Brockport, NY – The SUNY Brockport football team (1-1) is on the road this Saturday for another non-conference matchup. They take on the Wilkes University Colonels (0-2) for a 12pm start down in Pennsylvania at Schmidt Stadium.
 
DATE – TIME: September 14^th, 2023 – 12pm
LOCATION: Schmidt Stadium – Wilkes-Barre, PA
LINKS: Video | Stats | Game Notes
 
Week 2 Recap: In a defensive battle with No. 22 Susquehanna University, the SUNY Brockport football team suffered its first loss of the season. A late field goal with two seconds remaining gave the River Hawks the 6-5 win to spoil the Golden Eagles' home opener. Susquehanna improved to 2-0, while Brockport dropped to 1-1 on the season.
 
Neither team was able to get in the endzone for a touchdown in this one, as all of the scoring came from the two special teams units. Susquehanna's Christian Colas made two field goals to provide all six of the River Hawks' points. Nate Wigent nailed a 30-yard kick for Brockport, to go with a safety caused by Ryan Jafarjian's punt block.
 
The Golden Eagle defense kept the opposing offense from scoring a touchdown for a second straight week. However, the visiting team from Pennsylvania outgained Brockport on the ground and in the air. With 314 yards of total offense, Susquehanna's defense did its part by holding Brockport to just 135 yards of offense.
 
Special Teams Player of the Week: The Empire 8 announced on Monday the selections for the conference players of the week. Ryan Jafarjian was named the Empire 8 Football Special Teams Player of the Week. Brockport has now won this weekly award twice in a row, as Raylens Boutin earned the honor a week prior. With the score tied at 3-3 in the fourth quarter against No. 22 Susquehanna, Jafarjian came up with a clutch punt block for the Golden Eagle special teams unit. He blocked the kick threw the back of the endzone, resulting in a safety to give Brockport a late 5-3 lead. The senior also made three tackles on special teams coverage.
 
Defensive Tenacity: After the first two games of the season, Brockport's defense has proven that it remains an elite unit on that side of the ball. Allowing a total of 12 points through two weeks, the Green and Gold has not allowed a single touchdown yet. Opposing offenses are averaging just 269 yards per game, 3.4 yards per carry, and are only completing 49.1% of their passes. The Golden Eagles are tied for 10^th in the country in scoring defense, allowing an average of just 6.0 points a game.
 
Special Teams Highlights: Brockport's Special Teams Coordinator Matt Arita has his unit firing on all cylinders. Through two weeks, the special teams for the Golden Eagles have made several big plays. In week one the punt return group sprung Raylens Boutin free for a 42-yard punt return for a touchdown. Against the nationally ranked River Hawks from Susquehanna, Brockport blocked two kicks in the game. It started with Ryan Jafarjian's blocked punt for a safety in the fourth. Then later in the same quarter, Vincent Daviero blocked a field goal attempt.
 
Playmakers on Defense: With 19 total tackles (8 solo, 11 assisted), Ben Robinson leads the defensive unit in stops. He has also got in for 2.5 tackles for a loss, 0.5 sacs, and two pass breakups. Mike Talbert Jr. has been all over the field defensively for the Golden Eagles. He has 18 tackles, five tackles for a loss, one sack, and four pass breakups. Kyle Haettich has been credited with both takeaways for Brockport through two weeks. He has caused and recovered one fumble, made one interception, and recorded 17 tackles. Raylens Boutin is fourth on the team with his collection of 14 tackles.
 
The Run Game: The Golden Eagles have continued to rely heavily on its run game behind its big offensive line. With a pair of All-Conference selections in the backfield, they consistently feed the ball to the backs. Jala Coad has rushed for a total of 149 yards for two scores on a total of 35 carries. Gino Fontanarosa has 18 rushing attempts for 57 yards and one touchdown. Todd Simonds has called his own number for 16 rushes, 81 yards, and a score. Two weeks into the season, only Cortland (99 rushes) has handed the ball off more than the Green and Gold within the conference.
 
Big Boots: Last week against Susquehanna, The punters were busy on Saturday, combining for 18 total punts in the game. Dan Giangrasso finished with 10 punts for 420 yards, including a long of 52 and three punts downed inside the 20. He is averaging 42.79 yards per punt on the year, has landed four punts inside the 20, and has had two punts of 50 yards or more. Nate Wigent remains perfect with his foot so far this season as the placekicker. Wigent is 6-for-6 on extra point attempts and is 1-for-1 on field goals through two weeks.
 
Scouting the Colonels: Wilkes enters the weekend holding a record of 0-2 so far this season. The Colonels feel to RPI last week, 38-14, and lost the season opener to King's College, 27-23, in week one. With 141 rushing yards, Elijah Jules is the leader of the backfield for Wilkes with his 4.4 yards per carry average. Isaiah Rodriguez takes most of the snaps at QB, completing 30-of-47 passes for 312 yards and three scores. Jimmy Johnson has proven to be the favorite target in the passing game, racking up eight catches for 140 yards and one touchdown. Angel Ramos and Lance Priestas both have two sacks for the defense, while Tallen Murray leads the team with 18 total tackles. Wilkes is averaging 262.5 yards and 18.5 points per game heading into week three against Brockport, as the programs will faceoff for the first time ever.
 
Around the Empire 8: Cortland and Utica are the two teams sporting a 2-0 record after the first couple weeks of the season. Brockport is tied with Alfred, Hartwick, Morrisville, St. John Fisher with a 1-1 mark at this point in the year. Empire 8 play is set to begin in week five for Brockport against St. John Fisher on September 30^th.
 
Up Next: The Golden Eagles will return home next weekend for another non-conference game for week four. They welcome Lycoming College to Bob Boozer Field on Saturday, September 23^rd at 12pm.