BROCKPORT, N.Y. – The College at Brockport football team opens it's season this Saturday with a matchup at No. 14 ranked Hobart College.
 
DATE - Time: September 2nd – 12 p.m.
LOCATION: Boswell Field – Geneva, N.Y.
LINKS: Video  |  Audio  |  Stats  |  Game Notes
 
This will be the second straight season the Golden Eagles have opened up their season against the Statesmen, after falling in a thrilling 41-35 contest at home a year ago. Brockport held a 35-28 edge early in the fourth quarter, but were unable to hold it as Hobart scored the final 13 points of the contest to take home the win.
 
Both teams saw post-season action in 2016, with Brockport earning a bid to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) President's Bowl after going 7-3 in the regular season. The Statesmen won the Liberty League with a 9-1 regular-season record before falling to No. 7 Mount Union in the opening round of the NCAA Championship.
 
The Golden Eagles are returning a wealth of talent from last years team, including pre-season First-Team All-American Jake O'Connell, who will be back in Green and Gold for his senior campaign. Last year, O'Connell was a menace for opposing quarterbacks, picking off six passes, two of which he returned for touchdowns. The Rochester, N.Y. native tied an NCAA record in week five against Utica when he intercepted a ball in the end zone and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown.
 
Three members of the Hobart squad were also picked as pre-season All-Americans in quarterback Shane Sweeney, wide receiver Brandon Shed, and punter Rio Schmidt. That trio combined with their other returners were enough to propel them to the No. 14 spot on d3football.com's pre-season top-25 poll.
 
O'Connell is not the only impact player returning for Brockport in 2017, as eight of their 11 Empire 8 All-Conference selections from a year ago are back this year. Mark Sanchez, Caleb Ferdilus, and Justin Torres are among those eight, and will anchor an offensive line that welcomes back all five starters as well as an All-Conference fullback in Dalton Cooley. They'll be blocking for Empire 8 Offensive Rookie of the Year Joe Germinerio, who unlike last season, will enter 2017 as the starting quarterback.
 
Head Coach Jason Mangone is excited for another matchup with Hobart as he enters his fifth season at the helm. He's very confident in this years squad, and welcomes the opportunity to take on a team that's receiving national recognition.
 
Brockport's home opener will come a week from Saturday when the Ithaca College Bombers come to town for a 2 p.m. game on Bob Boozer Field. They'll then hit the road again for the annual Courage Bowl against St. John Fisher, which will kick off at 6 p.m. on September 16th.
 
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.