Saturday November 12, 2005
The Cortaca Jug returned to Cortland on Saturday when Cortland State defeated Ithaca College 37-30 in overtime. It was the first overtime game in the history of the Cortaca Jug rivalry.
The Red Dragons built a 23-6 half-time lead and never trailed against the Bombers of Ithaca College. Ithaca rallied to tie the game and force overtime, but Cortland scored a touchdown on its first possession of overtime and held Ithaca on 4 plays. It was the third time in the last four years Cortland has defeated Ithaca.
Cortland celebrates 37-30 overtime victory to claim the Cortaca Jug
For the first time this season the Cortland defense met its match in the high powered Bombers. Today was the offense's day to shine, and shine they did.
Cortland scored first in the opening quarter. After Ithaca drove the ball into Red Dragon territory, Stef Sair stepped in front of a Josh Felicitti pass over the middle for an interception. Sair hit the jets and ran the interception back 70 yards for a Red Dragon touchdown.
Stef Sair returns interception 70 yards for a touchdown in the opening quarter
The teams traded punts for the remaining of the first quarter. Late in the quarter Bomber Nick Aiello punted the ball 40 yards to Sair. The all-NJAC safety took the ball at the Red Dragon 27 yard line and returned it 45 yards to the Ithaca 28. Three plays later early in the second quarter Red Dragon QB Alex Smith scrambled for a 10 yard touchdown. Cortland increased its lead to 14-0.
Stef Sair cuts outside for a key 45 yard punt return
Alex Smith eludes the Bombers defense for a 10 yard touchdown run
Ithaca answered on its next possession. Kelly Gordon returned the kickoff 43 yards, then a personal foul call against the Red Dragons set Ithaca up at the Cortland 36. Josh Felicitti completed a 21 yard pass to Justin Esposito, then hit PJ Canestrari for an 18 yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked by Josh Jablonski, who set a school record with his sixth career block. Jablonski recovered the block and pitched it out to Stef Sair, who returned the ball all the way for a 2 point Cortland score. This turn of events would end up playing a key role in the final outcome. Cortland led 16-6.
Midway through the second quarter Cortland took possession at its own 22 yard line. The Red Dragons used a mix of run and pass to drive deep into Ithaca territory. On 3rd down and 10 from the Ithaca 24 yard line, Dustin Bowser took a draw 11 yards for a key first down. On the very next play Matt Rickert rushed the ball 13 yards up the middle for a Cortland touchdown. The drive covered 78 yards on 15 plays, and took 4:40 off the clock. Cortland took a 23-6 lead into half-time.
Ithaca put on a fierce rally in the 3rd quarter. On 2nd down and 9 from the Cortland 48, Josh Felicitti threw deep to Kelly Gordon. Gordon out-leaped the defender and ran into the end zone cutting the lead to 23-13. On Cortland's next possession Dustin Bowser fumbled the ball at the Cortland 35 yard line. Ithaca's Bob Higgins grabbed the ball and returned it 10 yards. Felicitti immediately returned to Gordon, hitting the receiver for a 25 yard touchdown. What was once a comfortable Cortland lead was now cut to 23-20.
Anthony Morat had a great afternoon including the game winning catch in overtime
The Cortland offense answered the bell with another long drive. The veteran Red Dragon offensive line controlled scrimmage, and Cortland marched 75 yards on 16 plays. Alex Smith found Dustin Bowser wide open for a 15 yard touchdown pass, and Cortland increased its lead to 30-20.
Josh Felicitti and the Ithaca College Bombers came out firing on the next possession. After Kyle Crandall returned the kickoff 44 yards to near midfield, Felicitti took the Bombers 53 yards on only 6 plays. Justin Esposito caught a 16 yard touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter to bring Ithaca to within 30-27.
Cortland struggled on its next possession. The Bombers Joe Napoleone forced a fumble on a Dustin Bowser run, and Jose Colon fell on the ball for Ithaca at the Cortland 41 yard line. Ithaca drove the ball to the Cortland 10, where the Red Dragon defense held their ground. Ithaca's Brett Kitenplon came on to kick a 27 yard field goal for Ithaca, and for the first time since the opening kickoff the score was tied.
Cortland took over possession at their own 26 yard line with 3:23 remaining in the game, but with only 1 time-out to work with. Facing 3rd and 9 from his own 27 yard line, Alex Smith scrambled outside for a huge 11 yard run. Two plays later Smith had another 11 yard run, and Cortland was in business at the Ithaca 48 with 1:34 remaining. With 23 seconds remaining and Cortland down to the Ithaca 24 yard line, Matt Rickert was stopped in the backfield for a big 5 yard loss. With 8 seconds remaining place kicker Matthew Mintz came on for the potential game winner. The kick was true, but a few yards short. Had Ithaca not gotten the big stop in the backfield, Mintz's kick would have had the distance. Regulation ended with the score 30-30.
Ithaca won the overtime coin toss and elected to play defense first. Cortland used a mix of pass and run to move to the Ithaca 8 yard line. Facing 3rd down and 4, it was time for Cortland's offensive playmakers to step up. Smith bought himself time and threw a pass into the far corner of the endzone. It appeared the defender had position but Anthony Morat climbed the ladder, grabbed the ball, and ripped it away from the defender for a spectacular touchdown reception. Mintz added the extra point and Cortland led 37-30.
The pressure was now on Ithaca to score a touchdown and force a second overtime. However they faced a Red Dragon defense looking for retribution. The unit which carried the team for most of 2005 stood strong one more time. Felicitti's pass was incomplete on first down. A hand off to star Bomber running back Jamie Donovan went for only 1 yard. On third and 9 Felicitti could not complete a pass to Mike Oertel, who was covered closely by Josh Jablonski. On fourth down and 9, Felicitti was intercepted again by Sair. Sair's second interception sealed the deal, and the celebration began. Cortland defeated Ithaca 37-30 in overtime.
Stef Sair's interception in overtime seals the Red Dragon victory
The Cortland offense generated 392 yards on the afternoon. They had to, as the Ithaca offense rang up 430 yards. Alex Smith threw for 191 yards and 2 touchdowns, and ran for 47 yards and another touchdown. Anthony Morat caught 8 passes for 72 yards, including the game winning touchdown reception. Morat's refusal to be denied the ball echoed Cortland's intensity in this game. Dustin Bowser rushed for 74 yards on only 9 carries, and the Red Dragons as a team pounded the ball for 201 yards on the ground.
The Cortland defense kept fighting against one of the nation's best offenses. The Red Dragons stopped Jamie Donovan cold for 48 yards on 18 carries. Last year Donovan rushed for over 200 against Cortland. Josh Felicitti was darn near unstoppable but Cortland forced two turnovers against him in key situations.
Stef Sair had an amazing afternoon. Sair returned an interception 70 yards for the game's first score, returned a punt 45 yards to set up another score, returned a blocked extra point for a Cortland 2 point conversion, and intercepted Felicitti on the final play of overtime to give Cortland the victory.
Cortland made a bold statement that they belong in the NCAA playoffs. On Sunday Cortland was awarded an at-large berth in the NCAA playoffs.