Strong Senior Play Leads Fordham To Comeback Win Over Colgate

Fordham overcame a sluggish start on Senior Day and comeback to win 24-20 over Colgate. The Rams scored the final 14 points in the game to ensure the come from behind win. It was a revenge game for the Fordham Rams. Last season, Colgate’s 31-29 victory over Fordham knocked the Rams out of contention for the Patriot League title. This season, the Rams came into the contest needing to win their final three games while also needing help from Patriot League-leading Lehigh, to whom the Rams lost last week.

Kevin Anderson finished the day 27 for 42 for 263 yards and three touchdowns. He was also sacked four times as Colgate’s defense pressured him for most of the first half. Chase Edmonds was held to just 73 yards on the ground (on 21 carries), his lowest total against an FCS opponent this season. He was also held out of the end zone for a fourth straight game. Colgate is ranked fourth in the country against the run.

Senior Shines On Senior Day

Ironically, senior wide receiver Robbie Cantelli caught two key touchdown passes spark the come from behind win.Fordham’s comeback was the result of two Kevin Anderson touchdown passes, both to Robbie Cantelli. The first went for 14 yards late in the third quarter, and the game-winner was from 20 yards out with 4:55 remaining.

What made this win that much more sweeter for Fordham was the fact that it was Senior Day and the seniors were the ones that really stepped their game up.  Cantelli’s two touchdown receptions put him at 11 on the season with two games remaining. The Fordham single season record is 14. Cantelli finished with five receptions for 58 yards. Senior wide out Jorge solano finished the game with 6 grabs for 49 yards.

The senior leadership of the Rams’ defense stepped up on the last drive.On first down, Vaughn put pressure on the quarterback and Jihaad Pretlow broke up a pass down the sideline to prevent a surefire touchdown. On second down, Barletta stepped up to stop Washington at the line. On third down, Dawson broke up a pass from a rolling-out Melville. Having gained at most a yard after crossing midfield, the Raiders were forced to go for it on fourth-and-9 from the Fordham 31. The Rams applied a lot of pressure and forced an overthrow, securing the dramatic 24-21 victory.

The Rams’ defense allowed just 106 passing yards in the game, just five yards shy of the season-low for a Fordham opponent this year. It was the fifth time Fordham has held an opponent to fewer than 131 passing yards this year.
It Was Senior Day After All

The Rams honored over 25 players and student staff members in their Senior Day ceremony prior to the game. Kevin Anderson was not among them, as he will be returning for a fifth year of eligibility next season. The fans in attendance cheered on all game long, especially in the 2nd half as if they knew their heroes were going to comeback. With the win the Rams  went a perfect 6-0 this year, the third time over the past four years that the Rams have gone undefeated at home. Over the past four years Fordham is 25-1 in the Bronx.

No Patriots League Championship 

While the Rams’ postseason aspirations were all but ended by Lehigh’s 20-13 victory over Bucknell, they still have a source of motivation. Fordham’s next game will be the Ram-Crusader Cup at Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon