DURHAM,N.H. (AP) – Ricky Santos and David Ball, New Hampshire’s touchdown twosome, combined for three scores and John McCoy ran for three more as the No. 1 Wildcats routed Colgate 55-21 Saturday in the first round of the NCAA 1-AA playoffs.

New Hampshire, 11-1, plays at home in the quarterfinals next Saturday against the winner of the late game between Eastern Washington and Northern Iowa.

Santos, a sophomore who threw for 33 touchdowns this season and 64 in two years, hooked up with Ball on scoring plays of 27 and 48 yards as the Wildcats surged to a 34-0 halftime lead. They combined on one other score from 18 yards in the fourth quarter to make it 55-14.

Santos also ran 8 yards for a score on the opening drive of the third quarter to end any hopes of a comeback by Colgate, 8-4, the Patriot League champion.

Santos, like Ball a candidate for the 1-AA player of the year, finished with 18 completions in 27 attempts for 252 yards and one interception. He also ran for a career high 176 yards on 14 carries.

Ball’s 18 touchdown receptions during the regular season led Division 1-AA, and he holds the school record for scores, yards receiving and catches.

McCoy, who had only four touchdowns all season, ran for a career-high 117 yards on 15 carries and scores of 5, 7 and 39 yards.

Mike Boyle ran a punt back 73 yards for another score for the4 Wildcats, who averaged 42 points a game, third highest in the country in 1-AA.

Scott Jordan scored Colgate’s three touchdowns on runs of 2, 11 and 80 yards. The freshman, who led the Patriot League with 117 yards a game, finished with 209 yards on 33 carries.

But the Wildcats held quarterback Mike Saraceno in check much of the day as he completed only 17 of 40 passes for 155 yards and was intercepted four times.

Jeff Pammer and Mark Rutberg each picked him off twice.

AP-ES-11-26-05 1626EST

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