BROCKPORT, N.Y. – In a Homecoming battle, The College at Brockport football team faced off against Empire 8 rivals SUNY Cortland, overpowering the Red Dragons, 21-19.
The Golden Eagles improve to 5-2 on the season and have a 4-1 mark in league play while the Red Dragons fall to 3-5 on the year and are now 1-5 in the Empire 8.
Brockport outrushed the Red Dragons, 310 to 14, but the Red Dragons held the advantage in passing, 271-210. Cortland's punter tabbed 391-yards on the day, while the Red Dragon offense only reached 285-yards.
Brockport wasted no time, posting seven points on their first possession. A seven-play, 72-yard drive featured six rushes and a pass completion from quarterback Joe Germinerio to Dan Andrews that got things started with an eight-yard pickup. Andrews kept the drive alive, with back-to-back rushes for 35 and 12-yards respectively, to move the chains and set up Brockport with a first-and-goal at the Cortland eight-yard line. Germinerio fought through the defense to post his first touchdown, and the Brett Renzi point after attempt was good for the early 7-0 lead.
After the Green and Gold forced a three-and-out from the Red Dragons, the Brockport offense continued to produce, working on a 14-yard drive. An uncharacteristic fumble from the Green and Gold gave the Cortland offense a chance, which they capitalized on, posting three points on a 28-yard field goal. Brockport would see their opponents post points again to end the first quarter, this time a 52-yard drive from Cortland that found the end zone, as the Golden Eagles found themselves trailing for the first time, 10-7.
Head coach Jason Mangone's squad wouldn't be quieted for long as they turned a three-minute possession into points to start the second quarter. On the end of the drive, Germinerio completed to Nick Gomez for 22 yards to the Cortland 15, and followed it up with a 15-yard pickup on the quarterback-keeper to post his second score of the day, and retake the lead at 14-10.
After the two teams traded possessions, Brockport made a big defensive stop to force a 40-yard Cortland field goal attempt, which found its way through the uprights, as the Red Dragons inched closer. The Golden Eagles would take a 14-13 lead into the break.
Cortland, who won the opening toss and deferred, started the second half with possession, but the Green and Gold came out of the break determined, forcing a quick Cortland three-and-out. The Brockport offensive machine got things rolling with Germinerio rushing for 21-yards on their first play of the half, and a seven-play drive had the Golden Eagles knocking on the door until an untimely fumble turned the ball over in Cortland territory.
The Brockport defense went to work, and after forcing a quick punt, put the ball back into the hands of the Green and Gold offense. The Golden Eagles wasted no time, and in just two plays found the back of the end zone. On a triple double-reverse flea-flicker, Andrews got the handoff, tossed it to Jerry Thompson who pitched it back to Germinerio, who found Nate Wilkinson for a diving 46-yard TD catch, to post the decisive 21-13 lead.
A back-and-forth final frame saw no score until the 2:37 mark when Cortland to cut the score to 21-19. The Red Dragons attempted a two-point conversion but the pass was intercepted in the end zone to seal the homecoming win for Brockport.
Germinerio finished 18-for-27 passing for 210-yards and one TD. He led all rushers with 188-yards off of 31 carries, tabbing two TDs. Andrews ran for 104-yards off of 15 carries, averaging 6.9 yards per carry. Wilkinson led all receivers with 104-yards off of four receptions for one TD.
Sean McKean and Matt Szymanski led the Brockport defense with eight tackles a piece. McKean also recorded one tackle for a loss of three-yards. Adonis Carrasco, Ryan Johnson, Jake O'Connell, James Rupp and Austin Dean each tabbed four tackles. Ed Suriano and Dean each recorded two sacks, with Suriano's for a loss of 10-yards.
The Golden Eagles will head to nationally-ranked Alfred University next weekend for a crucial Empire 8 matchup. The Saxons currently lead the conference with a perfect record of 6-0 while the Golden Eagles sit in second at 4-1.
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