WORCESTER, Mass. – Colgate's Gavin McCarney threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Brian Lalli with 59 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, to lift the Raiders to a 28-24 victory over the Holy Cross football team at Fitton Field. The Crusaders fall to 3-5 overall and 1-1 in the Patriot League with the loss, while Colgate improves to 2-5 on the season and 1-0 in the conference.
Freshman quarterback Peter Pujals (Glenview, Ill.) hit on 25 of 40 passes for 232 yards and one touchdown, in addition to rushing for 55 yards and a score on 14 carries. Freshman tailback Gabe Guild (Overland Park, Kan.) added 68 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, while senior wide receiver Nate Stanley (Euclid, Ohio) finished with six catches for 61 yards. The Holy Cross defense was led by senior linebacker Tyler Zeoli (King of Prussia, Pa.) with six tackles and an interception.
The Crusaders opened the scoring at the 8:33-mark of the first quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by Pujals. The Raiders responded with a five-yard scoring run by McCarney on their next possession, then claimed a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter on a 10-yard touchdown pass from McCarney to John Maddaluna. Holy Cross came back with a one-yard scoring run by Guild, tying the game at 14-14 heading into the locker room.
In the third quarter, senior placekicker John Macomber (Vienna, Va.) put the Crusaders back in front with a 37-yard field goal. Pujals then connected with sophomore wide receiver Kalif Raymond (Lawrenceville, Ga.) for six-yard touchdown, and Holy Cross led 24-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
A one-yard touchdown run by Ed Pavalko made the score 24-21, before the Crusaders drove deep into Colgate territory on their next possession. But on second and goal from the five-yard line, Mike Armiento intercepted a pass in the end zone to give the Raiders life. Six plays later, McCarney found Lalli for the game-winning touchdown.
Holy Cross returns to action next Saturday, Oct. 26, when it plays host to Lafayette in a 1:00 p.m. game at Fitton Field.
