FORDHAM DEFEATS COLGATE 40-31

Kirwin Watson

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Bronx, NY (Sept. 14, 2002) – Kirwin Watson rushed 23 times for 157 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the final six minutes while Kevin Eakin completed 22 of 36 passes for 320 yards and a touchdown to lead Fordham University (2-0, 1-0) to a 40-31 Patriot League win over Colgate University (0-2, 0-1) on Jack Coffey Field. The win breaks a six-game losing streak for the Rams against the Raiders and improves Fordham to 2-0 to start the season, the first 2-0 start since the 1997 season.

The win is also the seventh win in a row for the Fordham program, dating back to last season. The seven-game streak is Fordham’s longest on the I-AA level (Fordham moved to the I-AA level in 1989) and the best since the club teams of 1968 and 1969 won eleven straight.

Fordham trailed 31-27 with 8:57 left when they took over on their own 32 following a kickoff. Watson then went to work, gaining 12 yards on two carries before Eakin completed two of three passes for 20 yards, including an 18-yard connection with Steve Porco on third and eight from the Fordham 47. Watson then rambled 26 yards on the next play to put the ball on the nine and finished the series on the following play with the touchdown run. The PAT was wide and the Rams closed the gap to 33-31 with 5:54 remaining in the game.

On Colgate’s ensuing possession, a penalty caused the Raiders to start the drive on their own ten and they where only able to move to their own 23 where they punted back to Fordham with the Rams taking over on the Colgate 44.

On second down Eakin, found Travis Johnson down the right side for a 22-yard gain to the Colgate 23. A rush from Watson and one from Alemayo Whyte put the ball on the Raiders’ 16 on third down. Eakin then kept the ball on a rollout and brought it to the nine to give the Rams a first and goal. Watson picked up two on the first play and then finished the drive with a seven-yard scoring rush on the second to give Fordham the lead for good, 40-31, with 1:37 remaining.

“I’m very proud of the heart and desire that we showed today,” said Fordham head coach Dave Clawson. “We know that Colgate is a good team and a good program but we were able to answer the bell when we had to. Kirwin Watson is a warrior who wants the ball when the game is on the line in big games like this.”

“The confidence on this team is great,” continued Clawson. “This was a big game for us since we hadn’t beaten Colgate in six years and next week will be another big game for us.”

Colgate got on the board first as Max Wynn intercepted Eakin on the Colgate 34 and the Raiders drove 51 yards on nine plays with quarterback Tom McCune covering the last six to put Colgate up 7-0 with 9:24 left in the first. McCune completed all three of his passes on the drive, including two on third and long.

Late in the first, the Rams took over on their own 20 following a punt. On the fourth play of the series Watson motored for 31 yards to bring the ball to the Colgate 47, following a holding penalty on Fordham. Later in the drive Watson picked up 14 yards to put the ball on the Colgate 2 where two plays later Eakin sneaked it in from the one to tie the game at seven with 13:38 left in the second.

Colgate’s drive on the ensuing kickoff was stalled on the their own 29 where on fourth down the Raiders lined up for a punt. The Raiders tried a fake punt with up back Rob Markert attempting a pass that was intercepted by Adam Foley on the Colgate 20 and he returned it for a touchdown and a 14-7 Fordham lead with 12:33 remaining in the second.

Colgate quickly tied the game, taking the ensuring kickoff and driving 74 yards on eight plays, tying the game on a one-yard dive from Eric Gugliemotti with 9:41 left in the half. The big play of the drive was a 41-yard pass from McCune to Luke Graham on a third and 12-play from the Fordham 42.

The Rams went up 17-14 on their next possession as Matt Fordyce connected on a 31-yard field goal with 5:26 left in the second and went up 24-14 on a 38-yard touchdown pass from Eakin to Steve Porco with 1:35 left in the half.

Colgate had a chance to pull to within seven at the break but Akeem Greenfield blocked Lane Schwarzberg’s 37-yard field goal attempt at the halftime gun.

The Raiders came out in the second half and quickly took a 28-27 lead. On their first possession, the Raiders drove 80- yards on nine plays with Nate Thomas taking it in from the 16 to tie the game at 24 with 10:41 left in the third.

On Fordham’s next possession, the Rams drove to the Colgate six where Fordyce kicked a 23-yard field goal to put the Rams up 27-24.

But Colgate immediately responded as Chris Brown returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to the Fordham 15. Three plays later McCune hit J.B. Gerald with a nine-yard touchdown pass to give the Raiders a 28-27 lead with 5:07 left in the third.

The Raiders would increase the lead to 31-27 on a 29-yard field goal from Schwarzberg with 9:04 remaining in the fourth.

Dudley caught eight passes for 77 yards for the Rams while Porco finished with six catches for 115 yards and the touchdown. For Colgate, McCune completed 22 of 33 passes for 266 yards and a touchdown while Thomas gained 103 yards on 21 carries. Graham hauled in five passes for 123 yards.

Defensively for Fordham, Dan McGrath led the Rams with nine total tackles, four solo, while NaQuinton Gainous had eight stops, two solo, and Colby Khuns had three tackles for a loss, including a sack. 

 

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