BROCKPORT, N.Y. – After posting its third straight win, The College at Brockport football team will head to Alfred, N.Y. this weekend to take on nationally ranked Alfred University in their toughest game of the season.
 
The Golden Eagles currently sit in second in the conference with an overall record of 5-2, and a league mark of 4-1.  The Saxons, who were ranked 15th this week by D3football.com and 20th by the American Football Coaches Association, boast a perfect record of 7-0 overall, and 5-0 in conference play.
 
Brockport and Alfred played every year from 1949 to 1994, until the rivalry was renewed in 2013 when Brockport joined the Empire 8.  The contests between the two teams have traditionally been close, with 12 games decided by less than a touchdown.  When Brockport last visited Alfred, they came away with a 45-42 win.
 
In last year's loss, the Saxons held Dan Andrews to just 56-yards rushing, his lowest mark of the season.  The Golden Eagles had the top three receivers among both squads in Jerry Thompson (117-yards), Ian Gilhousen (56-yards) and Tanner Winchester (49-yards).
 
The Green and Gold defense continues its supremacy this season by stopping the run game.  The past three weeks, Brockport has held its opponents to a combined 80-yards rushing.  Three Golden Eagles currently hold more than 30 tackles.  Sean McKean and Matt Szymanski each have 38 while Ryan Johnson is right behind with 33.  Austin Dean has tabbed 5.5 sacks thus far this season, good for second in the conference and 59th nationally, with 0.79 sacks per game.
 
Last week the offense posted a season-high 520-yards of total offense.  Joe Germinerio threw for 210-yards and also tabbed 188-yards rushing.  The Wynantskill, N.Y. native broke into the national rankings this week, reached 59th in rushing touchdowns (7) and rushing yards per carry (5.81).
 
Brockport currently ranks in the top ten nationally in blocked kicks allowed, blocked punts allowed, completion percentage, third down conversion percentage, time of possession, defensive touchdowns, fourth down conversion percentage, and rushing defense.  The Golden Eagles lead the conference in all of those categories except time of possession, in which they rank second.
 
The Saxons led the Empire 8 in four categories, total offense, total defense, scoring, and team rushing.  Alfred University has three players in the top ten in the league in rushing yards per game in Maleke Fuentes, Casey Bright, and Tyler Johnson.
 
Alfred is coming off a convincing 61-12 win at Hartwick College last week in which they posted a season-high of 534-yards of total offense.  The Saxons average 461-yards of offense per game, while holding their opponents to 287-yards per game.  They have outscored their opponents 273 to 125 this season, with their smallest margin of victory being 35-28 in week one against Husson University.
 
The Alfred defense is led by A.J. LiCata who has 73 tackles this season.  Charles Branwell leads the Empire 8 in sacks with 6.5, and is also second in tackles for loss with 9.5.  The Saxons have average 60.4 tackles per game.
 
After this weekend Brockport will travel to Morrisville State College on Nov. 5 for its final road game of the season.  The Golden Eagles will return home on Nov. 12 to host Buffalo State.  The regular season finale will mark Senior Day, as 15 seniors will be honored pre-game.
 
Be sure to stay up to date on all your Golden Eagle scores and awards by following @BportAthletics on Twitter and by liking the "Brockport Golden Eagles" Facebook page.

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