Football | 12/6/2023 7:38:00 PM
Cortland, playing in the national semifinals for the first time in school history, travels to face Randolph-Macon College at noon on Saturday, Dec. 9 in Ashland, Va., with a berth in the Stagg Bowl on the line. Cortland (12-1) entered the NCAA playoffs ranked 11th nationally by D3football.com and 13th by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). Randolph-Macon (13-0), also in the national semifinals for the first time, is ranked eighth in both polls. The winner will face either top-ranked and defending national champion North Central (Ill.) or third-ranked Wartburg for the national title on Friday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. in Salem, Va.
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THE SERIES: Cortland and Randolph-Macon are meeting for the second time. The teams faced each other in the first round of last year's NCAA playoffs at Randolph-Macon, with the host Yellow Jackets rallying for a 35-28 victory. Cortland led 28-21 at halftime but were outscored by the Yellow Jackets, 14-0, in the second half.
Zac Boyes completed 22-of-31 passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions for the Red Dragons. Cole Burgess caught six passes for 105 yards and a score and Devin McArthur and Joe Ruggieri registered eight tackles apiece. Randolph-Macon's Drew Campanale was 10-of-15 passing for 256 yards and three touchdowns. David Wallis caught two passes for 121 yards and a score and Joey Hunt had four receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown. Daniel Eliasek led the Yellow Jackets with 10 tackles, eight solo.
CORTLAND CAPSULE: Cortland, in only the third national quarterfinal appearance in school history, defeated host Alma College of Michigan, 58-41, last weekend. The teams were tied 34-34 at halftime but Cortland limited the Scots to just seven second-half points. Zac Boyes finished 24-of-33 passing for 400 yards and five touchdowns and Jaden AlfanoStJohn ran 28 times for 193 yards and two scores. JJ Laap caught 10 passes for 172 yards and a score, Joe Iadevaio grabbed seven passes for 82 yards and a school record-tying three touchdowns, and Cole Burgess finished with five catches for 116 yards and a TD.
Jaden Martinez and Jack Winey led the Red Dragons with 17 and 13 tackles, respectively. Nick Lardaro registered 4.5 tackles for loss, including three sacks. Two of his sacks resulted in fumbles that Cortland recovered, including one on a 3rd-and-goal play from the 2-yard line with Cortland up 41-34 in the third quarter. Luke Winslow and David Romer each had nine tackles, with Winslow also intercepting a pass.
Cortland ranks fifth nationally in Division III in total offense at 514.8 yards per game, ninth in scoring at 46.6 points per game and 13th in rushing offense at 235.0 yards per game. Boyes is 222-for-311 passing (71.4 percent) for school single-season records of 3,392 yards and 36 touchdowns and has been intercepted just five times. He's also rushed for 616 yards and eight scores. AlfanoStJohn has run for 1,270 yards (97.7 per game) and 15 touchdowns, along with one receiving score. Ashton Capone has rushed for 565 yards and 12 touchdowns and also has a receiving TD.
Laap and Burgess each have surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark this season. Laap has caught 67 passes for 1,202 yards and 13 touchdowns and Burgess has 64 receptions for 1,096 yards and 11 scores. Iadevaio is third on the team with 25 catches for 314 yards and four touchdowns, including his three at Alma.
Winey leads the Red Dragons with 124 tackles, followed by Martinez with 69 and Luke Winslow with 61. Winslow is the team leader with four interceptions, while Mark Noel has picked off three passes. Lardaro leads the team with 7.5 sacks and 11.5 total tackles for loss. Max Llewellyn has totaled four sacks and eight tackles for loss.
Mike Baloga is 12-for-17 on field-goal attempts, with a long of 39 yards, and has made 79-of-80 PAT kicks. His school record of 91 straight made PATs, dating back to last year, ended when his first attempt was blocked at Alma, but he bounced back to make his last seven PATs and a fourth-quarter field goal. Five of his 12 field goals have come during NCAA tournament play. Patrick Luby averages 37.4 yards per punt. Six of his 17 punts have pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line, with no touchbacks. Burgess averages 20.8 yards per kickoff return and Ravi Dass Jr. averages 15.3 yards per punt return, including a 63-yard TD return versus Alfred in October.
