Football Falls at Colgate

Hamilton, N.Y. - When making real maple syrup, like the syrup produced at farms in upstate New York near Hamilton (not that stuff you get at IHOP), there's no easy way to do it. Like most things that are worth it, it takes time. Time to tap the tree, boil the sap, and filter the final product. The Fordham football Rams ran into a sticky situation today as the Colgate offense managed to combined all three processes (offense, defense, and special teams), handing Fordham a 44-21 loss at Andy Kerr Stadium in the Patriot league opener for both teams.
 
With the loss, Fordham falls to 0-4 on the season while Colgate improves to 1-3.
 
Junior quarterback Gunnar Smith completed 24 of 42 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns with two of those scores going to sophomore wide receiver Jack Freeburg, who finished with seven receptions for 57 yards.
 
Senior linebacker Andrew Osmun led the Fordham defense with ten stops, seven solo, while sophomore defensive back Drew Minich and junior defensive back Justin Johnson each added six stops.
 
How it Happened
• After falling behind 7-0, Fordham responded with a touchdown with 11:20 left in the first quarter to tie the game at 7-7 on a five-yard pass from Smith to Freeburg.
 
• Colgate scored to go ahead 14-7 before the Rams responded to tie things up at 14-14 on a 39-yard connection between Smith and Jabril Carter on fourth down.
 
• Colgate fought back to take a 23-14 lead before Fordham put a touchdown on the board to close the gap with 3:50 remaining in the second quarter and make it a 23-21 game. The score was a 24-yard scoring strike from Smith to Freeburg.
 
Notes
• Will Haslett booted a career-long 69-yard punt.
 
• Colgate did not attempt a punt in the game.
 
• The two teams have split the past six meetings.
 
By the Numbers
7 – Different Fordham players to catch at least one pass today.
 
166 – Career punts for Will Haslett, moving him into eighth place on the Fordham career list.
 
492 – Career tackles for James Conway, a school and Patriot League record.
 
7,147 – Career punting yards for Will Haslett, seventh on the Fordham career list
 
What's Next?
• The Rams return to the Bronx to host the College of the Holy Criss Crusaders in a Patriot League matchup on Saturday, September 27, at 1:00 p.m. at Moglia Stadium.
 
• The game will be the annual Ram-Crusader Cup game
 
• It will be the 63rd meeting between Fordham and Holy Cross on the gridiron.

• The Crusaders lead the all-time series, which started in 1902, 35-25-2, including a 19-16 loss in Worcester last year as Holy Cross scored on a short touchdown pass to take the lead for good, 19-16, with 6:14 on the clock.
 
• The past three meeting have been decided by a total of six points.
 
Portions of this story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.