Alfred, NY – In the final game of the regular season, SUNY Brockport football defeated Alfred University on the road, 16-7. With the win, Brockport improves to 7-3 overall and 4-2 in the Empire 8 with hopes to get the call to host an ECAC Bowl Game next week.
The Golden Eagle defense continues to dominate as it has all season long. They allowed a total of just 90 yards of offense, including 52 passing yards and only 38 rushing yards. For the third straight week and sixth time this season, Brockport kept its opponents to seven points or less. The Saxons were only able to generate nine first downs the entire game.
Staying true to form, the offense kept the ball on the ground and kept pounding the rock. Gino Fontanarosa led the backfield with 39 carries for 127 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Brockport totaled 196 rushing yards on the way to 221 yards of total offense.
It would be Fontanarosa that drew first blood for the Golden Eagles with a score in the opening quarter. His 3-yard touchdown run capped off an 8-play, 49 yard drive. Noah Panepinto's extra point was good, giving the team an early 7-0 lead on the road.
After forcing and recovering a fumble on defense, the Saxons would get on the board just before halftime. The offensive unit ran a well-executed 2-minute drill, marching 43-yards in just 1:23 for a Max Freeman IV touchdown run. The score was all tied up at 7-7 heading into the break.
Coming out of the locker rooms to start the second half, the third quarter would become a defensive battle. With neither school able to add to their respective totals in the third, the score remained tied at 7-7 going into the fourth.
Continuing a drive that began in the third quarter, Brockport broke the tie early on in the final quarter. Less than two minutes into the fourth, Gino Fontanarosa would score his second touchdown of the day to give him 10 scores on the season. Gino's 2-yard rushing touchdown finished off an impressive 13-play, 62-yard drive in 7:18.
With time running out for Alfred, it was up to the defense to hold Brockport's 14-7 lead in the fourth. Reigning Empire 8 Special Teams Player of the Week, Dan Giangrasso pinned the Saxons back on their own 2-yard line with a 49-yard punt.
Just two plays after Big Red's great kick, Gannon Johnston would put the game away for the Golden Eagles. On 2nd and 10 the defensive lineman sacked Alfred's quarterback, Chris Kelly, in the end zone for a safety. Johnston's sack added two more points to the scoreboard for the Green and Gold, creating the final score of 16-7.
Splitting snaps at quarterback, Todd Simonds and Chris McGuire combined for 25 yards on 8-for-11 passing. Simonds also added 38 rushing yards on eight carries. Derrick Chance out of the backfield was the main target in the pass game, notching 16 yards on five receptions.
Linebacker Kyle Haettich led the Golden Eagles with 10 total tackles on the day, including nine solo stops on defense. Ben Damiani was next on the unit with six total tackles, including 0.5 tackles for a loss. Nick Herbst, Jordan Harris, Vincent Daviero, Gannon Johnston, Hakeem Yaya, Gavin Cole, and Joseph Rodda all were credited with sacks against the Alfred quarterback.
In the secondary, Raylens Boutin was able to get in on two pass breakups to lead the team. Malik Kelly, Ben Robinson, and Ben Damiani all impacted the opposing passing game with one breakup each on the day.
The Golden Eagles wrap up the regular season at 7-3 overall, recording the 29th winning season in program history and the seventh under Head Coach Jason Mangone. Bowl eligible, they await the selection committee's announcements on Sunday for a possibility of hosting an ECAC Bowl Game.