Jan. 9, 2009

Center Valley, Pa. - The 2008 Patriot League Football season included Colgate finishing the first perfect League campaign since 2003, two of the most highly-decorated offensive players in League annals shattering the record book and the first consensus All-American since 2004. Take a look back at some of the top news, notes and accomplishments of the year with the postseason honors handed out and the statistics complete.

Patriot League Football Final Release - 1.9.09

Patriot League Final 2008 Notebook

Colgate Wins First Patriot League Title Since 2005

Colgate won its first Patriot League title since 2005 with a 28-27 victory over Holy Cross on Nov. 22. The Raiders' title was their sixth in League annals, with the five previous titles coming in 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2005. Colgate's six titles are tied with Lafayette for the second-most in League history, behind only the eight of Lehigh. The Raiders' crowns have come under 13th-year Head Coach Dick Biddle.

Raiders Complete Rare Perfect Season

Colgate's 5-0 Patriot League record was the first perfect mark for a League squad since the Raiders finished at 7-0 on their way to the national title game in 2003. The Raiders are only the second team in the last seven seasons to complete a perfect record in League play. The Raiders' previous undefeated campaigns came in 1997 and 2003.

Colgate Represents Patriot League in Postseason

The Raiders went to the FCS postseason for the eighth time overall, and the sixth as a Patriot League member when they fell to No. 6/7 Villanova, 55-28, on Nov. 29. Colgate previously made the field as a Patriot League member in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003 and 2005, while they also went in 1982 and 1983 before the formation of the League. Colgate's six playoff appearances as a Patriot League member are more than any other program in the League.

Colgate's Scott Ends Record-Breaking Career

Colgate running back Jordan Scott concluded his career the same way he spent most of the 2008 season: breaking records. Scott carried 27 times for 94 yards and three touchdowns in Colgate's playoff loss to Villanova, and finished his career as the all-time Division I leader with 1,240 carries. Scott also shattered the Patriot League record and placed fifth in FCS annals with 5,621 rushing yards, and set a Patriot League record with 57 rushing touchdowns. In addition, Scott finishes as the Patriot League record holder for 100-yard games (29), consecutive 100-yard games (18), scoring (358) and total touchdowns (59). Scott also became the eighth player in FCS history and first Patriot Leaguer with four 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He was the active FCS leader in rushing yardage, all-purpose yardage, carries and touchdowns at the conclusion of the 2008 campaign. Scott's three touchdowns in the playoff contest tied a single-game Patriot League playoff record that he had previously set in 2005. He became one of 10 players in Patriot League history named to the All-League team in each of his four seasons.

Holy Cross' Randolph Sets League Records, Too

Holy Cross quarterback Dominic Randolph had his third consecutive outstanding season, and it has put him at or near the top of major categories in the Patriot League record book. With one season to go, Randolph is already the Patriot League record holder in completions (821) and passing touchdowns (83). His 9,679 passing yards are third in League annals and just 140 yards away from the top spot, while his 9,984 yards of total offense are second in League history and 80 yards away from the record. Randolph is also second in League annals in attempts. He set a single-season Patriot League record for touchdowns responsible for (38), and tied the mark for passing touchdowns (34). Randolph led the FCS in passing yards, total offense and completions per game in 2008, and finished the year as the nation's active career leader in passing yards and completions per game and second in total offense per contest. Randolph was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, finalist for the Walter Payton Award and the Division I New England Player of the Year for his accomplishments.

Colgate's Hennessey Earns Consensus All-America Status

Colgate senior offensive lineman Nick Hennessey became the first Patriot Leaguer since 2004 to earn consensus All-America honors. Hennessey was named to the four major All-America teams: Walter Camp, Associated Press, American Football Coaches Associations and The Sports Network, and was a first-team pick by each outlet except for a second-team spot on the Associated Press. Hennessey was also named to the College Sporting News Fabulous Fifty All-Star team.Lafayette senior linebacker Andy Romans joined Hennessey as a second-team selection by the Associated Press and The Sports Network. Both players were also named to the ECAC All-Star team.

Lehigh's Van Ackeren Named To FCS Academic All-Star Team

Lehigh senior defensive back Brendan Van Ackeren was named to the 11th annual Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star Team. Van Ackeren is one of 43 student-athletes from across the country selected to the team, and the only representative from the entire Patriot League.

Raiders, Crusaders in Final FCS Rankings

Colgate earned a spot in the final rankings of both major FCS top 25 polls, finishing at No. 16 in The Sports Network Top 25 and No. 17 in the FCS Coaches Top 25. Holy Cross received votes in both rankings. The Raiders and Crusaders were tightly bunched in the final ECAC FCS top 10 rankings, with Colgate at No. 8 and Holy Cross finishing at No. 10.

Patriot League Records 20 Non-League Wins

The Patriot League finished the year with a 20-17 non-League record. Patriot League teams recorded the League's first winning mark in non-League games since 2004, when they combined for a 21-16 record. The 20 wins are the most since that campaign. Patriot League teams recorded at least one victory against six different conferences, with a 9-9 mark against the Ivy League.

