Colgate defeats James Madison advancing to FCS Quarterfinals as time expires, 23-20

 

The Village of Hamilton, NY – Colgate PK Chris Puzzi converted a 38-yard FG as time expired to defeat James Madison (9-4) in a second round FCS playoff game, 23-20.  The Red Raider defense stopped a fake JMU punt with 2:49 left to start their game-winning drive from their 39.  Colgate’s vaunted defense intercepted five passes on the day to keep the visiting Dukes in check.

Big Day at small school

The eighth-seeded Red Raiders (10-1), champions of the Patriot League, travel to Fargo, ND next Saturday to play defending FCS champ and winner of five of the last six FCS titles, No. 1 North Dakota State.  Collegefootballfan.com attended this playoff with Guest Game Analyst Sam Cooper (Potsdam State), avid Colgate fan and booster.  Sam enjoyed seeing a great turnout of students and alum despite the cold and snow-covered landscape surrounding Andrew Kerr Stadium.  The 6,418 in attendance exceeds most crowds at the 2,800-student campus in this small, upstate village surrounded by farmlands.  We found some roads taken on the way up don’t even show up on a GPS.

Rare start for Red Raiders

Things did not start as anticipated for the Red Raiders who outscored all opponents this season in the first period, 67-0.  In five of seven games in which they did not allow a touchdown, they recorded shutouts. The Dukes returned the opening kickoff 37 yards out to the 43.  They made scoring look easy.  Six plays from scrimmage later, RB Cordon Johnson ran it in from the two for a very shocking and early 7-0 lead in front of the home fans.  Though many knew, the Dukes, finalists in last season’s championship, far exceeded the talent of other FCS opponents ‘Gate faced this season.  JMU’s next drive in the first ended more accordingly to expectations as CB Abu Duramy-Swaray intercepted a pass resulting in a 37-yard FG by Nuzzi.

James Madison, a cut above the rest

Early in the second period, JMU scored three more with a 34-yard FG by Ethan Radtke.  Later in the second, ‘Gate took over on the 50.  Puzzi added three later with his 23-yard FG.  Throughout the period, Sam noted that Colgate displayed a very basic offense with little deception.  No motion among their talented wide receivers. Most plays called for 5’9” 210-lb TB James Holland (25 carries for 90 yards) to pound for yards up the middle. His longest run of the day netted 10 yards.  From that perspective, the Red Raiders never went with play action to set up their passing game.  QB Grant Breneman (14 of 23, 190 yards, 1 TD) seemed content to stay in the pocket.   When would the Red Raiders pull out the stops to put points on the board to defeat the best team on their schedule all season?

Colgate defense steps up

An INT by CB Tyler Castillo and a second by S Marquise Bruce in the end zone on the last play of the first half thwarted any further scoring by JMU.  The Colgate defense performed up to their reputation after allowing early scores.  DE Nick Wheeler came up with two sacks. He applied pressure with a three-man front throughout the game to hurry  Duke QB Matt DeNucci (19 of 32, 193 yards, 5 INTs).  The Colgate offense would need to make some adjustments in the second half to overcome their 10-6 halftime deficit.

School in the “Village”

At intermission, Sam and I took advantage of Colgate’s tailgate policy and went back to his car for hot tomato soup and sandwiches. We figured to get out of the slush-covered bleachers to thaw out a little.  On the road into the Village of Hamilton, home of Colgate University, several small jets landed nearby.  Sam attested they have an airfield with a 5,400-foot runway that could handle the aircraft used by some of its distinguished CEO/Alumni grads coming back to Gate’s first playoff game at Andrew Kerr Stadium in 15 years.  According to Sam, the only other time more aircraft land at the local Hamilton air field occurs during Baseball Hall of Fame inductions ceremonies in Cooperstown, about an hour away.  After the game, Sam took me in to see the two-year old Class of 1965 Hockey Arena built adjacent to the football facility.  Quite impressive.  About 30-framed NHL jerseys of former Colgate alum who went on to play at that level adorned one of the walls above the 2,500-seat arena.

