Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Dan Bronson threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more as the University of Rochester opened its season with a 45-28 victory over Catholic University of America.
Bronson directed a Yellowjacket offense that rolled up 501 yards – 260 on the ground and 241 through the air. He completed 19 of 33 throws for 237 yards and three scores – 37 yards and 32 yards to Nick Perpignan and a six-yarder to Luke Szumski late in the fourth quarter to clinch the victory.
It was the fifth straight season-opening win for Rochester (1-0). The Yellowjackets host Alfred State next Saturday in their home opener. Catholic is 1-1. The Cardinals rallied to defeat McDaniel College, 34-33, last week after trailing, 23-7, at halftime.
Myles Allen rushed 17 times for a game high 103 yards. His two-yard TD run with 5:43 left in the third quarter put Rochester ahead to stay, 31-28. Bronson had 16 carries for 98 yards and two scores – a three-yarder in the first quarter and a one-yard run just before halftime to give Rochester a 23-22 lead heading into the locker room.
For Catholic, quarterback T.J. Tutone completed 34 of 48 passes for 380 yards and three TDs He threw a five-yard TD pass to Tim Murphy in the first quarter, a 64-yarder to Matt Perno in the second quarter, and a 34-yard pass to Murphy late in the second. He added a two-point pass to Lucas Morley on the Murphy score, giving Catholic a 22-16 lead.
Bronson marched UR 71 yards in eight plays to put Rochester up, 23-22, 12 seconds before halftime.
Defensively, Chris Merenich led UR with 10 tackles. Five others had nine – David Wolff, R.J. Borgolini, Thomas Marone, Isaiah Smith, and Peter Crossett.
Ross Sanford had 13 tackles for Catholic and Luke Kern had 10. He also had the game's only interception.
The Yellowjackets put together three scoring drives of 71 yards or longer. They scored on three straight possessions in the second quarter – and six of eight possessions from early in the second period to late in the fourth. They turned the ball over twice in that stretch – a lost fumble and an interception. Catholic scored after the fumble. Rochester's defense stiffened following the INT – with Colin Woods forcing a fumble from Tutone and Ani Okeke Ewo recovering it.
Short Gains: This was the third 100+-yard rushing game for Allen. He had one in each of his first two seasons… These were the first two career receiving TDs for Perpignan… Yellowjackets had three sacks – by Isaiah Smith, Colin Woods, and one shared by Peter Crossett and Matt Mender… Kickoff time was moved up by one hour – from 1 pm to noon – to beat impending heavy storms in the D.C. area.