Defending NCAA Champion SUNY Cortland Looks to Earn Fourth Straight Empire 8 Title in 2024

Football | 9/2/2024 9:48:51 AM

Defending NCAA Division III Football Champion SUNY Cortland will look to earn its fourth straight Empire 8 title, as the 2024 season begins on Sept. 5-7, with all eight teams in action, including the Red Dragons and newcomer Hilbert College in league play. The remainder of Empire 8 league play starts on Oct. 5. The regular season Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2024 NCAA Division III Football Championship.
 
Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the Empire 8 Network.
Zac Boyes, Cortland, Jr., QB, Buffalo, NY/Kenmore West – Boyes was the 2023 Empire 8 Player of the Year, Associated Press First Team All-American, Stagg Bowl 50 Most Valuable Player and enters as a 2024 D3football.com First Team Preseason All-American. He finished 271-of-375 passing (72.3 percent) for 4.020 yards and 44 touchdowns with just five interceptions and ran 144 times for 774 yards and eight scores in 2023.   
 
Matt Brantley, Utica, Fifth Year., RB/WR, Rochester, NY/Eastridge – Brantley earned All-Empire 8 third team honors in 2023 after running for 643 yards on 125 carries (5.1 yards per carry) and added 26 catches for 139 yards. He had three 100-yard rushing performances and two more with at least 85 yards.
 
Joe Copp, Alfred, Sr., LB, Minoa, NY/East Syracuse-Minoa – Copp earned D3football.com All-Region accolades and All-E8 first team honors for the second straight year. He led the Empire 8 with 122 tackles (58 solo, 64 assisted) and was third nationally in tackles per game (12.2) to go along with 9.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks. Copp has 357 tackles in his collegiate career.
 
Kyle Haettich, Brockport, Sr., S, Buffalo, NY/West Seneca – Haettich enters this season as a D3football.com third Team Preseason All-American. Haettich, earned All-E8 first team accolades after recording 62 tackles, seven passes defended, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries last season.
 
Omar Jarvis, Morrisville, Sr., DB, Rochester, NY/Edison Tech – Jarvis earned All-Empire 8 first team and D3football.com All-Region third team accolades in 2023 after recording 60 total stops, a forced fumble and led the team with four interceptions.
 
Owen Lawler, Hartwick, Fifth Year., DB, Enfield, CT/Enfield – Lawler was an All-Empire 8 third team pick in 2023 after recording three interceptions. He has 106 tackles and six interceptions in three seasons. In addition, Lawler was the NCAA Division III leader with 1.7 passes defensed per game.
 
Peyton Nolan, St. John Fisher, Sr., RB, Newtown, NJ/Newtown – Nolan earned All-Empire 8 first team accolades in 2023 after leading the league in rushing yards per game with 111.2. Nolan, a team captain, had 1,001 yards rushing on 184 carries (5.4 yards per carry) and 11 touchdowns on the ground.
 
Taivaughn Roach, Hilbert, Sr., LB, Buffalo, NY/Cheektowaga – Roach was the NCAA Division III statistical champion in solo tackles, averaging 12.5 tackles per game in 2023. He had 100 tackles (48 solo and 52 assisted) in eight contests.
   
Cortland
The Red Dragons ascended to the peak of Division III last season, winning its first NCAA Championship, culminating with a sensational 38-37 win over North Central in Stagg Bowl 50. Cortland set countless team records en route to winning its final 12 game, finishing with a 14-1 overall record. Cortland was well rounded in all facets of the game last season, ranked eighth overall in points per game (46.2) and seventh nationally, averaging 509.2 yards of offense per game and led the nation with 396 first downs. This season, the Red Dragons open the season ranked No. 2 in both the D3football.com and AFCA/HUDL preseason polls. Quarterback Zac Boyes, the 2023 Empire 8 Player of the Year, Associated Press First Team All-American and Stagg Bowl 50 Most Valuable Player, among several accolades is a 2024 D3football.com First Team Preseason All-American. He finished 271-of-375 passing (72.3 percent) for 4.020 yards and 44 touchdowns with just five interceptions and ran 144 times for 774 yards and eight scores in 2023. Offensive linemen Cody Aikey and Ryan Bitka in addition to wide receiver Jaden AlfanoStJohn enter the season as 2024 D3football.com Preseason All-Americans. AlfanoStJohn makes the move from running back after rushing for 1,396 yards and 17 touchdowns. Senior defensive end Nick Lardaro is looking to earn All-Empire 8 first team honors and will be joined by senior linebacker Jack Winey, a 2023 AP Division III All-American. Head Coach Curt Fitzpatrick was named the 2023 AFCA National Coach of the Year and has led the Red Dragons to a 34-4 record since 2021. Cortland will take on Ithaca in the annual Cortaca Jug on Nov. 16.
 