Curt Fitzpatrick was named Cortland's head coach in February 2020 and enters the game with a 32-4 (.889) overall record with the Red Dragons. In his two-plus seasons on the field, after the 2020 season was canceled, he's led the Red Dragons to three Empire 8 titles. In 2021, he guided the Red Dragons to an 11-1 season, the Empire 8 crown (6-0 record), and the NCAA second round. In 2022, Cortland finished 9-2 (6-0 in league play) and the NCAA first round, and the Red Dragons were perfect in the league (6-0) again this fall and have set a school single-season record with their 12 victories. Fitzpatrick and his assistants were named the Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year three straight years from 2021-23, and Fitzpatrick was recently named both the 2023 D3football.com Region 2 Coach of the Year and the 2023 AFCA Division III Region 1 Coach of the Year.
Fitzpatrick previously served as head coach at Morrisville for seven seasons from 2013-19 and guided the Mustangs to four winning seasons and three postseason ECAC bowl games. He served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Utica College from 2008-12. A 2004 graduate of St. John Fisher, Fitzpatrick was a four-year letterman and a standout quarterback for the Cardinals who served as a team captain. In his final season, he earned Empire 8 all-conference honors and set school passing records in touchdowns (30) and yards (2,366) while leading the program to a 10-2 overall record and an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. He returned to his hometown of Fulton, N.Y., to coach quarterbacks and wide receivers at Fulton High School in 2005 and he served as quarterbacks coach at St. John Fisher for two seasons from 2006-07. During those two years the Cardinals went a combined 23-4, won two Empire 8 crowns, and advanced to the NCAA semifinals (2006) and quarterfinals (2007).
A LOOK AT...RANDOLPH-MACON COLLEGE: Randolph-Macon won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) title with a 10-0 record and earned its spot in the semifinals with home wins over Christopher Newport (28-20) and Ithaca (46-0) and a road victory at Johns Hopkins (39-36). The Yellow Jackets knocked off the previously unbeaten Blue Jays last Saturday when Kyle Ihle made a 34-yard field goal with four seconds remaining. Drew Campanale connected on 15-of-27 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns, Mitchell Johnson ran 11 times for 144 yards and two scores, and David Wallis caught seven passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson Deaver led Randolph-Macon with 11 tackles, followed by Brandon Evans and Tony Skinner with nine stops apiece.
Randolph-Macon features one of the nation's most prolific offenses and defenses. The Yellow Jackets rank sixth nationally in scoring (47.8 points/game), seventh in rushing offense (266.8 yards/game) and 11th in total offense (496.5 yards/game), as well as sixth in rushing defense (59.6 yards/game), ninth in total defense (238.5 yards/game) and 11th in scoring defense (12.6 points/game).
Campanale, a Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist, has completed 154-of-229 passes (67.3 pct.) this fall for 2,559 yards and 24 touchdowns. Three of the Yellow Jackets running backs have gained more than 600 yards on the ground. Nick Hale has run for 1,022 yards and 22 scores, Johnson has 737 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, and Cameron Chatmon has 663 yards and seven scores. In addition, Kwesi Clarke has 15 rushing touchdowns among his 87 total rushes for the season. Wallis leads the team with 53 receptions for 957 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Deaver paces the defensive unit with 71 tackles and Neftali Reyes has made 66 stops. Skinner has registered five of Randolph-Macon's 21 interceptions and KU Htoo leads the team with 4.5 sacks. Ihle has made 8-of-10 field goals, with a long of 45 yards, and is 74-of-77 on PAT kicks. Jordan Etz averages 37.0 yards per punt on 17 kicks, Jason Moore averages 22.7 yards per kickoff return on 14 returns and JoJo Marinella has returned 13 punts for an average of 9.1 yards.
Pedro Aruzza is in his 20th season as Randolph-Macon's head coach. His overall record of 137-68 (.669) includes a 72-12 mark (.857) mark since 2016. Aruzza has led the Yellow Jackets to six ODAC titles (2008, 2016, 2018, spring 2021, 2022, 2023). Prior to being named head coach, Aruzza was an assistant coach at Washington-St. Louis from 1999-2004 and at Butler from 1998-99. Aruzza graduated from Wheaton College in Illinois in 1995. He was a four-year starter at running back and earned All-America honors twice, all-league honors three times, and Academic All-America recognition three times. He ranks third at Wheaton with 3,179 career rushing yards.
NOTEBOOK:
* Cortland is making its 12th NCAA tournament appearance overall and third straight. The only other time Cortland made three consecutive NCAA tournaments was between 1988-90. Prior to this year, Cortland's best NCAA showings were quarterfinal appearances in 2008 (two wins in a 32-team tournament before losing at Mount Union) and 1988 (one win in a 16-team tournament before losing at Ithaca).
* Cortland is the first school from New York to reach the NCAA Division III semifinals since Brockport in 2017 and is looking to become the first New York school to advance to the Stagg Bowl since Ithaca won the 1991 national title. Either Cortland or Randolph-Macon will be the first East Coast team to play in the Stagg Bowl since Bridgewater (Va.) lost in the 2001 finals. Ithaca in 1991 is the last East Coast team to win the national title.
* Cortland is 10-11 in NCAA play, including first-round wins in six of its last seven appearances (2008, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2021 at home, and this year at Endicott). Cortland's wins at Endicott and Alma this season are the Red Dragons' first two NCAA road victories ever.
* Cortland's trip last weekend to Alma was the longest bus trip in Cortland football history (637 miles) and the second-longest trip overall, behind a 2,855-mile trip (via flight) to Linfield College of Oregon in the 2015 NCAA second round. Last year's NCAA first-round trip to Randolph-Macon ranks in the top 10 on the travel list at 427 miles. The longest road trips (by mileage) in Cortland football history are:
2,855 miles (flight) - Linfield College (Ore.) - 2015 NCAA Division III second round
637 miles - Alma College (Mich.) - 2023 NCAA Division III quarterfinals
563 miles - Maine Maritime Academy - 1994 ECAC Northeast Bowl
547 miles - Wittenberg University (Ohio) - 2021 regular season
546 miles - Ferrum College (Va.) - 1993 and 1995 regular seasons
516 miles - Newport News Apprentice School (Va.) - 1995 regular season
462 miles - Heidelberg University (Ohio) - 2016 regular season
427 miles - Randolph-Macon College (Va.) - 2022 NCAA Division III first round and 2023 quarterfinals
396 miles - University of Mount Union (Ohio) - 2008 NCAA Division III quarterfinals
* Cortland has scored more than 40 points in 10 of 13 games this season, with the exceptions being a 38-35 home loss to Susquehanna on Sept. 16, a 23-17 NCAA first-round win at Endicott on Nov. 18 and a 25-24 NCAA second-round win at home versus Grove City on Nov. 25.
* Cortland earned nine all-region honors from D3football.com, the most in Region 2. Quarterback Zac Boyes was named the Region 2 Offensive Player of the Year and was joined on the all-region first team by running back Jaden AlfanoStJohn and wide receiver JJ Laap. Four Red Dragons - wide receiver Cole Burgess, offensive tackle Cody Aikey, center Ryan Bitka and cornerback Mark Noel - were second-team selections and linebacker Jack Winey and kickoff specialist Patrick Luby were named to the third team. Curt Fitzpatrick was chosen as the D3football.com Region 2 Coach of the Year (as well as the AFCA Division III Region 1 Coach of the Year).
* Cortland had 20 players earn Empire 8 all-league honors, including 11 first-team selections. Quarterback Zac Boyes was the league's Offensive Player of the Year, safety Sam Cotton was the Rookie of the Year, and for the second straight season kicker Patrick Luby was named the Special Teams Player of the Year despite not handling Cortland's placekicking duties. Luby is the team's punter and handles kickoff duties. Head coach Curt Fitzpatrick and his staff were named the Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year for the third straight season.
* Zac Boyes is one of 20 semifinalists for the 2023 Gagliardi Trophy, presented to the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III. The finalists will be announced Dec. 7 and the winner will be announced Dec. 15. Boyes is Cortland's second semifinalist in three years; quarterback Brees Segala was a 2021 semifinalist. Cortland also has had two previous Gagliardi Trophy finalists - quarterback (and current Cincinnati Bengals QB coach) Dan Pitcher in 2011 and defensive lineman Adam Haas in 2006 - under a previous format where 10 players were recognized with that title.
* Zac Boyes' school-record streak of pass attempts without an interception ended at 194 when he was picked off in the second quarter at Ithaca on Nov. 11. He was also intercepted by the Bombers on a Hail Mary pass on the final play of the first half. Prior to the Ithaca game, Boyes' only interception was in the second quarter of the season opener versus Delaware Valley. Boyes was intercepted twice versus Grove City two weekends ago in the NCAA second round and has been picked five times (compared to 36 TD passes) this season.
* Linebacker Jack Winey has recorded 15 or more tackles four times this year - 18 versus Susquehanna, 16 at St. John Fisher, 16 versus Grove City and 15 versus Utica - along with 13 tackles at Alma. He has the most 15-tackle games in a season at Cortland since Bob Bateson turned the trick six times in 10 games during the 1982 season. Winey's 124 tackles this season are the most by a Red Dragon since Jim Smith's 124 tackles during the 2008 season. Bateson holds the school record with 140 tackles in 1982.
* Linebackers Jack Winey and Jaden Martinez are Cortland's top two tacklers this season with 124 and 69 stops, respectively. Winey and Martinez came to Cortland this season after being teammates the past two years at Nassau Community College. In 2022, Winey led Nassau CC with 50 tackles and Martinez was second with 49.
* Safety Luke Winslow leads Cortland with four interceptions, including one in the NCAA quarterfinals at Alma. Winslow is a graduate student at Cortland who transferred in after playing three seasons at Division II Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire (2019, 2021, 2022). In his senior year of high school at Lansing High, Winslow was named the eight-man football New York State Player of the Year.
* Four times this season Cortland did not punt in a game (Delaware Valley, St. John Fisher, Hartwick and Ithaca), and on five other occasions the Red Dragons punted only once (Morrisville, Utica, Alfred, Grove City, Alma). Through 13 games, Cortland has punted only 18 times.
* Part of Cortland's recent success has resulted from key fourth-down conversions. Here's a quick look at some of those situations:
Nov. 11 at Ithaca
Cortland scores three of its TDs on 4th-down runs - two on 4th-and-goal at the 1-yard line and one on 4th-and-1 at the 2-yard line. With less than five minutes remaining, Cortland faced 4th-and-2 at its own 34-yard line leading by seven. Zac Boyes ran for eight yards, and the drive eventually resulted in a game-sealing field goal.
Nov. 25 vs. Grove City (NCAA second round)
Trailing 24-17 with less than seven minutes left, Cortland faced a 4th-and-5 at its own 48-yard line and Boyes ran for six yards. Later in the drive, Cortland had 4th-and-15 from its own 49-yard line and Zac Boyes completed a 24-yard pass to Cole Burgess. The Red Dragons eventually scored a TD with 1:23 left and took the lead on a 2-point conversion pass from Boyes to tight end Omari Kendrick on Cortland's first (and only this season, to date) 2-point conversion attempt of the season.
Dec. 2 at Alma (NCAA quarterfinals)
In the third quarter, Cortland faced a 4th-and-1 at its own 47-yard line. Ashton Capone ran for eight yards, and the drive eventually led to a TD. In the fourth quarter, leading 48-41, Cortland had 4th-and-6 at midfield and Zac Boyes completed a 50-yard TD pass to Cole Burgess to extend the lead to 55-41.
* Randolph-Macon is the seventh conference champion Cortland faces this year. The Red Dragons own wins versus Delaware Valley (Middle Atlantic Conference), Ithaca (Liberty League), Endicott (Commonwealth Coast Conference), Grove City (Presidents' Athletic Conference) and Alma (Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association), and they lost to Susquehanna (Landmark).
* Of Patrick Luby's 102 kickoffs this season, 48 of them (47.1 percent) have resulted in touchbacks. Last season, Luby registered 36 touchbacks among his 77 kickoffs - the 46.7 percent touchback rate was the best by a Cortland kicker since touchback totals were first tracked in 2006.
* Zac Boyes twice this season has nearly become the second player in school history to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in the same game. At Ithaca on Nov. 11, Boyes passed for 289 yards and ran for 125 yards, and on Sept. 30 at Morrisville he threw for 294 yards and ran for 111 yards. The only Red Dragon to accomplish the 300/100 feat is J.J. Tutwiler, who passed for 338 yards and ran for 118 yards at home versus The College of New Jersey in 2002.
* Cortland senior defensive lineman Will Ruckert is the brother of current New York Jets tight end Jeremy Ruckert, who was drafted in the third round out of Ohio State in 2022.
* Zac Boyes and JJ Laap are each sons of former Division III quarterbacks. Boyes' father, Jerry, was an Associated Press All-American at Ithaca College in 1974 and 1975 and was inducted into Ithaca's Hall of Fame in 1986. He led the Bombers to the Stagg Bowl in both 1974 (loss to Central of Iowa) and 1975 (loss to Wittenberg). He served as Buffalo State's head football coach from 1986-2000 and 2009-18 and the school's director of athletics from 1999 until his retirement in 2020. Laap's father, Jaan (pronounced YON) Laap, Sr., was a quarterback at the University at Albany from 1990-93 when the now-Division I Great Danes played on the Division III level. He ranks eighth in Albany history with 2,942 passing yards.
* Quarterback Zac Boyes and center Ryan Bitka are the sons of two long-time Buffalo State football coaches. Boyes' father, Jerry, was the Bengals' head coach from 1986-2000 and 2009-18. Bitka's father, Terry, served 36 years on the Bengals' coaching staff - he was elevated to Associate Head Coach in 1998 and was named the team's defensive coordinator in 1999. Terry is a 1986 Cortland graduate and served as a Red Dragon team captain. Ryan is currently one of Cortland's team captains, along with Boyes, Max Llewellyn and Zack Thuesen.
* Cortland is 6-5 all-time in overtime games, with the last a 32-26 home loss to Brockport in 2019. All 11 games were decided in the first extra session. Cortland has never gone to overtime in a postseason game.
* Cortland has been a member of the Empire 8 conference since 2015. The Red Dragons have won the outright league title and the league's NCAA automatic bid in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and were co-champions in both 2015 and 2019, earning an NCAA bid in 2015. Cortland also finished second or tied for second in the league in 2017 and 2018. Cortland previously competed in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) for 15 seasons from 2000-14 and finished in at least a tie for first place six times.
Three current Empire 8 members - Cortland, Brockport and Morrisville - at one point played in the NJAC and are affiliate members of the E8 in football only. The other league teams - Alfred University, Hartwick, St. John Fisher and Utica - are full conference members, while Brockport will become a full member in the fall of 2024. Also in 2024, Hilbert College will join the Empire 8 as an affiliate football member, and it was announced on Oct. 10 that Alfred State College will join the league as an affiliate football member in 2025.
* Cortland Athletics has won 25 national titles across numerous sports, including 19 sponsored by the NCAA. Most recently, both the Red Dragon baseball and women's lacrosse teams won national crowns in 2015. Women's cross country won seven national titles in a span from 1989-97, men's lacrosse won NCAA Division III titles in 2009 and 2006, a Division II title in 1975 and a USILA national title in 1973, and the field hockey team won three NCAA Division III crowns in 2001, 1994 and 1993. Men's cross country was the 2008 NCAA Division III champion, while women's soccer won the D3 title in 1992 and the first-ever U.S. National Women's Soccer Championship in 1980. The women's track and field teams won titles in 1991 (indoor) and 1985 (outdoor). Cortland also previously sponsored men's gymnastics as a sport, and that program won four USGF Division II-III titles (1986, 1987, 1989, 1990).
* Cortland Athletics is enjoying one of the best fall seasons in school history. Five Red Dragon teams won conference titles and earned NCAA tournament berths - the first time Cortland has won five fall conference titles since 1986. In addition to football winning the Empire 8 crown, the Red Dragons captured State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) titles in men's soccer, women's soccer, field hockey and women's volleyball.
* The following Cortland records have either been broken or are being approached entering Saturday's game:
TEAM:
Most Games Won, Season:
12 (12-1, 9-1 regular season), 2023 (active)
11 (11-1, 10-0 regular season), 2021
11 (11-1, 10-0 regular season), 1988
11 (11-2, 9-1 regular season), 2008
Highest Points-per-Game Average, Season:
46.6 through 13 games, 2023 (active)
45.1 in 11 games, 2022
41.4 in 12 games, 2021
Most Points Scored, Season
606 in 13 games, 2023 (active)
497 in 12 games, 2021
Total Offensive Average per Game, Season:
514.8, 2023 (active)
499.6, 2022
Most Total Offensive Yards, Season:
6,692, 2023 (active)
5,496, 2022
Most Rushing Yards, Season:
3,055, 2023 (active)
2,766, 1990
Most Passing Yards, Season:
3,637, 2023 (active)
3,509, 2015
Most Points Scored, Game:
73, at Hartwick, 2023
73, vs. Brockport, 1969
73, vs. New Jersey City, 1999
INDIVIDUAL:
Most Rushing Yards by QB, Season:
621, Tyler Hughes, 2013
616, Zac Boyes, 2023 (active)
Most Passing Yards, Career:
6,518, Brett Segala, 2016-19
6,443, Zac Boyes, 2021-23 (active)
6,271, Steven Ferreira, 2015-17
Most Passing Yards, Season:
3,392, Zac Boyes, 2023 (active)
3,127, Steven Ferreira, 2015
2,963, Ray Miles, 2008
2,826, Zac Boyes, 2022
Most Passes Completed, Season:
225, Steven Ferreira, 2015
223, Ryan McCarthy, 2000
222, Zac Boyes, 2023 (active)
Most Touchdown Passes Thrown, Career:
65, Zac Boyes, 2023 (active)
59, Brett Segala, 2016-19
Most Touchdown Passes Thrown, Season:
36, Zac Boyes, 2023 (active)
31, Brees Segala, 2021
31, Dan Pitcher, 2011
Most Touchdown Passes Thrown, Game:
5, Zac Boyes vs. Susquehanna, 2023
5, Zac Boyes at Alma, 2023
(Boyes is the only player in school history with two 5-TD passing games; the feat has been accomplished six times total)
Most Consecutive Games with a Touchdown Pass Thrown:
16, Zac Boyes, 2022-23 (streak ended vs. Endicott in NCAA first round)
13, Steven Ferreira, 2015-16
13, Dan Pitcher, 2010-11
Most Consecutive Pass Attempts without an Interception:
194, Zac Boyes, 2023 (streak ended at Ithaca)
165, Steven Ferreira, 2015
Best Passing Efficiency Rating, Season (min. 100 attempts):
198.0, Zac Boyes, 2023 (active)
194.2, Zac Boyes, 2022
177.0, Brees Segala, 2021
Best Passing Efficiency Rating, Game (min. 10 attempts):
357.9, Zac Boyes vs. Susquehanna, 2023 (11-for-17, 397 yds., 5 TD, 0 INT)
330.3, Zac Boyes vs. TCNJ, 2022 (10-for-13, 235 yds., 4 TD, 0 INT)
Most Total Offensive Yards, Career:
7,561, Zac Boyes, 2021-23 (active)
6,917, Steven Ferreira, 2015-17
Most Total Offensive Yards, Season:
4,008, Zac Boyes, 2023 (active)
3,327, Steven Ferreira, 2015
3,202, Zac Boyes, 2022
Most Receptions, Career:
188, Jon Mannix, 2012-16
(JJ Laap is fourth with 165 and Cole Burgess is fifth with 155)
Most Touchdown Receptions, Career:
31, JJ Laap, 2019, 21-23 (active)
30, Cole Burgess, 2018-19, 22-23 (active)
30, John Babin, 2010-11, 13-14
29, Jake Smith, 2014-16, 18
Most Touchdown Receptions, Season:
16, John Babin, 2011
13, JJ Laap, 2023 (active)
13, John Babin, 2013
(Cole Burgess is tied for fourth with 11)
Most Touchdown Receptions, Game:
3, Cole Burgess vs. Brockport, 2023
3, Joe Iadevaio at Alma, 2023
(has happened 16 times overall, including by Burgess vs. TCNJ in 2022)
Most Reception Yardage, Career:
3,036, JJ Laap, 2019, 21-23 (active)
2,854, Cole Burgess, 2018-19, 22-23 (active)
2,635, John Babin, 2010-11, 13-14
Most Reception Yardage, Season:
1,278, John Babin, 2013
1,202, JJ Laap, 2023 (active)
1,183, John Babin, 2011
1,096, Cole Burgess, 2023 (active)
Most 100-yard Receiving Games, Career:
14, Cole Burgess, 2018-19, 22-23 (active)
13, JJ Laap, 2019, 21-13 (active)
12, John Babin, 2010-11, 13
Most 100-yard Receiving Games, Season:
7, John Babin, 2013
6, JJ Laap, 2023 (active)
6, Cole Burgess, 2019
6, Jon Mannix, 2015
6, Steve Ellis, 1994
Most Points Scored, Career:
268, Dave Cook, 1981-84
252, Jaden AlfanoStJohn, 2021-23 (active)
Most Touchdowns Scored, Career:
44, Dave Cook, 1981-84
42, Jaden AlfanoStJohn, 2021-23 (active)
Most Rushing Yards, Career:
3,455, Dave Cook, 1981-84
3,051, Jaden AlfanoStJohn, 2021-23 (active)
Most Rushing Yards, Season:
1,480, Andrew Giuliano, 2008
1,380, Justin Autera, 2010
1,378, Gareth Grayson, 1988
1,270, Jaden AlfanoStJohn, 2023 (active)
Most Rushing Touchdowns, Career:
43, Dave Cook, 1981-84
40, Jaden AlfanoStJohn, 2021-23 (active)
Most Points Scored by Kicker, Career:
192, Mike Baloga, 2022-23 (active)
192, Ted Nagengast, 1987-90
Most Points Scored by Kicker, Season:
115, Mike Baloga, 2023 (12 FG, 79 PAT) (active)
84, Mike DeBole, 2012 (16 FG, 36 PAT)
Most PATs Kicked, Career:
138, Mike Baloga, 2022-23 (active)
118, Marc Corrado, 2008-11
Most PATs Kicked, Season:
79, Mike Baloga, 2023 (active)
59, Mike Baloga, 2022
Most Consecutive PATs Kicked:
91, Mike Baloga, 2022-23 (streak ended at Alma)
70, Matthew Mintz, 2005-07
Most Tackles, Season:
140, Bob Bateson, 1982
136, Tony Zawadzki, 1984
128, Sam Owens, 1993
124, Jack Winey, 2023 (active)
124, Jim Smith, 2008
* Cortland and Randolph-Macon rank in the top 20 nationally in Division III in the following team and individual categories:
CORTLAND:
1st, First Downs Offense, 343
4th, Winning Percentage, .923
5th, Total Offense, 514.8 yds./game
5th, Team Passing Efficiency, 191.6 rating
5th, Blocked Punts, 4
6th, Completion Percentage, 70.5 pct.
8th, Fumbles Recovered, 12
9th, Scoring Offense, 46.6 pts./game
9th, Third Down Conversion Percentage, 52.3 pct.
11th, Turnovers Gained, 28
13th, Rushing Offense, 235.0 yds./game
14th, Time of Possession, 33:11/game
15th, Fourth Down Conversion Percentage, 66.7 pct.
Zac Boyes, 4th, Passing Efficiency, 198.0 rating
Zac Boyes, 5th, Yards per Pass Attempt, 10.9 yds./attempt
Zac Boyes, 8th, Completion Percentage, 71.4 pct.
Zac Boyes, 10th, Passing Touchdowns, 36
Ravi Dass Jr., 10th, Punt Return Touchdowns, 1
Andrew Tarpey, 10th, Punt Return Touchdowns, 1 (off blocked punt)
Zac Boyes, 12th, Passing Yards per Completion, 15.3 yds./completion
Jaden AlfanoStJohn, 17th, Rushing Touchdowns, 15
Zac Boyes, 18th, Total Offense, 308.3 yds./game
Zac Boyes, 20th, Points Responsible For, 20.5 pts./game
RANDOLPH-MACON:
1st, Winning Percentage, 1.000 (three undefeated teams remain - R-M, North Central, Wartburg)
1st, Third Down Conversion Percentage, 60.1 pct.
3rd, First Downs Offense, 332
3rd, Fewest Penalty Yards, 28.6 yds./game
5th, Interceptions, 21
5th, Red Zone Offense, 92.3 pct.
6th, Scoring Offense, 47.8 pts./game
6th, Rushing Defense, 59.6 yds./game
6th, Time of Possession, 34:25/game
7th, Team Passing Efficiency, 178.8 yds./game
7th, Rushing Offense, 266.8 yds./game
8th, Fewest Penalties, 3.7/game
8th, Turnovers Gained, 30
9th, Total Defense, 238.5 yds./game
11th, Total Offense, 496.5 yds./game
11th, Scoring Defense, 12.6 pts./game
11th, Tackles for Loss Allowed, 3.5/game
12th, Fourth Down Conversion Percentage, 68.0 pct.