Every One Has Their Own Spot in Final Standings

The final Patriot League football standings did not have any two teams tied for a position. Colgate was in first at 5-0, followed by Holy Cross in second at 5-1, Lehigh third at 4-2, Lafayette in fourth at 3-3, Bucknell fifth at 2-4, Fordham in sixth at 1-5 and Georgetown placing seventh at 0-5.

Randolph, Romans, Biddle Finalists For Major FCS Awards

Holy Cross quarterback Dominic Randolph was on the finalist list for the Walter Payton Award (Most Outstanding Player in the FCS), while Lafayette linebacker Andy Romans was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award (Top Defensive Player) and Colgate Head Coach Dick Biddle was up for the Eddie Robinson Award (Top Coach). Randolph was the highest Patriot Leaguer finisher in the voting, placing ninth for the Payton Award.

Raiders Rolled Into Postseason

Colgate entered the postseason on an eight-game winning streak, behind only No. 1 seed James Madison and No. 2 seed Appalachian State for the longest stretch in the nation. The Raiders did not lose a regular-season game after a Sept. 13 loss to Furman, and won the close contests with second-half rallies in four of their five Patriot League wins and seven games overall. Colgate finished with a 5-0 mark in games decided by seven points or less, with a pair of one-point victories.

Holy Cross Offense, Lafayette Defense Lead Way In NCAA Stats

The high-powered Holy Cross offense and stingy Lafayette defense posted some of the top finishes for Patriot League teams in the final NCAA FCS statistics. The Crusaders ranked second in passing offense, sixth in total offense and 15th in scoring, while the Leopards were in the top 10 in scoring and rushing defense and 20th in total defense. Lafayette was also one of three Patriot League teams to lead the entire subdivision in a category. The Leopards tied for first nationally with 11 turnovers lost, while Bucknell was first in the country with 3.73 penalties per game and Colgate placed first nationally with an average time of possession of 34:07 per game.

Georgetown/Colgate Matchup Cancelled

The Oct. 4 contest between Georgetown and Colgate was cancelled due to an outbreak of norovirus on Georgetown's campus. It was agreed that the game will be listed as an un-played game in the League standings and overall school records for the 2008 season.

Team Notebooks

Bucknell (5-6, 2-4 Patriot League)

Bucknell Notebook The Bison conclude the year with a 5-6 record, and a 2-4 mark in Patriot League play...A.J. Kizekai earned First-Team All-Patriot League honors as a kick returner, and Second-Team status as a running back...He joins Lafayette's Shaun Adair as the first player to pull off the feat since 2002...Kizekai was fourth in the country with 184 all-purpose yards per game, and 13th with a 26.3 kickoff return average...Bucknell won its season finale in dramatic fashion, scoring a touchdown to tie the game with four seconds left and going on to beat Fordham, 24-21, in overtime at home on Nov. 22..Wide receiver Shaun Pasternak and punter Phil Azarik also received Second-Team All-League honors...Pasternak had five 100-yard games on the season, which tied a Bucknell record...He broke the Bucknell mark for single-season receiving yards (1,083) and also set the single-season receiving touchdowns mark with 12...His 72 receptions were one shy of a Bucknell record..Pasternak was 10th nationally in receiving yards per game, and 14th in receptions per contest..The Bison led the nation in fewest penalties per game for the second year in a row.

No. 16/17 Colgate (9-3, 5-0 Patriot League)

Colgate Notebook Colgate ran off eight consecutive wins to finish the regular season with a mark of 9-2 overall and complete a perfect 5-0 mark to win the Patriot League...The Raiders were eliminated in the first round of the NCAA FCS playoffs with a 55-28 loss at Villanova...Colgate won its sixth Patriot League title, and made its sixth postseason appearance as a Patriot League member (eight overall)...The Raiders completed the first perfect season for a Patriot League team since 2003, when they went undefeated in League play on their way to the national title game...Colgate finished No. 16 in The Sports Network top 25, and No. 17 in the FCS Coaches top 25...Nick Hennessey became the Patriot League's first consensus All-American since 2004, earning recognition from The Sports Network, Associated Press, Walter Camp and American Football Coaches Association...Hennessey was also named to the College Sporting News Fabulous Fifty Team...Jordan Scott finished his career as the all-time Division I leader in carries (1,240), as well as the Patriot League career leader in rushing yardage (5,621), 100-yard games (29), consecutive 100-yard games (18), rushing touchdowns (57) and scoring (358)...The rushing mark places Scott fifth in FCS annals...He also became the eighth player in FCS history and first Patriot Leaguer with four 1,000-yard rushing seasons...Scott and Hennessey were two of Colgate's eight First-Team All-League picks, a group that also included Nate Eachus, Pat Simonds, Rich Rosabella, Steve Jonas, Chris Ekpo and Wayne Moten...Four players also earned Second-Team honors as Colgate led all schools with 12 All-League selections...Eachus was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year, with Dick Biddle as the Patriot League Coach of the Year.

