Colgate Closes Football Season With a Win

RFH 2010, Colgate Football

Sat, Nov 19, 2011

Sophomore quarterback Gavin McCarney accumulated 157 yards of total offense and two scores as Colgate topped Bucknell 21-6 Saturday at afternoon at Andy Kerr Stadium. Senior Vinnie Nicosia also returned an interception 79 yards for a touchdown in the season finale.

McCarney ran for 101 yards and a touchdown, while throwing for 56 yards and a score to lead the Raiders. Jordan McCord also had 14 carries for 81 yards, while Ryne Morrison finished with two receptions for 40 yards and a score.

Colgate (5-6, 1-4) opened the scoring as McCarney connected with Morrison for a 34-yard touchdown with 5:56 remaining in the first quarter. The Bison had a chance to score first but missed a 39-yard field goal attempt wide right as the wind in the south end zone prevented both offenses from scoring. The Raiders would hold their 7-0 lead until the Bison made a pair of field goals, with the wind, in the second quarter to trim Colgate's lead to 7-6 at halftime.

McCarney opened the second half with a 50-yard touchdown run to put Colgate up 14-6 and the Raiders would maintain that lead as both defenses stood strong forcing three straight punts to end the third quarter.

Bucknell (6-5, 2-3) opened the fourth quarter in Colgate territory, with the wind to its back, looking to tie the game. But Nicosia denied that with an interception on the Raiders 21-yard line that he returned 71-yards against the wind to put Colgate up 21-6.

Nicosia finished the game with seven tackles, one sack and an interception, while Austin Dier recorded a game-high 13 tackles. Senior linebacker Chris DiMassa finished the game with 10 tackles, two for a loss, to give him 101 on the season. DiMassa is the first Raider to record a 100 or more tackles in a season since Mike Gillihugh recorded 123 in 2007. Wendell Lewis also recorded an interception to go along with his three tackles.