SCHENECTADY, NY – St. Lawrence University opened the 2015 Liberty League season with a 42-23 victory over host Union College at Frank Bailey Field Saturday afternoon. With the victory the Saints improved to 3-1 and the Dutchmen are now 0-4 (0-1 in the league).
The Dutchmen had more total offense yards, 386-339, but the St. Lawrence defense forced six interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. Mike Lefflbine was 18 for 30 for 170 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions, while Maurice Irby had 17 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown. Patrick Bryant and Matt Gardiner had six catches each and combined for 130 yards (Bryant 66, Gardiner 64 with a score). Leondre Simmon caught two TDs, one on an interception and another receiving. Defensively, the Saints produced 14 tackles for losses including four sacks, and were led by Skyler Williamson, who had 15 tackles and 2.5 for losses. James Holley-Grisham made 14 tackles along with two interceptions, and Israel Squires and Simmon had two interceptions each.
Jermaine Carn led Union on the ground with 14 carries for 88 yards. Nick Cascione was 10 for 22 passing with 288 yards and three touchdowns but had four interceptions. A.J. Baker had a career high 141 yards receiving with five catches and a touchdown, recording his second career 100 yard receiving game. Jake LaRovera had a team and season high 14 tackles for the Dutchmen and Jason Nelson added a career best 10 stops with an interception and 1.5 tackles for losses.
Joe Vito opened the scoring for Union with a 30 yard pass from Cascione off the opening drive, which went 11 plays and 71 yards. 4:47 into the game. Simmon caught a 24 yard pass from Lefflbine to tie it with 5:13 left in the first quarter on a five play, 67 yard drive, and it was 7-7 after the first.
Pope gave Union a 10-7 lead at 9:05 of the second after a six play, 19 yard drive. But the Saints took their first lead of the day at 14-10 on a Simmon three yard reception from Lefflbine to cap off a three play, 22 yard drive. On the first play on the ensuring drive, Simmon intercepted a pass and raced down the sideline for a 39 yard touchdown return and a 21-10 lead with 4:45 left in the second. Baker brought Union back with 4:02 to play in the half for a 21-17 score. It was the second play of the drive after the Saints interception score, and it remained 21-17 St. Lawrence to end the half. The Dutchmen had 280 yards on 43 plays in the first 30 minutes.
The only scoring in the third quarter came from Irby, who scored on a 15 yard run with 3:15 left in the period. The eight play, 60 yard visitors' drive consumed 5:22 off the clock and made it 28-17.
Union pulled to within five at 28-23 when Cascione found Carn for an 11 yard touchdown completion with 8:23 left in the fourth quarter. The two point conversion failed, but the Dutchmen forced the Saints to punt on the next drive and took over on their own 27 with 7:29 left in the fourth. On the fourth play of the drive, Union was stopped for no gain on a rush at the Dutchmen-36, and the Saints took over on downs. Four plays later, on a 4th-and-1 for St. Lawrence, Mitch Gallagher came out of a scrum and pack of players as Matt Gardiner got open and caught the pass to go 27 yards for the score with 4:23 left, making it 35-23 St. Lawrence.
The Saints scored the final points on an Israel Squires interception at the Saints 40, and returned it 60 yards for the 42-23 final.
Union plays at Springfield for a Liberty League contest on October 3 at 12 p.m. while St. Lawrence hosts Rochester, also in league play, on October 3 at 1 p.m.
St. Lawrence 42, Union 23
/seasons/2015/boxscores/20150926_svah.xml
2015
St. Lawrence
42
Union
23
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Lawrence (3-1) | 7 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
| Union (0-4) | 7 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 23 |
Sep 26, 2015