Football | 11/8/2024 8:04:30 AM
The Empire 8 title is on the line as nationally second-ranked Cortland travels to Brockport. Both teams are undefeated in league play and the winner will clinch the league title and an NCAA tournament automatic berth. Cortland has won the previous three Empire 8 titles from 2021-23 and Brockport earned the league's NCAA berth the previous three seasons from 2017-19 (Cortland was co-champ with Brockport in 2019 but lost the head-to-head tiebreaker).
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THE SERIES: Cortland and Brockport are meeting for the 75th time. The teams have played every season since 1948, except for 1950 (the 2020 season was canceled). Cortland leads the overall series 52-20-2, including three straight wins from 2021-23. Brockport won six of the seven games contested from 2013-19, while Cortland won five straight from 2008-12.
Last season, Cortland won at home versus the Golden Eagles, 41-17, in a "winner-take-all" game for the Empire 8 crown. The Red Dragons led 24-3 at halftime and finished the game with 455 yards of total offense. Brockport entered the game ranked first nationally in total offense allowed (155.1 yards/game) and third in scoring defense (5.4 points/game). Cortland forced six Brockport turnovers, including five interceptions.
Zac Boyes completed 15-of-24 passes for 308 yards and four touchdowns and ran for a score. Cole Burgess caught nine passes for 245 yards and three TDs, JJ Laap caught a TD pass and
Jaden AlfanoStJohn ran 26 times for 117 yards.
Mike Baloga made 39-yard and 26-yard field goals and five PAT kicks.
Sam Cotton and
Jaden Martinez led Cortland with 10 tackles each. Cotton, Luke Winslow,
Alessandro DeRosa,
Matt Lotter and Mark Noel each had interceptions. Brockport was led by Jala Coad's 120 rushing yards on 17 carries. Two Brockport quarterbacks were held to a combined 10-of-28 passing for 106 yards. Mike Talbert Jr. finished with 11 tackles and Raylens Boutin, Ben Robinson and Joseph Rodda had eight tackles apiece.
CORTLAND CAPSULE: Cortland set a team record for TD passes in a game as seniors
Zac Boyes and
Vin Mazzone combined for six scoring tosses in a 68-10 home win over Hartwick last Saturday. Boyes, playing in just the first half, completed 18-of-22 passes for 291 yards and four touchdowns and Mazzone finished 9-for-12 for 150 yards and two scores, with 11 of his 12 attempts in the second half. Cortland led 42-0 at halftime.
Jaden AlfanoStJohn caught seven passes for 88 yards and a TD,
Joey Muscarella caught three passes for 80 yards, including his first two career TDs,
JT Thuesen caught his first career TD pass, and
CJ Messina and
Joe Klein each added TD receptions.
Ethan Gallo ran for two TDs and
Troy Churney and
Kyle Stracher each rushed for a score.
Dan Becker led Cortland with nine tackles and
Ryan Costello had five tackles and two pass breakups.
Aidan Lochner and
Nazair Jean-Lubin each intercepted a pass.
Boyes is 130-of-175 passing (74.3 pct.) this fall for 2,026 yards with 22 touchdowns and no interceptions. He ranks first nationally in Division III in passing efficiency (213.0 rating) and yards per pass attempt (11.6) and fourth in completion percentage. Gallo averages 95 rushing yards per game and leads Division III with 18 rushing touchdowns. He's third nationally with 13.5 points per game. AlfanoStJohn has caught 39 passes for 807 yards and 11 scores, has rushed eight times for 118 yards and three TDs, and has returned a kickoff for a TD. He ranks 10th nationally in scoring with 11.3 points per game.
Jaden Martinez is the Red Dragon leader with 54 tackles, followed by
Jack Winey with 53 and
Ellis Einbinder with 43. Einbinder has intercepted three passes and Martinez leads the team with three forced fumbles.
Mike Baloga is 4-for-4 on field goal attempts, including a 43-yarder at Utica a few weeks ago, and has made 55-of-57 PAT kicks with his lone two misses coming in a win at Susquehanna in the third game of the season. Baloga also averages 38.4 yards per punt and 61.3 yards per kickoff with 27 touchbacks in 66 kicks.
Cortland ranks second nationally in Division III in scoring offense (56 points/game), fifth in total offense (532 yards/game), sixth in scoring defense (9.9 points/game) and 10th in total defense (217.3 yards/game).