Fordham (5-6, 1-5 Patriot League)

Fordham Notebook Fordham finished its year 5-6 overall and 1-5 in the Patriot League...John Skelton became the all-time passing yardage leader in Fordham annals and tied the school's completion record...His 6,215 career yards broke the previous record set by Kevin Eakin (2000-03), and his 502 completions tie the mark of Joe Moorhead (1992-95)...Skelton has 43 passing touchdowns, two away from Eakin's Fordham record...Skelton will enter his senior season in the Patriot League top 15 in career passing yardage, completions, attempts and total offense...Xavier Martin had six 100-yard rushing games during the season and now has eight for his career...Greg DeMarco and Matt Loucks were both named to the First-Team All-League Defense, while Justin Sarabez, Ryan Mehra and James Crockett were Second-Team All-League selections.

Georgetown (2-8, 0-5 Patriot League)

Georgetown Notebook The Hoyas finished 0-5 in Patriot League action, with their game against Colgate on Oct. 4 cancelled due to the outbreak of norovirus on the Georgetown campus...It is Georgetown's second winless Patriot League campaign in the last three seasons...Quarterback Keerome Lawrence led the Hoyas with 392 rushing yards and three touchdowns this season, and also threw for 481 yards and three scores in 2008...Freshman quarterback James Brady led the team with 690 passing yards and three touchdowns...Ataefiok Etukeren led the way with 13 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks on the season...Etukeren and Travis Mack were Second-Team All-League picks.

Holy Cross (7-4, 5-1 Patriot League)

Holy Cross Notebook Holy Cross finished its season at 7-4 overall and 5-1 in the Patriot League after a heartbreaking 28-27 loss to Colgate with the League Championship on the line on Nov. 22...The Crusaders won seven games overall for the third year in a row, and finished with five wins in League play for the first time since 1991...Holy Cross' four losses this season came by a combined total of eight points...Holy Cross quarterback Dominic Randolph was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award in addition to his second consecutive Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year honor...He set the Patriot League career record for completions (821), breaking the mark of 820 held by Lafayette's Marko Glavic (2000-03)...Randolph also set a Patriot League record with eight 300-yard games this season, and notched a League record with 18 career 300-yard efforts...Randolph tied the League mark of 34 touchdown passes in a season, and also set the career touchdown passes record with 83...In addition to holding the Patriot League's career completions and touchdowns marks, Randolph will enter his final season at Holy Cross second in League annals in total offense and attempts and third in passing yardage...He led the FCS in completions, passing yardage and total offense per game in 2008, and was second in the nation in points responsible for...Randolph led a group of five First-Team All-League selections for the Holy Cross offense, which also included Jon Brock, Ryan McGuire, Aaron Jones and Matt Partain...McGuire was also named the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year...Six Crusaders earned Second-Team All-League recognition...Holy Cross was second nationally in passing offense and sixth in total offense.

Lafayette (7-4, 3-3 Patriot League)

Lafayette Notebook Lafayette finishes the season 7-4 overall, and 3-3 in Patriot League action...The Leopards won at least seven games for the fourth time in the last five years, and finished .500 or better in the Patriot League for the fifth consecutive season...Lafayette was 5-1 on the road in 2008, but just 2-3 at home...Andy Romans was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season, while also finishing as a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award...He was named as a Second-Team All-American by the Associated Press and The Sports Network...Romans finishes his career with 326 total tackles...He led a Lafayette defense that was 20th in total yardage allowed and in the top 10 nationally in rushing and scoring defense....Romans, Jason Mills, Mark Leggiero and Joe Russo all earned First-Team All-League honors...Five players received Second-Team All-League recognition, including Shaun Adair at both wide receiver and return specialist...Adair joins Bucknell's A.J. Kizekai as the first players since 2002 to be honored at two positions on the All-League squad...Lafayette finished fourth in the nation in time of possession.

Lehigh (5-6, 4-2 Patriot League)

Lehigh Notebook The Mountain Hawks finish their season at 5-6 overall and 4-2 in the Patriot League, claiming third place in the League standings...Lehigh won its first game against Lafayette since 2003, and its first in Easton since 2000, with a 31-15 triumph on Nov. 22..The Mountain Hawks have won five games or more for 11 consecutive seasons, and have finished with a winning Patriot League record in 10 of the last 11 years...Brendan Van Ackeren was named to the FCS Athletic Directors Academic All-Star team...J.B. Clark became the first Lehigh sophomore quarterback to earn MVP honors of the Lafayette game since 1983...Mike Fitzgerald's 11 touchdown receptions this year were the most for a Mountain Hawk since 2001...Jason Leo ranked seventh nationally with a 43.0 punting average, while the Mountain Hawks were third in net punting...Tim Diamond finished with over 100 tackles for the second consecutive season...It marks the first time a Lehigh player registered back-to-back 100 tackle seasons since Ian Eason in 1996 and 1997...Diamond and Leo were two of Lehigh's seven First-Team All-League selections, which also included BJ Benning, Brian Jackson, Will Rackley, Quadir Carter and Matt Cohen...Leo is one of just 10 players in Patriot League history to earn All-League status in all four of his seasons...Kevin Bayani and Jarard Cribbs received Second-Team All-League honors.