Saturday October 29, 2005

Cortland thumped Western Connecticut 26-7 on Homecoming weekend. The Red Dragons defense dismantled another foe and extended its scoreless streak to 8 quarters, while holding Western Connecticut to -39 yards rushing. The Colonials of Western Connecticut scored its only points on a blocked field goal return for a touchdown.

Cortland was first to get on the board, scoring on its first possession. After a Colonials punt pinned Cortland deep at their own 17, Alex Smith and the offense went to work. After Smith completed a 9 yard pass to Drew Lascari, Matt Rickert rushed for 25 yards on his next 2 carries to get the ball into Colonial's territory at the 49 yard line. Smith had a key third down scramble for 16 yards, then completed a 15 yard pass to Mike Sveda down to the 3 yard line. Matt Rickert pounded the ball over left tackle on the next play into the end zone. The point after failed, but Cortland had a 6-0 lead.

Late in the first quarter Stef Sair added to his 2005 highlight reel with a 52 yard punt return down to the Colonial's 1 yard line. Sair broke an initial tackle before reversing field down the right sideline for the near touchdown. Dustin Bowser ran outside right for the touchdown on the next play, giving Cortland a 13-0 advantage.

The score would stay the same through the first half. In the second quarter the Cortland offense struggled to move the football into a stiff wind. However the Western Connecticut offense was unable to capitalize on the wind advantage. Quarterback Joe DiMeglio and the Colonials offense struggled against the Red Dragons defense. Linebacker and captain Matt Montpetit intercepted DiMeglio to end one drive near midfield. A Charles Johnson sack forced the Colonials to punt on fourth and 29 late in the half. DiMeglio and the Colonials made it to the Cortland 38 yard line with less than a minute to play before half-time. But Cortland held on 4 consecutive plays, and the drive ended on a sack by Josh Jablonski and Rich DeJesus.

Despite the continued domination of Cortland, things would get dicey in the third quarter. Cortland took the opening possession near midfield, and marched to the Western Connecticut 19 yard line. A missed field goal by Matthew Mintz kept the score at 13-0. Defensive lineman Eric Czachor recovered a fumble by Colonials halfback Jason Adamson on the next possession. Cortland could not move the ball, and punter Jimmy Cunneen coffin cornered a punt perfectly at the Colonials 1 yard line.

Facing second down and 10 from his own 1 yard line, DiMeglio felt pressure up the middle from Matt Montpetit and forced a pass into coverage. Jeff Beck intercepted for the Red Dragons at the Western Connecticut 32 yard line. Again Cortland knocked on the door, as Smith completed a 23 yard pass to tight end Paul Caughell. The drive stalled at the 12 yard line, and then disaster struck. Derek Ziders came in for the field goal attempt but had his kick blocked by Kevin Marchant. Rick Jackson picked the ball up for the Colonials at the 26 yard line and raced 74 yards for a touchdown. Western Connecticut pulled to within 13-7 and had all the momentum.

But the Cortland defensive special teams would return the favor. Josh Jablonski tied a school record with with his 5th career blocked punt late in the third quarter to set Cortland up at the Colonials 11 yard line. Alex Smith hit Zak Carter for a 3 yard touchdown pass to capitalize. The two point conversion failed, and Cortland led 19-7.

The Cortland defense took control the rest of the way, holding the Colonials scoreless for the final quarter. Jablonski and Charles Johnson combined on a sack to force a turnover on downs by the Colonials. Cortland took over at the Western Connecticut 28 yard line. Two plays later Dustin Bowser broke a 22 yard touchdown run over right tackle to ice the victory, 26-7.

Josh Jablonski led the defense with 10 tackles, while adding a sack and a blocked punt. Stef Sair had 8 tackles, a sack, and a 52 yard punt return to setup a touchdown. Charles Johnson had 2 sacks from his defensive tackle position. All in all the Red Dragons defense produced 8 sacks while limiting Western Connecticut's high powered offense to 195 total yards. Matt Rickert, who left in the third quarter with an ankle injury, combined with Dustin Bowser for 115 yards rushing. Paul Caughell had his best game of 2005 catching 4 passes for 57 yards.

The kicking game continued to struggle with missed extra points and field goals. Also the offense did not punch the ball into the end zone enough to clinch the game when it the chance. However Cortland clearly dominated the game defensively and moved the ball well at times on offense. Cortland improved to 5-1 in the NJAC, and 6-2 overall. The 6-2 record is the best Cortland record since the 2002 ECAC Championship team.