'xml:namespace prefix = o ns = 'urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office' />
HANOVER, N.H. ‘ Junior tailback Jamaal Branch rushed for a career-high 211 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Colgate University football team to a 31-9 win over Dartmouth Saturday at Memorial Field.
Colgate (3-0) extends the third longest win streak in Division I-AA to nine straight games as the Raiders opened their season with three straight victories for the first time since the 1983 season. Dartmouth is 0-1.
Colgate had another big day offensively with 451 yards of total offense ‘ 250 rushing and 201 passing. Junior wide receiver Luke Graham caught eight passes for 91 yards and senior wideout J.B. Gerald had a career-high eight receptions for 75 yards and one touchdown. Graham moved into a tie for ninth place in career receptions with 91.
For the second straight week, the Colgate defense held its opponent under 250 yards of total offense. Dartmouth gained only 68 yards on the ground in 28 carries and 180 passing. Inside linebackers Ryan Disch and Tem Lukabu had 12 and 10 tackles, respectively.
Colgate opened the scoring on its first possession of the game when the Raiders covered 69 yards in 12 plays. The Chris Brown to Graham combination connected four times for 36 yards, before Brown found Gerald on a 15-yard touchdown pass.
Dartmouth kicked the first of its three field goals early in the second quarter after a Colgate turnover to trail 7-3. The Raiders came back on the very next possession with Branch scoring on a four-yard run with 4:48 remaining in the half.
Dartmouth’s Tyler Lavin kicked a 52-yard field goal on the final play of the first half, as Colgate took a 14-6 lead to the lockerroom.
Branch scored his second TD of the game on the first possession of the second half on a 10-yard run to give the Raiders a 21-6 lead. Lavin followed with his third FG of the game as Colgate led 21-9 after three quarters.
Lane Schwarzberg kicked a 31-yard field goal, and Branch scored on a 41-yard run to close out the scoring in the fourth quarter.
GAME NOTES: Brown completed 18-of-28 passes for 201 yards and one touchdown. He had two intercepted ‘ Chris Williams and Jared Nepa had interceptions for the Raiders. It was Nepa’s second of the season ‘ Colgate has won seven straight games on the road ‘ They have won 15 of their last 16 games against Ivy League teams.