton went to work. On the first play he hooked up with Jason Caldwell for a 17-yard gain and, after a six-yard Darryl Whiting rush, Skelton picked up eleven on a run out of the pocket. After Whiting gained two on another carry, Skelton lofted a ball for Caldwell in the right side of the end zone for the score with 1:47 left in the half.
Skelton completed 14 of 29 passes for 255 yards and the one score for the Rams while Caldwell led all Fordham receivers with six catches for 119 yards and Lucas had two for 54 yards.
Defensively, James Crockett led all tacklers in the game with eleven, eight solo, including one for loss and he also recovered a fumble. Allen added ten stops for Fordham, one for loss, while Nick Magiera and Isa Abdul El-Quddus each finished with eight.
The Rams will next be in action as they return to Jack Coffey Field to host the Old Dominion University Monarchs next Saturday, October 3rd, at 1:00 p.m. as part of 2009 Homecoming Weekend.
