Brockport, NY – The SUNY Brockport football team (1-0) gets an early season test in week two, hitting the road for a matchup against the No. 16 nationally ranked Ithaca College Bombers (1-0). Kick-off is scheduled for 1pm at Butterfield Stadium on Saturday, September 10
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DATE – TIME: Sept 10
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LOCATION: Butterfield Stadium – Ithaca, NY
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Game Notes.pdf
Getting Past Framingham: The SUNY Brockport football 75
th anniversary season began with a 27-7 win over Framingham State on Saturday. In a full team effort, Brockport more than doubled the total yardage of the visiting Rams with 384 yards of offense on the way to a 1-0 start. The Golden Eagle defense held their opponent to just 191 yards and came away with two interceptions. The Golden Eagles shut out Framingham in the first half, taking a 17-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. Framingham was able to get on the board midway through the third, but that would be its only score on the day. Finally, a pick six by the defense in the fourth quarter put the game out of reach to give Brockport a 1-0 start to the year.
Brockport vs Ithaca History: Although the Ithaca Bombers may have the upper hand overall in this matchup, but under Head Coach
Jason Mangone the Golden Eagles have turned the tables. Since Mangone took over in 2013 Brockport is 4-2 against Ithaca and 2-0 at Butterfield Stadium. The Bombers took the 2021 matchup, 23-8, but they lost four straight to the Green and Gold prior. In this recent era Brockport is averaging 22.5 points on offense and giving up just 12.5 points a game defensively against Ithaca.
Week 1 Highlights: In the season opener, Brockport came up with some big plays that helped capture all momentum over the opponent. The first touchdown of the season came in dramatic fashion.
Todd Simonds hooked up with
Jared Maurino for a 67-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. The second big highlight of the day would seal the game in the fourth quarter.
Hakeem Yaya provided heavy pressure on the opposing quarterback, which resulted in a
John DeRidder 21-yard pick six to put Brockport up 27-7.
Simonds' Brockport Debut: Transfer quarterback
Todd Simonds made his Brockport debut, connecting on 14-of-23 passes to total 208 yards with a touchdown. He also carried the ball 13 times for 36 yards on the ground. Simonds linked up with
Jared Maurino for the first Golden Eagle touchdown of the season in the first quarter. His quarterback rating for his first game with the team was a 151.18, which ranks third in the Empire 8 after week one.
Big Play Maurino: Senior wideout
Jared Maurino needed just one catch last week to impact the game. In the second quarter Maurino caught the ball outside the numbers, turned up field, and took it 67 yards for the longest touchdown reception of his career. The highlight play was reminiscent of Maurino's 53-yard touchdown last season against Hartwick.
Disruptive on Defense: The Golden Eagles prevented the Framingham quarterbacks from feeling comfortable in the pocket all game long. In total the defensive unit had two sacks for 14 yards, five quarterback hurries, and two interceptions.
John DeRidder contributed both a sack and his 21-yard interception returned for a touchdown.
Aidan Thomas had the other sack, while
Purcelle Brown also had a turn picking off the opposing quarterback.
Hakeem Yaya was credited with three QB hurries and teammate
Ben Robinson had two hurries.
Top 25 Defense: After a strong week one effort on defense, Brockport ranks inside the top 25 nationally in several statistical categories. The Golden Eagles are tied at 21
st in the nation for total defense, allowing just 191 yards. Allowing just seven points, the defense is tied for 18
th nationally in scoring defense. They are also tied for 14
th in all of DIII football, giving up just 10 first downs against Framingham State. With two picks against the Rams, the squad is tied for 15
th in the nation in passes intercepted. This has led to Brockport also being tied for 16
th in the country with a +2-turnover margin.
The Return Game: Derrick Chance was able to break loose for a long of 42 yards on one of his three punt returns last game. With 64 total returns yards he averages 21.3 yards an attempt which ranks Chance eighth in the nation. His work put Brockport at 12
th in the country for average yards per punt return.
Controlling the Clock: Just like last season, the Brockport offense intends to keep the ball on the ground and win the time of possession battle each week. Winning the possession game against Framingham, the team is ranked 25
th in the nation with 36 minutes for an average time of possession.
The Ground & Pound: The Golden Eagles led the Empire 8 in total rushing attempts in 2021 and are already on pace to do so again this season. They racked up 176-yards on 48 running plays in the season opening win over Framingham State in week one.
Rashad Law totaled 66 yards and a score on 20 carries. The longest run of the day was a 25 yarder from
Gino Fontanarosa, who finished with 50 yards on eight rushes.
Behind the Big Boys: The offensive unit goes where the lineman up front lead. The veteran group up front features returners at all five positions and multiple all-conference selections.
Luke Lodini,
Nicholas Kalke, and
Scott Ochsner all earned All-Empire 8 honors last season. So far in 2022 the line has paved the way for 384 yards of total offense. Allowing just three tackles for a loss in week one, Brockport's offensive line is tied for 21
st nationally in tackles for loss allowed.
The Wideouts: With his one reception for 67 yards and a touchdown,
Jared Maurino leads the receivers in yards and scores.
Derrick Chance has three catches for 47 yards,
Louis Usera has three receptions for 36 yards, and
James Altenburger totaled 29 yards on three snags.
Firmino Benros,
Gino Fontanarosa, and
Rashad Law contributed in the passing game as well to help Brockport total 14 receptions for 208 yards.
Go No Further: This stout defensive unit for the Green and Gold is led by its defensive team captains
Ben Damiani and
Ben Marshall. Damiani is currently leading the squad with seven total tackles, including three solo stops. Marshall also had three solo tackles against Framingham, getting in on six stops.
John DeRidder,
Ben Robinson, and
Ryan Culhane each have four tackles as key pieces of the front seven.
Strong Secondary: Brockport's top 25 defense wouldn't be complete without its talent and ability at the second level. The opposing Rams were only able to complete 48% of their passes on offense for just 131 yards.
Purcelle Brown contributed one of the two interceptions on the day and had a pass breakup. Preseason All-American
Raylens Boutin got in on the action with a breakup as well in the victory.
Trusting Their Legs: Nate Wigent had a solid start to the season as the place kicker for the special teams unit. Wigent made all three of his point after touchdown kicks and went 2-for-2 on field goals with a long of 33-yards.
Dan Giangrasso's long against Framingham was a 44-yard punt, and he also pinned the opponent inside the 20 once in the game.
Nationally Ranked Bombers: The #16 Ithaca College Bombers enter week two 1-0 after a decisive, 51-14, win over Bridgewater State to open the season. The offense totaled 462 yards on the day with four rushing touchdowns and two scores through the air. The Bombers handed the ball off 49 times to its committee of backs. Jake Williams had 94 yards and a score on 21 rushes, while Ryan Brozovic had two rushing touchdowns and 40 yards on 12 carries. Despite favoring the ground game, quarterback A.J. Wingfield ranks third in the nation with his .824 completion percentage. He was 14-for-17 through the air for 152 yards and a touchdown last game. The Ithaca defense allowed one score each on the ground and in the air to Bridgewater State, giving up 249 yards of offense. It also forced a turnover by way of an interception and had three sacks. Anthony D'Addetta proved to be a threat on kickoff returns last week, bringing the opening kickoff to the house for a score. As the eighth ranked kickoff returner in the country, he had four returns for 161 yards.
Up Next: The Golden Eagles are on the road again for week three, staying a little closer to home as they face the University of Rochester. It all goes down at Edwin Fauver Stadium in Rochester, NY for a 12pm kickoff on Saturday, September 17
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