2008 Woodie Awards
Football Comes Close, But Doesn't Win Cigar
Max Yadin
Issue date: 10/4/07 Section: Sports
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In their opening drive, the Raiders gave Fordham a heavy dose of junior tailback Jordan Scott, who caught a short pass for 17 yards from junior quarterback Alex Relph to bring the Raiders to their own 40. Later on, Relph rolled out of the pocket, avoided a tackle from behind and connected with senior wide receiver Erik Burke for a first down. Unfortunately, Colgate was unable to sustain the drive and had to punt. Fordham took over inside its own 10-yard line. After being stopped at the line of scrimmage, Fordham sophomore quarterback John Skelton's pass on third down was batted away by Colgate sophomore free safety Uzi Idah, which forced a Ram punt. Colgate subsequently proceeded to execute a picture perfect drive that ended with a 14-yard Burke touchdown reception. The key play was a 44-yard reception by sophomore wide receiver Pat Simonds, who has quickly established himself as Relph's second option.
Colgate's good fortune didn't end there, as senior fullback Robert Wenger recovered the ensuing muffed kickoff on the Fordham 19-yard line. After Scott lost five yards on two plays, Relph threw a 13-yard pass to senior David Morgan and handed the ball off to Scott for a two-yard gain that gave Colgate the first down by a nose. Two plays later, Relph pitched to Scott in the backfield, who ran with ease into the end zone to make the score 14-0. Unfortunately, the Fordham Rams came right back on their next drive and scored when running back Quasand Lewis ran the ball in from the three-yard line.
Neither team scored for the rest of the first quarter. In the second period, senior Mike Buck kicked a 46-yard field goal, his second one from that distance this season. Later in the second quarter, Skelton found Richar Rayborn in the back of the end zone for a touchdown, but Adam Danko failed to convert the extra point and the score remained 17-13, Raiders. Although the Raiders went three-and-out on their next possession, Colgate was able to capitalize on an interception in which a Skelton pass ricocheted off two Raider defenders and into the hands of senior linebacker Mike Gallihugh, who ran it back to the Fordham 10. Scott ran the ball in for his second touchdown of the game, and the home team took a 24-13 lead into the locker room.
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