Brockport
Brockport will look to get back to the top of the Empire 8 standings after finishing 8-3 overall and 5-1 in league play in 2023. The Golden Eagles allowed just 51 points in their eight wins last season, allowed just three points during a three-game stretch in league play last October and will be expected to be one of the top teams in the region. Head Coach Jason Mangone enters his 12th season at Brockport and guided the Golden Eagles to a 58-14 record since the start of 2017. The Golden Eagles defense is one of the fiercest in Division III and last season was no exception, as they finished third nationally, allowing just 212.2 yards per game. Brockport’s rushing defense and passing defense were both 11th in Division III. While Brockport will look to replace All-American defensive back Raylens Boutin and All-Region offensive lineman Scott Oschner, there is plenty of returning talent, including seven All-Empire 8 selections from last season. First team selections linebacker Mike Talbert, Jr., defensive back Kyle Haettich, punter Dan Giangrasso, in addition to All-E8 second team running back Gino Fontanarosa, wide receiver Nolan Slywka, Defensive lineman Jayson Thomas and linebacker Ben Robinson return to lead the way. Haettich was also named a 2024 D3football.com third team Preseason All-American, while Talbert was among the league leaders with 13 tackles for loss.

Utica
The Pioneers finished 9-2 in 2023, while earning a victory in the ECAC’s Clayton Chapman Bowl over Hobart. Utica is 19-4 over the last two seasons. opening round of the 2022 NCAA Division III Championship. The Pioneers return a strong group of veterans with championship experience. Graduate student John Stroughn, a 2023 AFCA Second Team All-American and E8 first team selection, is back after recording 62 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and a league-high eight sacks from the defensive line. Fellow graduate student linebacker Darius Johnson will also be counted on to be a leader defensively. Offensively, the duo of running backs Matt Brantley and Sam Florio is primed to excel in 2024. Brantley earned All-Empire 8 third team honors in 2023 after running for 643 yards on 125 carries (5.1 yards per carry) and added 26 catches for 139 yards. He had three 100-yard rushing performances and two more with at least 85 yards. Florio ran for nine scores and threw for two more last season. 
 
St. John Fisher
St. John Fisher is looking to get back into the top of the Empire 8 standings in 2024. Fisher won 124 games over a 14-year span from 2003 to 2016, with five NCAA Tournament appearances. St. John Fisher returns several letter winners and starters from last season, with captains Zach Dreisbach, Joe Miscia, Peyton Nolan and Gordan Wester set to lead the way on and off the field. Nolan earned All-Empire 8 first team accolades in 2023 after leading the league in rushing yards per game with 111.2. Nolan, a team captain, had 1,001 yards rushing on 184 carries (5.4 yards per carry) and 11 touchdowns on the ground. Miscia, a linebacker, was an All-Empire 8 second team pick last season, after recording 96 tackles, including 35 solo in addition to three interceptions. He has 334 tackles in his first three seasons. Dreisbach, a defensive lineman, has 15.5 tackles for a loss and seven sacks over the past two years. Wester, an offensive lineman, earned All-E8 third team accolades last season. Overall, the Cardinals have nearly 80 players returning, including 15 starters from last season.
 
