ANDERSON, Indiana -- Allegheny College scored all 28 of its points in the first half, but it was more than enough to secure a 28-12 victory on its long road trip to Anderson University in the 2026 season opener on Saturday afternoon.
Thanks to a 21-point effort in the second quarter, Allegheny (1-0) built a 28-6 cushion before halftime. Although the Gators didn't add to that total in the second half, the defense – which produced nine sacks and limited Anderson (0-1) to minus-four yards rushing – gave up only one fourth-quarter touchdown to preserve the lead.
Allegheny's second drive of the day began after tackling the Anderson punter deep in his own territory following a muffed snap. Penalties moved the Gators back to the 30-yard line before quarterback
Carson Colucci (Brewster, Ohio/Fairless) stepped up and fired the ball over the middle of the field to
Remington Rossow (West Palm Beach, Fla./Forest Hill) on a third-and-24 play. On the first play of the second quarter, Colucci called his own number and scrambled over the goal line for a short-yardage score, doubling the lead to 14-0.
On the next Gator drive, Colucci connected with tight end
Jake Cummings (Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg), who made a miraculous over-the-shoulder catch. Cummings snagged the deep pass and raced the additional 20 yards to complete a 57-yard scoring play.
Anderson quarterback Luke Manning was sacked twice by
Ryan Croston (Jefferson, Ohio/Pymatuning Valley) and
Gary Anderson (Vero Beach, Fla./Saint Edward's School) on his next offensive series. Facing a fourth and 17, the Ravens punted once again, but
Re'Mir Ratchford (Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) weaved his way along the far sideline for a 48-yard touchdown return. Ratchford's return padded the lead to 28-0, but the Ravens managed to cash in on a 10-play, 92-yard drive right before halftime to spoil the first-half shutout.
Inside the Box Score
- Allegheny finished Saturday's contest with 262 yards of total offense.
- Anderson was held to 197 yards offensively, including negative-four yards rushing.
- Both teams earned 16 first downs and converted five third-down attempts.
- Colucci completed 12-of-19 passes for 158 yards with two touchdown passes and two interceptions.
- Colucci also ran for a touchdown on a two-yard scramble.
- Running back Malik Jefferson (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) carried the ball 16 times for a team-high 68 rushing yards.
- Cummings and Rossow paced the Gators with 81 and 46 yards, respectively, on a combined eight receptions.
- Anderson quarterbacks Manning and Caleb Foor combined for 18 completions on 37 attempts, with Foor throwing for 177 yards and both Raven touchdowns.
- Croston, Coltin Colucci (Brewster, Ohio/Fairless), and Drew Evans (Erie, Colo./Erie) each logged five tackles to pace the defense.
- Corner Ashton Chambers (Bluffton, S.C./Bluffton) had two tackles and an interception on the 10-yard line that halted a fourth-quarter drive by the Ravens.
News and Notes
- Allegheny and Anderson, whose campuses are separated by a little more than six hours, met for the first time on Saturday.
- The Gators won their season opener for the third time in four years under head coach Braden Layer.
- Colucci threw multiple touchdown passes for the first time in his career, and his three total touchdowns are a single-game career-best.
- Rossow's first catch of 2026 and the fourth reception of his collegiate career went for a 30-yard touchdown.
- Jefferson, a junior transfer from PennWest California, earned the start at running back in his first game as a Gator.
- Anderson, a sophomore transfer from Carson-Newman University, finished with three tackles and a team-high 2.0 sacks in his Allegheny debut.
- Ratchford, a junior transfer from Alfred University, made an impact in his first contest with a 48-yard punt return for a score.
Up Next
The Gators will host Juniata College in their home opener at Frank B. Fuhrer '48 Field on Saturday, September 12, at 1:00 p.m.
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