Colgate Falls to Villanova, 55-28, in First Round of NCAA Division I Football Championship

Nov. 29, 2008

Villanova, Pa. - Colgate had its season come to an end in the first round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship on Saturday, as Villanova scored six first-half touchdowns on its way to a 55-28 victory over the Raiders at Villanova Stadium.

The Raiders conclude the year with a record of 9-3, and had their eight-game winning streak snapped. Colgate went 5-0 in Patriot League play to claim the League title and automatic berth to the postseason. Villanova (10-2) advances to face the winner of the contest between Wofford and No. 1 James Madison in the quarterfinals.

Colgate senior running back Jordan Scott had another solid day to end his historic career with the Raiders, rushing 27 times for 94 yards and all three of Colgate's touchdowns. Scott became the all-time Division I carries leader early in the game, and the three touchdowns tied his own Patriot League postseason records for rushing touchdowns, overall touchdowns and scoring that were set in Colgate's 55-21 loss to New Hampshire in 2005. The three rushing touchdowns also tie a Patriot League record for rushing touchdowns by a team in a postseason contest. Scott becomes the Patriot League's all-time postseason leader in rushing and overall touchdowns (six) and scoring (36 points).

Already the Patriot League leader in career rushing touchdowns and scoring, Scott broke the Colgate record in both categories. He finishes with 57 rushing touchdowns in his career, eclipsing the mark of 55 set by Kenny Gamble (1984-87). Scott also concludes his career with 358 points, breaking the Colgate mark of 350 that had been held by Ed Tryon (1922-25). Scott ends his career with a Division I record 1,240 carries for 5,621 yards and 57 touchdowns on the ground. He is the Patriot League all-time leader in each category.

The Wildcats took the lead on the opening kickoff, as Matt Szczur raced 91 yards for a touchdown to make it 6-0 just 13 seconds into the game.

Scott made history on the Raiders' opening possession, as he carried three times to become the all-time Division I leader with 1,216 career carries. But a promising drive ended in Villanova territory, as Pat Simonds fumbled and Villanova's Marquis Kirkland returned it to the Colgate 35 with 11:35 to go in the first quarter.

The Wildcats added to their lead from there, with Aaron Ball scoring on a six-yard touchdown rush to give Villanova an early 13-0 advantage with 9:26 left in the first quarter.

The Raider defense stepped up to change the field position on Villanova's next possession, as three straight sacks forced the Wildcats into a 4th-and-40 and Colgate got the ball at the Villanova 48. The Raiders moved 27 yards on their first play on a pass from Greg Sullivan to Adrien Schriefer, and Scott picked up a 4th-and-1 to set up a first-and-goal at the 10. The Raiders had the drive stay alive with a pass interference call in the endzone on a third down play, and got on the board with a two-yard touchdown run by Scott to cut the deficit to 13-7 with 1:22 left in the first quarter.

Villanova boosted the lead back to 13 points on its next drive, with Angelo Babbaro scoring on a five-yard touchdown rush to make it a 20-7 lead with 13:48 left in the second quarter.

The Wildcats stretched the advantage the next three times they had the ball. Szczur scored on a four-yard rush with 9:29 to go in the second quarter to build the lead to 27-7, and Phil Atkinson had a 65-yard rushing touchdown for a 34-7 Villanova advantage with 5:14 left until the half. Ball completed the first-half scoring with an eight-yard touchdown run with 1:41 left to give Villanova the 41-7 halftime lead.

Villanova pushed its lead to 48-7 early in the third quarter, but Colgate stopped the Wildcats' scoring streak on its next possession. Scott scored on a one-yard touchdown run to make the score 48-14 with 3:33 left in the third quarter. The Wildcats added another rushing touchdown later in the third quarter for a 55-14 advantage.

Scott scored his third rushing touchdown of the day on a one-yard carry with 13:00 minutes left in the game to make the score 55-21. The Raiders completed the scoring with a touchdown pass from Greg Sullivan to Pat Simonds with 4:31 to go to produce the 55-28 final.

Colgate was in the postseason for the first time since 2005. The Raiders fell to 3-6 in the playoffs as a Patriot League member. Patriot League schools dropped to 7-16 all-time in the postseason, with a 5-11 mark in first-round matchups.