Curt Fitzpatrick was named SUNY Cortland's football head coach in February 2020 and is in his fifth year at the school and fourth season on the field in 2024. His record at Cortland is 42-4 (.913), highlighted by a 14-1 season and a storybook run to the 2023 NCAA Division III title. Fitzpatrick was named both the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the D3football.com Division III National Coach of the Year, and the AFCA Region 1 and D3football.com Region 2 Coach of the Year. Fitzpatrick has led Cortland to three Empire 8 titles from 2021-23, each with a 6-0 regular-season record. He and his assistants were named the Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year in each of those three seasons.
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...SUNY BROCKPORT: Brockport remained unbeaten in Empire 8 play with a 20-10 win at Utica last Saturday. Isaiah Simmons ran 30 times for 259 yards, the fifth-highest total in school history, and scored two touchdowns. Sal Montaperto added 34-yard and 32-yard field goals for the Golden Eagles, who trailed 7-0 after one quarter before posting 20 of the final 23 points. Ben Gocella was 18-of-26 passing for 200 yards and Daniel Manneh caught seven passes for 55 yards. Ben Robinson totaled nine tackles, two for loss, and Jahmere Clarke and Luca Friedman each made seven tackles.
Brockport has shut out five opponents this fall, including four league foes, and leads Division III in scoring defense at 6.8 points per game. The Golden Eagles also rank eighth in total defense (211.1 yards/game) and seventh in rushing defense (50.8 yards/game).
Simmons ranks fourth nationally in Division III with 132 rushing yards per game and fourth with 14 rushing TDs. He also ranks sixth nationally with 7.7 rushing yards per carry and 10th in scoring with 11.3 points per game. Gocella is 120-of-191 passing (62.8 pct.) for 1,568 yards and 13 TDs with six interceptions. Nolan Slywka has 37 receptions for 560 yards and six TDs and Manneh has caught 35 passes for 473 yards and two scores.
Robinson is the team leader with 67 total tackles and 5.5 sacks. Mike Talbert Jr. has 50 tackles, including five sacks and 10.5 total tackles for loss. Elijah Grooms leads the Golden Eagles with four interceptions and Kyle Haettich has three picks. Sal Montaperto is 6-for-8 on field goal attempts, with a long of 34 yards, and has made 32-of-35 PATs. Dan Giangrasso averages 43.4 yards per punt, including seven of 50-plus yards.
Jason Mangone is in his 12th year as Brockport's head coach and enters the game with an overall record of 88-32 (.733). He joined the Golden Eagles' coaching staff in 1998 and was the program's offensive coordinator from 2003 until his promotion to head coach. Brockport won three straight Empire 8 titles from 2017-19. The 2017 squad finished 13-1 overall (10-0 regular season) and advanced to the NCAA Division III semifinals. The 2018 squad also went 10-0 in the regular season (11-1 overall) and lost in the NCAA second round, and the 2019 team was 9-3 and advanced to the NCAA second round. Mangone also led Brockport to ECAC bowls 2013, 2016 and 2023.
Mangone played two years at Alfred University before transferring to Brockport in 1997. He became the starting quarterback in 1997 and also started in 1998, setting season records for completion percentage and efficiency rating in his first season at Brockport. Mangone graduated from Brockport in 2000 and earned a master's degree from the school in 2012.
NOTEBOOK:
* Cortland is seventh nationally in the Division III NCAA Power Index (NPI) through games of Nov. 2. Cortland was sixth the previous week and actually had its NPI score increase from 72.953 to 73.166, but dropped one place due to other teams' changes. The NPI is new in 2024 and is what will be used to determine which teams earn at-large berths into the NCAA playoff field. The NCAA Division III tournament has expanded this year from 28 to 40 teams. Of those 40 teams, 28 will be automatic qualifiers by winning league championships and 12 will be at-large bids based on NPI rating. Sixteen teams will play in the first round Nov. 23, while 24 schools will earn byes into the second round on Nov. 30.
The NPI is a combination of winning percentage and strength of schedule, with bonus points awarded for wins versus teams above a certain threshold. In addition, teams keep a minimum of five wins on their resume, with others dropped unless they improve a team's average score. All losses must be included in the score. The NPI ratings will assist the NCAA committee with tournament seeding, with adjustments made due to geography to limit trips of more than 500 miles. The top eight teams in the final NPI rankings will be "protected" from being lined up to face other top-8 teams until the national quarterfinals.
* Cortland has opened the season with a 7-0 record nine times, including each of the last three seasons. The previous eight 8-0 seasons concluded as follows:
1964 – Started 8-0 before losing season finale at Montclair State. Finished 8-1.
1988 – Finished regular season 10-0. Won NCAA opener vs. Hofstra and lost NCAA quarterfinal at Ithaca. Finished 11-1.
1989 – Started 8-0 before losing at Ithaca. Finished regular season 9-1. Lost NCAA opener at Union. Finished 9-2.
1990 – Started 8-0 before losing to Ithaca. Finished regular season 9-1. Lost NCAA opener at Hofstra. Finished 9-2.
2006 – Started 8-0 before losing at Rowan in OT. Finished regular season 9-1. Lost ECAC bowl game to RPI. Finished 9-2.
2008 – Started 9-0 before losing to Ithaca. Finished regular season 9-1. Won NCAA playoff games versus Plymouth State and Curry before losing NCAA quarterfinal at Mount Union. Finished 11-2.
2021 – Finished regular season 10-0. Won NCAA opener vs. Springfield and lost NCAA second round to RPI. Finished 11-1.
2022 - Started 9-0 before losing to Ithaca. Finished regular season 9-1. Lost NCAA opener at Randolph-Macon. Finished 9-2
* Cortland's current 20-game winning streak is the longest active streak by teams on any NCAA football level. The next-longest streaks are 13 by Marietta (Division III), 12 by Army West Point (Division I FBS), and 11 each by Hope (Division III) and St. John's (Minn.) (Division III). Cortland's 25-game Empire 8 win streak, dating back to 2019, is currently the fourth-longest on any NCAA level behind three other Division III schools - Mount Union (65), Aurora (46) and North Central (40).
* Cortland's 20-game winning streak is a school record for longest unbeaten streak. Cortland went 17 straight games without a loss between 1932-34. Cortland was 11-0-6 during that stretch, going 4-0-3 in 1932, 5-0-2 in 1933 and 2-0-1 in its first three games of 1934 before losing to Ithaca, 7-0.
* Cortland has broken the school record for scoring average each of the last three years, averaging 41.4 points per game in 2021, 45.1 points per contest in 2022 and 46.2 points per game last fall. The Red Dragons are averaging 56.0 points per game this fall, including at least 40 in every game and 59 or more four times. Cortland ranks second nationally in scoring offense behind North Central (57.4/game), Cortland's opponent in last year's national championship game.
*
Zac Boyes has attempted 278 straight passes without an interception - his last 103 attempts a year ago plus his 175 attempts this fall. He broke his previous school record of 194 straight pass attempts without an interception, set last season. After being picked in the 2023 season opener versus Delaware Valley, he wasn't intercepted again until throwing two picks at Ithaca and two in the NCAA second round versus Grove City.
*
Zac Boyes ranks first nationally in Division III with a 213.0 passing efficiency rating through eight games. Boyes has the two best single-season passing ratings in school history with a 198.4 last year and a 194.2 in 2022. NCAA passing efficiency rating is a reflection of completion percentage, yards per pass attempt, TD passes per pass attempt, and interceptions per pass attempt.
* 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 been a member of the Empire 8 conference since 2015. The Red Dragons won the outright league title and 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, Morrisville and Brockport - at one point played in the NJAC. Cortland and Morrisville are affiliate members of the E8 in football only. Brockport moved from affiliate to full-time status in the league in 2024. Alfred, Hartwick, St. John Fisher and Utica also are full conference members. Hilbert joined the Empire 8 as an affiliate football member in 2024 but will be moving to the Liberty League in 2025, and Alfred State will join the league as an affiliate football member in 2025.
* Cortland and Brockport rank in the top 40 nationally in Division III in the following team and individual categories:
CORTLAND:
1st, First Downs Defense, 82
2nd, Scoring Offense, 56.0 pts./game
2nd, Third Down Conversion Percentage Defense, 22.7 pct.
2nd, Passes Had Intercepted, 1
3rd, Third Down Conversion Percentage, 62.0 pct.
