Game Statistics

WORCESTER, MA, - Nate Thomas rushed for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to lift Colgate (6-3, PL 4-1) to a 35-7 win over Holy Cross at Fitton Field.  Thomas finished with 114 yards on 24 carries to become the 22^nd player in school history to reach 1,000 career rushing yards.

            The victory assured Colgate of its sixth straight winning season, the longest winning streak since the Raiders put together a 15-season streak between 1922-36.

            The Raiders exploded for 529 yards of total offense on 100 plays led by quarterback Tom McCune, who connected on 25-of-40 passes for a career-high 335 yards and one touchdown.  McCune’s favorite target was wide receiver Joe Parker, who caught 10 passes for 146 yards.

            Parker moved into fourth place in career receptions with 123 and fifth place in career receiving yardage with 1,801 yards.

            Colgate recovered fumbles on Holy Cross’ first two possessions of the game inside the Crusaders’ 30-yard line.  The first opportunity ended on a missed 43-yard field goal attempt but the Raiders took advantage of the second fumble recovery by linebacker Ron Hampton after Ameer Riley jarred the ball loose from a Holy Cross receiver.

            Faced with fourth-and-four at the 16-yard line, McCune hit fullback Jeff Stone for a first down on a seven-yard pass play.  Three plays later, McCune connected with Jamal Lamb on a four-yard TD pass for a 7-0 lead.

            Holy Cross tied the contest in the second quarter, when they put together a 16-play, 74-yard drive capped by Brian Hall’s 22-yard strike to Nick Larsen in the back corner of the end zone.

            The Raiders had a chance to take a lead into the locker room at halftime, but missed a 34-yard field goal attempt on the final play. 

            Following a Holy Cross punt late in the third quarter, Colgate marched 80 yards in 11 plays to take a 14-7 lead with 12:36 left in the game.  The drive appeared to stall when the Raiders were faced with a fourth-and-16 situation at the HC 25.  However, McCune under a heavy pass rush found Parker on the left sideline with a first down at the Crusader 11-yard line.

            On the next play, Thomas sprinted 11 yards for the first of his three touchdowns to give the Raiders the lead for good.

            The Raiders struck again on their next possession when they put together an 81-yard TD march in 10 plays.  Again McCune came up with some magic when he scrambled 28 yards on three-and-23 for a first down on the HC 19.  Thomas immediately ripped of the final yardage to give the Raiders a 21-7 advantage.

            Colgate increased its lead to 28-7 with 2:16 left when the Raiders tallied on their third straight possession.  Thomas capped off the drive with a one-yard run for his eighth TD of the season.

            The Raiders final score came after Riley’s second interception of the contest, which gave the visitors possession at the HC 25.  Two plays later, Jamaal Branch raced 22 yards for the TD.  Lane Schwarzberg added his fifth straight extra point.

            Colgate received a superb defensive effort as it held the Crusaders to 190 yards of total offense - just five yards rushing and 185 passing.  The Raiders picked off three passes with Riley coming up with his third and fourth of the season, and T.J. Smith grabbing his second of the campaign.

            Hampton had a pair of fumble recoveries and two quarterback sacks, while defensive tackle Mike Latek made three quarterback sacks.

            GAME NOTES:  Colgate’s 100 offensive plays was the most since they had a school-record 103 against Rutgers in 1968 ... McCune’s 335 passing yards moved him into eighth place on Colgate’s all-time passing list with 3,154 yards ... Colgate’s 529 yards of total offense was the top output of the season for the Raiders ... wide receiver Ryan Ojeda saw his first action since his injury on the opening play of the Cornell.