Alfred
The Saxons will look to get back to the top half of the E8 standings in 2023, as 70 players, including 16 starters return. Senior linebacker and co-captain Joe Copp will wear No. 32 for the second straight season in honor of Trooper Nicholas F. Clark ’11. Copp earned D3football.com All-Region accolades and All-E8 first team honors for the second straight year. He led the Empire 8 with 122 tackles (58 solo, 64 assisted) and was third nationally with 12.2 tackles per game to go along with 9.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks. Copp has 357 tackles in his collegiate career. Four all-conference selections return in addition to Copp, including first team defensive lineman Danny Quinones, third team defensive back Adam Mietz and two-time All-E8 selection, running back Max Freeman IV and wide receiver Dion Anderson, on the offensive side. Quinones was fourth in the E8 with 13 tackles for loss last season, while Mietz had seven pass breakups.  Freeman finished third in the league with 702 rushing yards and added six touchdowns. Anderson added 42 catches for 416 yards receiving and four scores. Fellow upperclassmen Gavin Bartholomew, Carter Fronk, Tommy Welch, Roque Santiago, Luke Atlas, and TJ Marsh LB will look to play a greater role in 2024.
 
Morrisville
Morrisville returns 15 starters from last season and will look to get back to the top of the E8 standings in 2024. The Mustangs won seven games and advanced to the ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Bowl in 2022. The Mustangs return a lot of talent on both sides of the ball in 2024, including D3football.com All-Region selection, defensive back, Omar Jarvis. He recorded 60 total stops, a forced fumble and led the team with four interceptions. Senior tight end Quamel Jarvis, an All-Empire 8 first team selection in 2022 and second team pick last year, will serve as a valuable receiver in the passing game and top blocker in the run game. Offensive linemen Cole Williams and Darrin Sloan were both All-E8 third team selections last season and will bey key contributors. Linebacker Evan Salvaggio in addition to defensive linemen David Kelley and Justin Anderson, were All-E8 picks in 2023 and will be counted on to lead the defense in 2024. Head coach Ed Raby has brought in a strong group of newcomers, including Joseph Arbitello, Zavion Daniels, Alex Seger, Santanah Singleton, and Jashon Thomas.
 
Hartwick
The Hawks return 56 players from last season’s team, including fifth-year defensive back Owen Lawler, who earned All-Empire 8 third team accolades after recording three interceptions in 2023. In addition, he was the NCAA Division III leader with 1.7 passes defensed per game. Senior linebacker Jules Pierre led the team with 35 solo tackles and 78 total tackles and will help solidify the defensive unit. Offensively, Hartwick returns All-Empire 8 running back, senior Carlvin McDonald and standout offensive lineman Ryan Atkinson. McDonald has more than 1,000 yards of total offense in his collegiate career. Newcomers Connor Cosgrove and Ben Kirkland will also look to make an immediate impact. Head coach Mark Carr enters his 22nd season with the Hawks in 2024.
 
Hilbert
Hilbert makes its Empire 8 debut in 2024. The Hawks played as an independent in each of the last two seasons. Hilbert has 21 starters back from last year, including senior linebacker Taivaughn Roach, who was the NCAA Division III statistical champion in solo tackles, averaging 12.5 tackles per game. He had 49 solo and 51 assisted stops. Sophomore linebacker Scotty Winchell also returns after recording nine of his 41 tackles for a loss last season. Defensive linemen Clifford Zeigler and Matt Bertke are also impact returners. Offensively, junior wide receiver Bryce Robinson returns after catching 32 passes for 310 yards in 2023.

Final 2023 Empire 8 Men’s Football Standings ^
SUNY Cortland (14-1, 6-0 E8) – Empire 8 and NCAA Division III Champions
SUNY Brockport (8-3, 5-1 E8)
Utica (9-2, 4-2 E8)
St. John Fisher (5-5, 2-4 E8)
Alfred (4-6, 2-4 E8)
SUNY Morrisville (4-4, 2-4 E8)
Hartwick (1-9, 0-6 E8)
 
^ Hilbert makes its Empire 8 debut in 2024 after playing the 2023 season as an independent.
 
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