The University of Rochester produced two touchdowns off turnovers and rode a strong defense to a 29-3 victory over Springfield College at Edwin Fauver Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Yellowjackets improved to 3-0 overall, 1-0 in the Liberty League. Springfield is 2-2 overall, 0-1 in the league. Last year, the Pride won, 63-27, rushing for 532 yards and eight touchdowns.
This time, Springfield rushed 61 times for 219 net yards. Springfield entered the game ranked 10th in Division III in rushing yards per game.
Rochester's turnover scores were a 33-yard return of a fumble recovery early in the first quarter and a 38-yard interception return by Peter Crossett late in the fourth quarter that sealed the victory.
UR quarterback Dan Bronson threw two scoring passes – an 18-yarder to Kyle Allegrini in the first quarter to build a 12-0 lead and an 18-yarder on a crossing pattern to Luke Szumski with 2:47 left in the third, boosting the lead to 22-3. Andrew Haber kicked a career-best 38 yard field goal early in the third quarter and made two of three PAT tries.
Springfield's points came from Blake Heller's 21-yard field goal with 5:49 left in the first half. It drew the Pride within 12-3 at intermission.
The ball changed hands twice in the first three minutes. Springfield went three-and-out and punted. On Rochester's third play of the game (from the UR 45), Bronson was intercepted by Kenny Calaj at the SC 41. Calaj finished with two interceptions and nearly had a third when he broke up a pass on the one-yard line intended for Derek Wager.
On Springfield's first play from scrimmage after the turnover (at the 42), the ball was bobbled in the backfield. David Wolff hit QB Jake Eglintine and the ball came loose. Wolff scooped it up at the 33 and ran untouched into the end zone.
Rochester's defense held on the next series and the Yellowjackets started at their own 10 after Whit DeVaux's punt went out of bounds. Rochester drove 90 yards in 11 plays, helped by two penalties against Springfield and a 24-yard run by Nick Perpignan. On second-and-10 from the SC 18, Bronson hit Allegrini in the middle of the end zone. His two-point pass attempt was short.
In the second quarter, Springfield drove from its own 24 down to the Rochester four where Heller kicked his field goal. Most of the yardage came on the ground, although Eglintine hit Tyler Hyde with a 32-yard pass to put the ball into Rochester territory.
Rochester opened the second half with a seven-play, 29-yard drive that ended with haber's 38-yard field goal. His previous career best was a 36-yarder that defeated WPI in overtime last year.
Bronson did much of the work on the third quarter TD drive. He carried for 12 yards and 19 yards on consecutive plays. After a one-yard run by Shane Saucier, Bronson rolled to his right and found Szumski crossing from left to right. He caught the pass and outran defenders down the right sideline to edge into the end zone.
Late in the final quarter, a Springfield drive was disrupted by a holding call and an off-setting penalty call (procedure vs. the Pride, pass interference vs. Rochester). On third-and-20 from the SC 44, Eglintine rolled out to throw left. Crossett picked it off and sped to the end zone.
Bronson finished six of 16 for 99 yards, two INTs, and two TDs. He ran 17 times for 73 net yards and was sacked three times. Saucier gained 48 yards and Perpignan had 30.
Keith Rodman led Springfield with 63 yards on 16 carries and Jordan Wilcox had 36 on 12 tries. Eglintine was three for 11 for 62 yards.
Defensively, Tom Marone had 14 tackles for Rochester including 1.5 behind the line. Matt Mender had 12 tackles, 1.5 behind the line. R.J. Borgolini had nine tackles and a 12-yard sack.
Max Nacewicz had 12 tackles for Springfield including 4.5 for 18 yards in losses and three sacks for 16 yards. Calaj had nine tackles and two interceptions.