Football | 9/15/2021 1:13:00 PM
BROCKPORT, NY – The SUNY Brockport football team looks to bounce back at home on Saturday when the Golden Eagles host the University of Rochester at Bob Boozer Field at 12 p.m. It will be Coach to Cure MD day at the stadium as the Golden Eagles partner with the Parent Project for Muscular Dystrophy to raise awareness and funds to help in the fight against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
DATE – TIME: Sept. 18, 2021 – 12 p.m.
LOCATION: Bob Boozer Field – Brockport, NY
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Week 2 Recap: Brockport lost to visiting Ithaca College 23-8 in the home opener for the Golden Eagles last Saturday at Bob Boozer Field. Brockport (1-1), the three-time defending Empire 8 champions, snapped a four-game winning streak in the series against the Bombers and they are now 21-2 in their last 23 home games. Ithaca moved its record to 2-0 on the year. The Golden Eagle defense came out flying for the second straight week as senior defensive end Josh Greenwood sacked Ithaca quarterback AJ Wingfield for a ten-yard loss in the endzone to give the home team a 2-0 lead midway through the first quarter. After falling behind 10-2, the Golden Eagles responded with a touchdown from Jala Coad before the half to make the score 10-8. The stingy Bombers, who moved up to No. 19 in the national poll following the win, would not allow a second half score and posted 13 unanswered points in the final 30 minutes of action to secure the key regional victory.
Coach to Cure MD Day: Coaches around the country are joining forces on Saturday to support the Coach to Cure MD program. Coaches will wear patches on their sleeves to raise awareness and funding for Duchenne (pronounced "doo-shin") muscular dystrophy. Ryan Tubiolo will join Brockport as an honorary captain during the coin toss and he will also be on the sidelines throughout the contest Saturday. Ryan has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy but has never let his condition define him. He has always had a passion for sports and even helped coach football at Webster Thomas in high school. Help Brockport #TackleDuchenne by texting CURE to 501501 to donate $25 or visit CoachToCureMD.org to make a donation.
Protect The Nest: Brockport is 21-2 in its last 23 home games over the course of the last four seasons. Brockport was a perfect 5-0 at home in 2019 and the Golden Eagles also went 7-0 at Bob Boozer Field in 2017.
In the National Spotlight: Brockport is currently receiving 16 votes in the latest D3football.com National Poll and they are listed in the others receiving votes category.
All-Time Against Rochester: These two teams first squared off back in 1949 when Bob Boozer was head coach of the Golden Eagles. Their most recent meeting came back in 1988 with the Yellowjackets coming away with the victory. Bport's last win over UofR was also the last time these two teams played in Brockport, back in 1984 as the Golden Eagles topped the visiting Yellowjackets 20-7. UofR holds a 9-3 all-time series advantage in 12 meetings. The two teams played once in the 1940's, four times in the '70's, and seven times in the 80's.
Among the Best in the Nation: Brockport's defense is ranked fourth nationally and first in the Empire 8 with five interceptions this season. The Golden Eagles also rank eighth nationally and first in the league allowing an average of just 9.5 yards rushing per game. Brockport leads the conference and ranks fifth nationally with an average of 12.5 tackles for loss per game and they also ranked third nationally in turnovers gained with eight.
Off The Edge: Senior defensive end Josh Greenwood ranks 30
th nationally and first in the Empire 8 with 4.5 tackles for a loss of 26 yards this season. He also leads the team with 15 total tackles and he has 2.0 sacks. Greenwood was an Empire 8 All-Conference First Team pick in 2019.
Standout Wideout: Senior receiver Imhotep Cromer currently ranks tenth in the nation and first in the conference with an average of 9.0 receptions per game. He also ranks 26
th nationally and third in the league with 217 total yards receiving through two games.
A Nose for the Endzone: Brockport junior running back Jala Coad currently leads the Empire 8 with 18 points scored. He has two rushing TD's and one receiving TD on the season. He also ranks fourth in the conference in yards per carry and total rushing yards.
Pick City: The Brockport secondary has posted five interceptions this season, including one which was returned for a touchdown by senior captain Lawrence Jenkins in the season opener at Framingham. Ben Marshall also picked off a pass, as did Alaan Montgomery and Raylens Boutin. Last week against Ithaca, Kenny Hernandez registered his first interception of the season.
