Brockport, NY – On Saturday, November 23^rd the SUNY Brockport football team will host the University of Rochester Yellowjackets for the ECAC Clayton Chapman Bowl Game. Kickoff is scheduled for 12pm at Bob Boozer Field.
 
DATE – TIME: November 23^rd, 2024 – 12pm
LOCATION: Brockport, NY | Bob Boozer Field
LINKS: Live Video | Live Stats
 
8th Straight Postseason:  The SUNY Brockport football team earned its eighth consecutive postseason berth Monday as the Golden Eagles were selected to host the 2024 ECAC Clayton Chapman Bowl game against the University of Rochester on Saturday, November 23^rd at 12 p.m. at Bob Boozer Field. The Golden Eagles finished the regular season with a 7-3 overall record and a 5-2 ledger in the Empire 8 Conference. University of Rochester posted a 6-4 overall record and a 2-4 mark in the Liberty League. Brockport boasts one of the top defenses in the country and capped the regular season ranked fourth nationally in scoring defense, allowing an average of just 10.6 points per game. Brockport finished the regular season ranked ninth nationally in red zone defense (.583) and 23rd nationally in total defense (253.7 per game).
 
Regular Season Wrapped: The Brockport Golden Eagles fell to Alfred University in the regular season finale, 23-14, on the road. Brockport drops to 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the Empire 8 following the loss. Alfred went up 7-0 in the first quarter to take an early edge. While Brockport responded with 14 points, the team still trailed at halftime, 20-14. The Saxons would add three more points in the fourth to create the 23-14 final. Brockport leaned on Isaiah Simmons in the ground game on Saturday. The back totaled 28 carries for 180 yards and two touchdowns. His longest run of the day was a 42-yard touchdown, and he averaged 6.4 yards per carry. However, it wasn't enough in the road loss to conclude the 2024 regular season.
 
All-Conference Selections: On Thursday, November 21^st the Empire 8 released the 2024 football all-conference selections. Brockport was recognized with six 1^st-Team, seven 2^nd-Team, and five 3^rd-Team selections this season. The Golden Eagles earned 18 total all-conference nods and have one member on the E8 Sportsman of the Year Team (Full All-Conference Details Here: https://gobrockport.com/news/2024/11/21/brockport-football-earns-collection-of-all-conference-nods.aspx ).
 
1^st-Team Selections: Isaiah Simmons, Adam Montalvo, Nolan Slywka, Ben Robinson, Kyle Haettich, Dan Giangrasso
2^nd-Team Selections: Ahmad Davis-Warner, Daniel Manneh, Marqwan Fluitt, Andre Marianetti, Jayson Thomas, Mike Talbert Jr., Elijah Grooms
3^rd-Team Selections: Ben Gocella, Liam Malgieri, Brian Caldwell Jr., Dawin Fanor, Sal Montaperto
Empire 8 Sportsman of the Year Team: Marquis Wright
 
Dominant Golden Eagle Defense: This dominant Golden Eagles defense concluded the 2024 regular season ranked highly in the nation across many categories. Here is a full listing of how Brockport's defensive unit stacks up statistically compared to the rest of teams in DIII:
 
4^th – Scoring Defense (10.6 ppg)
7^th – Team Passing Efficiency Defense (98.51)
9^th – Red Zone Defense (.583 pct)
T-15^th – Team Tackles for Loss (8.0 tflpg)
16^th – 3^rd Down Conversion Percentage Defense (.281 pct)
T-19^th – Rushing Defense (72.5 ypg)
21^st – 1^st Downs Defense (139)
23^rd – Total Defense (253.7 ypg)
 
Brockport's defense was recognized by the Empire 8 with eight All-Conference selections. 1^st-Team selection, Ben Robinson leads the defense from his linebacker spot with 88 total tackles and a conference-leading 6.0 sacks. Preseason All-American, Kyle Haettich also made the 1^st-Team after totaling 48 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, one pass breakup, and one fumble recovery.
 
