MORRISVILLE, NY – The University of Rochester football team moved to 2-0 on the season after defeating SUNY Morrisville 30-14 on Saturday afternoon at Drake Field.
Rochester was aided by three second half touchdown passes from Victor Moran and a stalwart defensive effort over the final 30 minutes, holding Morrisville (0-2) off the scoreboard.
The Yellowjackets trailed 14-10 at halftime, but combined to hold the Mustangs under 90 yards of offense in the second half, forcing multiple 3-and-out drives.
Moran finished the day completing 6-of-9 passes for 83 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. Senior Aidan Papantonis was the leading target through the air, hauling in 10 catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns.
On the ground, sophomore Cole Raux carried 26 times for 114 yards, while also catching three passes for 18 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Yellowjackets had three interceptions on the day, highlighted by Judah Thomas's pick-six that opened the scoring in the first quarter. Braydon Felsinger and Jack Diggins also had interceptions with long returns, setting up URochester drives deep in Morrisville territory.
Nathan Lehigh was the leading UR tackler with nine, while Rhys Lewis and Jordy Tawa finished with eight and seven, respectively. Thomas, Tawa, Diggins and Brock Miller each had multiple pass break-up's and helped limit the Mustangs to just 43 total passing yards on the day.
Both offenses got off to slow starts in the contest, with each team going 3-and-out on its first two possessions.
Morrisville's second possession ended in points for Rochester though, as Thomas stepped in front of a Chris Stancarone pass and took it back 25 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 Yellowjacket lead.
The Mustangs answered with a long scoring drive to even the score. Isaac Sylvain rushed up the middle from the 1-yard line to cap a 10-play, 72-yard drive.
After DeSean Bruce intercepted a Yellowjacket pass, Morrisville embarked on another long scoring drive to grab a 14-7 lead. Sylvain ended the 16-play, 75-yard drive with his second rushing touchdown of the game, plunging in from two yards.
Just before intermission, the Yellowjackets were able to answer, with junior kicker Kyle Brainard connecting on a 35-yard field goal.
In the second half, a promising opening drive by Rochester ended without any points, with Brainard just missing on a 30-yard kick, hitting the left upright.
Two possessions later, Felsinger picked off Stancarone and returned the ball 39 yards before getting tackled at the Mustang 4-yard line. Two plays later, Moran found Papantonis for his first score of the game, pulling Rochester in front 17-14 after Brainard's PAT kick.
The next Morrisville drive saw Diggins record his interception, with the linebacker running 50 yards down to the Morrisville five. The Mustang defense was up to the challenge this time though, stuffing six Rochester tries from in close to keep it a one score game.
A solid punt return by Tawa set up the Yellowjackets in Morrisville territory, leading to their next scoring drive. Raux rushed three times and after a pair of penalties, was on the receiving end of a 22-yard touchdown screen pass from Moran, boosting the 'Jacket lead to ten points.
UR's defense made another stand, forcing a Morrisville 3-and-out, leading to its final score of the day. Raux pounded the rock five times, with Moran finding Papantonis on two other pass plays on the 7-play drive, covering 65 yards. The scoring play was a post up the seam, with Papantonis splitting two Mustang defenders on the 35-yard play.
Despite a long kickoff return that set up the Mustangs in Rochester territory, the final Morrisville possession ended after just four plays, with Victor Little stuffing Sylvain on 4th-and-1 to give the Yellowjackets the ball back.
Overall in the contest, Rochester led the yardage battle, compiling 292 yards of offense to 265 for the Mustangs.
Next week, UR returns home to face St. John Fisher at 1 pm on Saturday afternoon as part of the University's Meliora Weekend festivities.