Picking Up Where He Left Off: Sophomore defensive back Raylens Boutin, the 2019 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, broke up two passes and added an interception in week one at Framingham. He now has 18 career pass breakups and five interceptions in just 14 career games.
Under Center: Freshman quarterback Jack Cheshire ranks 27
th nationally and first in the Empire 8 with an average of 23.5 completions per game. He ranks third in the E8 with an average of 212.0 passing yards per game. In just two collegiate games, he has completed 47 passes for 424 yards to go along with two touchdowns.
Receiving Threats: Alex Benson has nine catches for 71 yards this season, while Derrick Chance has caught five balls for 65 yards. Devin Trent also has five catches for the Golden Eagles.
Deep Rushing Attack: Brockport's backfield features three running backs with multiple carries through the first two games. Coad leads the way with 34 carries for 103 yards, while Rashad Law and Gino Fontanarosa each have six carries for the Golden Eagles.
Special Teams: Freshman kicker Nate Wigent and freshman punter Dan Giangrasso have carried the load in the kicking game this season. Wigent knocked down a key 43-yard field goal as the first half expired to give Brockport a 24-0 lead in the opener at Framingham. Giangrasso currently ranks second in the conference in average yards per punt (34.9). He has five punts inside the 20 and one punt of 50+ yards this season.
Captains of the Ship: Brockport's three captains for this season include Luke Lodini, and senior linebacker's Lawrence Jenkins and Andrew Covais. Jenkins is now a two-time Empire 8 All-Conference selection, while Covais earned all-conference honorable mention in 2019. Lodini was a 2021 D3football.com Preseason All-American First Team pick for the Golden Eagles. Jenkins ranks second on the team with 4.0 tackles for a loss this season, while Covais has eight tackles in two games to go along with 1.0 sack.
All-Conference Returners: 10 of Brockport's 12 Empire 8 All-Conference selections from 2019 return to the gridiron for the 2021 campaign. On the defensive side of the ball, Josh Greenwood and Boutin return after being named All-Conference first team. All-Conference second team defense selections include returners Jordan Harris, Kenny Hernandez and Lawrence Jenkins, while Andrew Covais was named honorable mention. On the offensive side of the ball, junior running back Jala Coad was a 2019 all-conference second team pick alongside senior receiver Imhotep Cromer. Lodini was a first team pick and offensive tackle Demetri Swann was an honorable mention selection.
Meet the Sideline General: Following the 2019 season, Brockport ninth year Head Coach
Jason Mangone and his coaching staff became the first group to earn three consecutive Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year honors in the 19-year history of the conference. Mangone has been named the AFCA Region I Coach of the Year in two of the last three seasons. He has an impressive 59-23 overall record at Brockport. Mangone and his staff have compiled a 34-6 overall record in the last four seasons. In 2017 he was named the AFCA National Coach of the Year after guiding the Golden Eagles to the semifinals of the NCAA Div. III Championships.
Dominant Stretch: Brockport's three straight Empire 8 titles have come courtesy of truly dominant league play over the course of the last three seasons. In this three year stretch the Golden Eagles are 19-1 in conference play. Over the course of the nine victories last season, the Golden Eagles posted three shut outs and allowed just 75 total points.
Back-to-Back-Back Champs: Brockport won its third straight Empire 8 Conference title and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Div. III Championship while registering a 9-3 overall record in 2019. The Golden Eagles won nine of their last 11 games of the season as they earned the conference's automatic NCAA bid for the third straight year. Brockport joined elite territory in 2019, becoming just the second program in the 18-year history of the Empire 8 to win three consecutive conference crowns.
Meet The Yellowjackets: Rochester is currently 1-1 this season and will hit the road for the first time as they travel to Brockport on Saturday. In week one, Rochester lost at home to Case Western Reserve by the slight margin of 27-20. In week two, the Yellowjackets edged out Alfred State 28-27. The Yellowjackets have a net of 400 yards rushing in two games (200 ypg.) and have scored four TDs on the ground. Will Varney was named the Liberty League Rookie of the Week following his performance against Alfred State (12 carries, 94 yards, two TDs). Daniel Papatonis leads the team with 37 carries for 258 yards. Sean Casey is the expected starter under center. He has 35 completions for 435 yards and three touchdowns. Braydon Bush leads the team with 22 tackles and two pass breakups.