The unit also had a linebacker/defensive back duo on the E8's 2^nd-Team for All-Conference. Mike Talbert Jr. has been a menace all season long and is second on the defense with 64 total tackles. Talbert has gotten into the backfield for 4.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss on the season to go with two interceptions, five pass breakups, five quarterback hurries, and one fumble recovery. Elijah Grooms has made a significant impact for the Green and Gold secondary in 2024. He is tied for first in the E8 with four interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, 28 tackles, four pass breakups, and one forced fumble.
 
All three starting defensive lineman for the defense earned 2^nd-Team honors. Andre Marianetti has contributed heavily with 9.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and was credited with seven QB rushes. Brockport's nose tackle, Jayson Thomas, attracts a lot of attention up front by fighting through double teams all season. He has totaled 16 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three QB hurries, one pass deflection, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. Marqwan Fluitt ended up with 2.0 sacks and two forced fumbles, tallied 11 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, one pass breakup, and two quarterback hurries.
 
Moving the Football: The Brockport offense averaged 396.2 yards of total offense per game in 2024, the highest per game total for the team since averaged 496.4 yards a game in 2018. The Golden Eagles rushed for 195.1 yards a game, leaning on the Empire 8's leading rusher in Isaiah Simmons (1^st-Team All-Conference). Simmons finished the regular season with career-highs of 1,342 rushing yards (3^rd in the nation), 134.2 yards per game (4^th in the nation), 16 rushing touchdowns (T-8^th in the nation), and 7.0 yards per carry (8^th in the nation).
 
The Golden Eagles kept the attack balanced by averaging 201.1 passing yards a game as well behind Ben Gocella's career year (3^rd-Team All-Conference). Gocella totaled career-highs of 1,826 yards, 17 touchdowns, 202.9 passing yards per game, and a 146.26 passer rating. He spread the ball out to his trio of All-Conference wideouts in Nolan Slywka (1^st-Team), Daniel Manneh (2^nd-Team), and Brian Caldwell Jr. (3^rd-Team). Slywka led the group with career-highs of 45 receptions, 716 yards, and eight touchdowns. Manneh racked up 42 catches for 575 yards and three scores. Caldwell got loose for 269 yards and four touchdowns on just 16 catches.
 
Special Teams Highlights: Brockport's punter Dan Giangrasso continues his great career and was recently named All-Conference for a fourth time, his 3^rd straight 1^st-Team selection. Giangrasso led the Empire 8 with an average of 43.1 yards per punt, racking up 1,294 punt yards on 30 kicks. Dan had 10 punts travel 50+ yards and he pinned opponents back inside the 20 on 13 different occasions. Freshman kicker Sal Montaperto earned 3^rd-Team All-Conference after going 38-for-41 on extra point tries and 6-of-8 field goal attempts in his first season.
 
Cameron Mesh has been Brockport's most reliable punt returner, receiving 24 punts on the season. However, Daniel Manneh has provided the explosive plays. On just four attempts he has totaled 120 yards and one touchdown on the punt return. Manneh also has 211 yards on five kick return chances to lead the team.
 
Looking at the Yellowjackets: The University of Rochester finished the regular season 6-4 overall after a 37-7 loss to Hobart in the final game of the schedule. The U of R's selection for the ECAC Clayton Chapman Bowl marks the third ECAC bowl game appearance for the program, and fourth ever postseason outing. In 2024, the Yellowjackets are scoring 20.2 points per game on offense and allowing 18.5 points a game defensively. They were awarded Liberty League All-Conference selections for 10 players including 1^st-Team nods for RB Daniel Papantonis and WR Trey Johnson. Papantonis is averaging 109.6 rushing yards per game in 2024, while Johnson has proven to be a threat as a wideout and as a return man on special teams. Defensively, Jordy Tawa is the headliner with seven interceptions on the season (2^nd in the nation). The last meeting between Brockport and the U of R was in 2022, which saw the Golden Eagles take a 23-3 win on the road. However, the Yellowjackets hold the all-time series advantage at 9-5.
 
2024 Finale: Saturday will mark the final game of the season for both Brockport and Rochester regardless of the outcome. Each program is looking to end the 2024 season with a win in the ECAC Clayton Chapman Bowl Game.