Game 4
The College at Brockport vs St. John Fisher College
Saturday, September 24, 2016 – 4 pm
Empire 8 Game
Bob Boozer Field – Brockport, N.Y.
BROCKPORT, N.Y. – Coming off a two-game winning streak, The College at Brockport football team will face off against St. John Fisher College this weekend, hosting the Cardinals in the 12th annual Courage Bowl to benefit Camp Good Days and Special Times.
This week's contest will mark the 22nd matchup between the two teams, with Brockport holding the advantage, 14-7. The long-running rivalry was renewed in the 2014 season for the 10th annual Courage Bowl. The Golden Eagles established a 14-game winning streak from 1989-2003, outscoring the Cardinals 429-191 with four shutouts.
In last year's meeting, the teams battled in a thrilling double overtime contest. The Cardinals missed a field goal in the first overtime to send it to a second overtime in which both teams would score. Brockport was unable to convert the extra point, falling 42-41.
Last week, the Golden Eagles notched a 38-35 win in their opening Empire 8 game of the season. Quarterback Brian McKean connected with Ian Gilhousen for a 30-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter to put Brockport ahead by three. Hartwick got the ball back again with just over three minutes remaining, but Jake O'Connell intercepted a pass to seal the win for Brockport.
McKean finished with 380-yards passing, throwing for three touchdowns. Dan Andrews rushed for 81-yards including a 31-yard play. Nate Wilkinson led Brockport receivers with seven receptions for 110-yards and two touchdowns while Joseph Ortiz finished with seven receptions for 94-yards and one TD.
For the defense, Rashad Baker and Julius Brunson led the Golden Eagles with six tackles each. O'Connell tabbed five while Ryan Johnson recorded five including one tackle for loss. The Golden Eagles were outrushed 106-yards to 92 but tabbed 27 first downs to Hartwick's 18. Brockport recorded 510-yards of total offense to Hartwick's 462.
St. John Fisher travelled to Cortland last weekend for a showdown against the Red Dragons in which both teams were nationally-ranked. The Cardinals held on for a 31-24 win, improving to 3-0 and handing Cortland its first loss of the season.
Fisher was 9-of-17 on the day on third down, including 7-of-10 in the first half, while Cortland was just 4-of-15 for the game. Cortland was plagued with 15 penalties for 124 yards, while Cardinals committed eight penalties for 71 yards. Justin Rivera finished with a career-high nine tackles, while Alec Mortillaro broke up three passes and finished with eight stops. David Carroll, Aaron Jones and Smith were each in on sacks and made seven tackles apiece.
The Cardinals have averaged 39.33 points per game this season, outscoring their opponents 118-55. Tony Fusco and Mike Collichio lead the offense with four touchdowns a piece while David Carroll has paved the way for the defense with 30 tackles, including four for loss.
This year marks the 12th annual Courage Bowl, a fundraiser for Camp Good Days and Special Times, Inc. The organization is a not-for-profit that provides thousands of children with cancer the opportunity to come together in a residential camping experience to be with the only ones who could truly understand what they were going through – other children with cancer.
The camp has impacted more than 45,000 campers from 22 states and 29 countries. With a small group of paid employees, Camp Good Days is a volunteer-based organization. To avoid placing any additional financial burden on the families served, all of the programs are offered free of charge for the participants.
Through the Golden Eagles partnership with Camp Good Days, 12 special campers get to participate as honorary coaches and cheerleaders in the Courage Bowl. The Golden Eagles will meet their new teammates this Friday and have the opportunity to practice with their new team.
Following this week's game the Golden Eagles will enter the bye week. Brockport will return to the action on Oct. 8 when they travel to Utica to face the Pioneers at 4 pm.
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" on Facebook.
VIEW GAME NOTES HERE