14th, Kickoff Returns, 23.6 yds./return
14th, Passing Yards per Completion, 15.4 yds./completion
16th, Turnover Margin, plus-1.4/game
Nick Hale, 2nd, Rushing Touchdowns, 22
Drew Campanale, 3rd, Yards per Pass Attempt, 11.2 yds./attempt
Drew Campanale, 4th, Passing Yards per Completion, 16.6 yds./completion
Nick Hale, 5th, Total Touchdowns, 22
Coleton Payne, 6th, Fumble Recoveries, 3
Drew Campanale, 7th, Passing Efficiency, 191.3 rating
Kwesi Clarke, 15th, Total Touchdowns, 18
Nick Hale, 16th, Scoring, 10.2 pts./game
Kwesi Clarke, 17th, Rushing Touchdowns, 15
2023 Cortland Weekly Award Winners (game date/opponent in parentheses)
Jaden AlfanoStJohn, Running Back
Empire 8 Co-Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 2 vs. Delaware Valley)
Mike Baloga, Kicker
D3football.com National Team of the Week (Sept. 9 at Lycoming)
Empire 8 Special Teams Player of the Week (Oct. 28 at Hartwick)
Zac Boyes, Quarterback
Empire 8 Co-Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 9 at Lycoming)
D3football.com National Team of the Week (Sept. 30 at Morrisville)
Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 30 at Morrisville)
Empire 8 Co-Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 7 vs. Utica)
Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 21 at St. John Fisher)
D3football.com National Team of the Week (Nov. 11 at Ithaca)
Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week (Nov. 11 at Ithaca)
Cole Burgess, Wide Receiver
Empire 8 Co-Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 28 at Hartwick)
Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week (Nov. 4 vs. Brockport)
D3football.com National Team of the Week (Nov. 4 vs. Brockport)
Sam Cotton, Fr., Safety
Empire 8 Co-Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 4 vs. Brockport)
D3football.com National Team of the Week (Nov. 4 vs. Brockport)
Ravi Dass Jr., Kick Returner
D3football.com National Team of the Week (Special Teams) (Oct. 14 vs. Alfred)
Empire 8 Special Teams Player of the Week (Oct. 14 vs. Alfred)
JJ Laap, Wide Receiver
D3football.com National Team of the Week (Sept. 16 vs. Susquehanna)
Empire 8 Co-Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 16 vs. Susquehanna)
Offensive Line (Kevin Whalen, Aidan Glynn, Ryan Bitka, Jack McGrath, Cody Aikey)
D3football.com National Team of the Week (Oct. 7 vs. Utica)
SCHEDULES/RESULTS:
CORTLAND (12-1)
Sept. 2 DELAWARE VALLEY (PA)................... W 42-13
Sept. 9 at Lycoming (PA)................................... W 62-7
Sept. 16 SUSQUEHANNA (PA).......................... L 35-38
Sept. 30 * at Morrisville........................................ W 52-15
Oct. 7 * UTICA................................................. W 56-3
Oct. 14 * ALFRED............................................. W 59-21
Oct. 21 * at St. John Fisher............................... W 42-14
Oct. 28 * at Hartwick........................................... W 73-7
Nov. 4 * BROCKPORT..................................... W 41-17
Nov. 11 at Ithaca............................................... W 38-28
Nov. 18 # at Endicott (MA)..................................W 23-17
Nov. 25 # GROVE CITY (PA)..............................W 25-24
Dec. 2 # at Alma (MI)........................................W 58-41
Dec. 9 # at Randolph-Macon (VA)....................12:00
* Empire 8 game (6-0) # NCAA Division III Tournament
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
RANDOLPH-MACON (13-0)
Sept. 2 at North Carolina Wesleyan.................. W 51-9
Sept. 9 CATHOLIC (DC)..................................... W 59-14
Sept. 16 at Southern Virginia............................... W 51-10
Sept. 30 * at Guilford (NC).................................... W 70-14
Oct. 7 * AVERETT (VA)...................................... W 59-7
Oct. 14 * Bridgewater (VA)................................. W 38-3
Oct. 21 * SHENANDOAH (VA)........................... W 48-13
Oct. 28 * WASHINGTON and LEE (VA).............. W 35-12
Nov. 4 * at Ferrum (VA)..................................... W 49-16
Nov. 11 * HAMPDEN-SYDNEY (VA).................. W 49-10
Nov. 18 # CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT (VA)...... W 28-20
Nov. 25 # ITHACA................................................ W 46-0
Dec. 2 # at Johns Hopkins (MD)....................... W 39-36
Dec. 9 # CORTLAND....................................... 12:00
* ODAC Game (7-0) # NCAA Tournament
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
CORTLAND vs. RANDOLPH-MACON – SERIES RECORD
(Randolph-Macon leads 1-0)
Year Winner............................... Score Site
2022 # Randolph-Macon........... 35-28 Randolph-Macon
# NCAA first round
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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