BROCKPORT, N.Y. – It's homecoming week in Brockport, and the No. 12 ranked Golden Eagle football team is looking to move to 7-0 with a win against looming Empire 8-foe Hartwick College.
DATE – TIME: October 21 – 4 p.m.
LOCATION: Brockport, N.Y. – Bob Boozer Field
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Game Notes
Brockport moved up one spot in this weeks D3football.com rankings after a dominant 48-7 victory over Morrisville State in front of their home crowd last Saturday. The team is continuing to click on all cylinders, as the offense exploded for 503 yards while the defense limited the Mustangs to just 168 yards of total offense.
Just 23 of those 168 yards were on the ground for Morrisville, as the Green and Gold defensive unit has proved over and over again they're dominant against the run. They currently rank second in the nation in rushing defense, allowing just 46.3 yards-per-game on the ground. On the flip side, the rushing game for the Golden Eagles has been tremendous, averaging over 230 yards-per-game and accounting for 19 touchdowns this season.
Brockport nearly doubled up the Mustangs in time of possession on Saturday, holding the ball for 39:53 compared to Morrisville's 20:07. Time of possession has been a strong point all year for Brockport, as they currently lead the conference and rank third nationally in that category.
Justin Morrison is leading the conference with 7.4 yards-per-carry, while
Joe Germinerio has showed pinpoint accuracy, ranking sixth in the nation with a 70.0 completion percentage.
After Alfred University's loss to SUNY Cortland on Saturday, the Golden Eagles now lead the Empire 8 outright for the first time since joining the powerhouse conference in 2014. Not only have they defeated every team they've faced, they've done it with ease, outscoring each opponent by at least 14 points, and outscoring their opponents 231-86 overall this season.
This weeks game against Hartwick will be the ninth all-time meeting between the two programs, with Brockport currently holding a 5-2-1 edge in the series. The Golden Eagles have won each of the last five meetings between the two teams dating back to 1950, including a 38-35 victory a season ago that saw the teams combine for 972 yards from scrimmage, 774 of which came through the air.
The 2008 matchup between Brockport and Hartwick was even more of a shootout, as the teams combined for 138 points in Brockport's 70-68 win, setting an NCAA record for most combined points in a game. In 1949 the two squads played a game on the opposite end of the scoring spectrum, tying 0-0 as part of two straight 0-0 draws for the Bob Boozer coached Golden Eagles that season.
The Hawks, who are currently 3-4 overall (2-2 Empire 8) have made their living through the air in 2017, ranking eighth in the country in passing offense with 337 yards-per-game. The primary targets for quarterback Billy Pine have been senior wide receiver duo Koree Reed and Brad Garcia.
After this weekend, Brockport will hit the road to face Buffalo State before coming home for their final Empire 8 contest of the year against Alfred University.
Be sure to stay up to date on all your Golden Eagle news, scores, and awards by following @BportAthletics on Twitter and by like the "Brockport Golden Eagles" Facebook page.
