Football | 10/3/2026 5:56:00 PM
UTICA, NY - Ethan Gallo (Minisink/Minisink Valley) ran for three touchdowns and Nazair Jean-Lubin (Freeport) returned an interception 100 yards for a score on the final play of the first half as Cortland built a 28-7 halftime lead on the way to a 31-21 win at Utica in a battle of nationally ranked, unbeaten teams.
Cortland (5-0, 3-0 Empire 8), ranked 16th nationally by the AFCA and 17th by D3football.com, extended its conference winning streak to 36 games dating back to 2019. The 10-point win is Cortland's second-closest during that run, behind only a 29-28 win at Brockport in 2024. Utica (4-1, 1-1 Empire 8) entered ranked 21st by the AFCA and 22nd by D3football.com.
Gallo scored on 2-yard and 6-yard runs on Cortland's first two possessions of the first quarter, and added a 1-yard scoring run early in the second quarter to extend the lead to 21-0. Gallo's 43 career rushing touchdowns are tied for second on Cortland's career charts with Dave Cook (1981-84); Jaden AlfanoStJohn is the school record holder with 45 rushing touchdowns from 2021-24.
Utica scored on a 10-yard TD pass from Tyler Szalkowski to Drevariis Yeomas with 5:34 left in the first half - the first offensive touchdown allowed by Cortland since its season opener at Grove City on Sept. 5. The Pioneers had a chance to pull within a score facing 4th-and-goal in the closing seconds of the half. Jean-Lubin, however, picked off a pass in the right flat right at the goal line and ran 100 yards untouched as time expired to give the Red Dragons a 21-point halftime lead. Jean-Lubin broke the previous school record for longest interception return of 94 yards set by Steve Armstrong versus New York Tech in 1981.
Utica outscored Cortland, 14-3, over the final 15 minutes after a scoreless third quarter. Szalkowski connected with Logan Frederick on a 7-yard TD pass with 12:19 remaining. Cortland responded with a 10-play, 63-yard drive that took 7:19 off the clock. The drive stalled at the Utica 7-yard line and Cole Callard (Medina) made a 24-yard field goal with 4:52 left to give the Red Dragons a three-score cushion at 31-14.
Utica's next drive ended on a turnover on downs near midfield with 3:48 remaining. The Pioneers got the ball back two plays later, however, on a fumble recovery and eventually scored on Szalkowski's 15-yard TD pass to Frederick on 4th-and-10 with 1:03 remaining. Cortland successfully recovered the onside kick and ran two plays to finish the game.
Cortland finished with a slight 327-320 advantage in total offense, including a 159-21 lead in the first quarter. The Red Dragons outrushed the Pioneers, 235-60, but Utica passed for 260 yards to Cortland's 92. Cortland entered the game ranked eighth nationally in rushing defense, allowing 39.5 yards per game, and ninth in rushing offense at 262.3 yards per contest.
Cortland quarterback Mike Rescigno (Arlington) ran 13 times for 106 yards and completed 6-of-7 passes for 92 yards. Sam Cotton (Fulton/G. Ray Bodley) caught four passes for 75 yards. Josh Kama (Farmingdale) gained 54 yards on six carries, and Gallo finished with 15 rushes for 49 yards.
Aidan Lochner (Ravena/Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) led Cortland with 11 tackles, six solo, and his forced fumble late in the first quarter was recovered by George Gjelaj (Bedford/Byram Hills) at the Cortland 33-yard line with the Red Dragons up 14-0.
Joe Galea (Cross River/John Jay) recorded eight tackles, while Chris Carter Jr. (East Greenbush/Columbia) and Joe Russo (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ) made six stops each, and Jean-Lubin totaled four tackles in addition to his pick-6. Carson Glover (Hoosick Falls) blocked a punt three plays into the second quarter that set up Cortland at the Utica 18-yard line, leading to a touchdown drive to push the score to 21-0.
Szalkowski completed 29-of-52 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns. He entered the game ranked fourth nationally in passing yardage (335.8 per game) and fifth in completion percentage (75.7). Gabriel Zawolo caught 11 passes for 51 yards and Frederick grabbed seven passes for 69 yards.
Isaiah Thomas finished with 11 tackles, 1.5 for loss, and Nathan Hernandez added eight tackles for the Pioneers. Jordyn Davis forced a fumble and Joseph Gentile and Andrew Lake each had a fumble recovery.
Cortland is off next week and will travel to Alfred University for a league game on Oct. 17.