3rd, Red Zone Offense, 94.4 pct.
3rd, Team Passing Efficiency, 202.6 rating
4th, First Downs Offense, 223
5th, Total Offense, 532.0 yds./game
6th, Scoring Defense, 9.9 pts./game
6th, Turnovers Lost, 5
8th, Completion Percentage, 71.3 pct.
10th, Total Defense, 217.3 yds./game
13th, Rushing Offense, 234.6 yds./game
13th, Passing Yards Allowed, 145.6 yds./game
17th, Passing Offense, 297.4 yds./game
18th, Passing Yards per Completion, 15.5 yds./completion
21st, Team Passing Efficiency Defense, 102.5 opponent rating
21st, Turnover Margin, plus-1.1/game
24th, Rushing Defense, 71.6 yds./game
32nd, Tackles for Loss Allowed, 4.0/game
37th, Blocked Punts, 1
40th, Fourth Down Conversion Percentage, 60.0 pct.
(Cortland is one of 13 undefeated teams in Division III)
Zac Boyes, 1st, Passing Efficiency, 213.0 rating
Zac Boyes, 1st, Yards per Pass Attempt, 11.6 yds./attempt
Ethan Gallo, 1st, Rushing TDs, 18
Ethan Gallo, 3rd, Scoring, 13.5 pts./game
Ethan Gallo, 3rd, Total TDs, 18
Zac Boyes, 4th, Completion Percentage, 74.3 pct.
Ravi Dass Jr., 5th, Punt Return TDs, 1
Jaden AlfanoStJohn, 8th, Kickoff Return TDs, 1
Jaden AlfanoStJohn, 10th, Scoring, 11.3 pts./game
Jaden AlfanoStJohn, 10th, Total TDs, 15
Jaden Martinez, 11th, Forced Fumbles, 0.4/game
Jaden AlfanoStJohn, 12th, Receiving TDs, 11
Zac Boyes, 13th, Passing Yards per Completion, 15.6 yds./completion
Jaden AlfanoStJohn, 16th, All Purpose Yards, 144.1 yds./game
Zac Boyes, 17th, Points Responsible For, 20.3 pts./game
Zac Boyes, 17th, Total Offense, 294.0 yds./game
Max Llewellyn, 17th, Fumbles Recovered, 2
Jaden AlfanoStJohn, 22nd, Yards per Reception, 20.7 yds./catch
Zac Boyes, 22nd, Passing TDs, 22
Jaden AlfanoStJohn, 23rd, Receiving Yards, 100.9 yds./game
Ravi Dass Jr., 26th, Punt Returns, 9.6 yds./return
Zac Boyes, 34th, Passing Yards per Game, 253.3 yds./game
BROCKPORT:
1st, Scoring Defense, 6.8 pts./game
2nd, Red Zone Defense, 46.7 pct.
4th, Team Passing Efficiency Defense, 90.2 opponent rating
6th, First Downs Defense, 94
7th, Rushing Defense, 50.8 yds./game
8th, Total Defense, 211.1 yds./game
8th, Team Tackles for Loss, 8.6/game
17th, Turnovers Gained, 19
18th, Third Down Conversion Defense, 27.3 pct.
25th, Rushing Offense, 202.5 yds./game
25th, Turnover Margin, plus-1.0/game
27th, Passes Had Intercepted, 12
27th, Passing Yards Allowed, 160.4 yds./game
29th, Sacks, 2.9/game
37th, Blocked Punts, 1
37th, Defensive TDs, 2
37th, Fumbles Recovered, 7
Isaiah Simmons, 4th, Rushing, 132.0 yds./game
Isaiah Simmons, 4th, Rushing TDs, 14
Daniel Manneh, 5th, Punt Return TDs, 1
Isaiah Simmons, 6th, Rush Yards per Carry, 7.7 yds./carry
Isaiah Simmons, 10th, Scoring, 11.3 pts./game
Isaiah Simmons, 10th, Total TDs, 15
Jayson Thomas, 17th, Fumbles Recovered, 2
Isaiah Simmons, 20th, All Purpose Yards, 143.3 yds./game
Elijah Grooms, 20th, Interceptions, 0.6/game
Sal Montaperto, 22nd, Field Goal Percentage, 75.0 pct.