Second half turn-around

We returned to our seats to find out that the second period did not start off well for the Red Raiders either.  JMU forced Breneman to fumble on the first play from scrimmage in the second half and recovered at the Colgate 11.  An offensive pass interference call set them back 15 yards.  As expected, the Red Raider defense stepped up to the task and only allowed four more yards.  JMU settled for Radtke’s 38-yard FG to lead by seven.

The Colgate offense finally got on track on its next possession after its defense picked them back up.  Starting from the 25, they drove to the 32.  A little deception helped on the next play as Breneman faked a handoff to Holland on a dive. After the fake, he proceeded 32 yards around right end for a touchdown to tie the score, 13-13.  ‘Gate’s next possession following a JMU punt to put them back at their ten.  On a third and five from their 15, the Soph QB connected with WR Owen Rocket (5 catches, 104 yards, one TD) for a 39-yard pass play. At the JMU 14, Breneman rolled right out of the pocket and connected with Rocket again for 14-yard TD pass to take a 20-13 Colgate lead, their first of the game.

JMU fights back

A touchback and a personal foul on the ensuing kickoff started the Dukes at their 12.  Cutting in front of the intended receiver and capturing his second pick of the day, Castillo halted this drive.  Starting Q4, JMU’s next series resulted with a similar ending as LB TJ Holl picked off DeNucci for Colgate’s fifth INT.  Holl played outstanding defense this day making key stops among 11 tackles, nine solo.  He returned this pick 29 yards to the James Madison 19.

The Colgate offense went conservative again picking up nine yards on three carries. At the ten, Head Coach Dan Hunt decided to forgo three points to take a ten-point lead.  Again Holland tried the middle instead.  The JMU defense stopped him for no gain and turned the ball over on downs. JMU Head Coach Mike Houston replaced DeNucci with Frosh QB Gage Moloney.  His offense retreated eight yards before punting.  DeNucci returned at QB after ‘Gate’s next punt and seemed to swing momentum back JMU’s way.   After their two consecutive defensive stops,  he finished off a 44-yard drive with a seven-yard option run right to tie the score again, 20-20.

Coming down to the wire

Going back on offense again following another Colgate three-and-out, JMU moved to the Colgate 41.  There, they went into punt formation on fourth and five.  The fake was on!  P Harry O’Kelly looked for running room around the right side.  However, the Red Raider defense stopped him short by three yards.  They took over on their 39 with 2:46 left on the game clock.  A 26-yard pass from Breneman to Rocket put them at the Duke’s 35. Three carries by Holland got them a first down at the 25 to force JMU to use its time-outs.  At the 21, Puzzi booted his game winner as time expired to win it for the Red Raiders, 23-20.  Time to make travel arrangements to Fargo, ND.  The Patriot League champs celebrated with their fans.

JMU finished their season at 9-4.  Among the strong Colonial Athletic Association that sent six teams to the FCS playoffs, only two made it to the second round.  Only CAA champion Maine (9-3, 7-1) remains now. They throttled Jacksonville State, 55-27. They face No. 2 Weber State in Utah next Saturday.

For Colgate, a big challenge lies ahead against No. 1 NDSU, no doubt.  It will be time for the Red Raider offense to pull out some more stops if they want to advance past the defending champs to get to the title game.  As Sam pointed out, James Madison posed the toughest competition the Raiders have faced all year.  When you get this far, it doesn’t get any easier at this stage of the season.

As for collegefootballfan.com, we head to Philly to for our seventh consecutive Army-Navy Game since 2012, our 12th over all.  The Cadets have already clinched the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy having won the hardware last season and in defeating Air Force who’s already defeated Navy.  Upset in the air?  No one expects Navy to win.  In this rivalry, that is when the least expected happens.  Go Navy!