October 28, 2006. The Cortland State Red Dragons rallied from a 14-2 deficit to defeat The Lions of TCNJ 26-14. The win improved Cortland to 8-0 on the season, their best start since 1990. The Red Dragon defense led the way by holding TCNJ to 83 yards of offense. The Cortland defense did not yield a point to the Lions who scored their points on an interception return and a blocked punt.

Both teams battled the elements on Saturday. A cool rain fell throughout the football game with gusty west winds playing havoc with the passing game. Cortland jumped on top mid way through the first quarter after a Jimmy Cunneen punt pinned TCNJ at its own 2-yard line. On second down defensive lineman Mike Connolly tackled Walter Kumka in the end zone for a Red Dragon safety. Cortland took a 2-0 lead an appeared to have complete control of the game after Bill Hauser returned the ensuing kickoff 18 yards to the TCNJ 47-yard line. Matt Rickert followed with a 9-yard run to the Lions' 38-yard line. But on second down and short Lions' linebacker Justin Laurence intercepted a Ray Miles pass and returned it 67-yards for a touchdown. TCNJ took a 7-2 lead.

Ray Miles was injured late in the first quarter and forced to the sidelines for one drive. Freshman Bryan Shea took over at quarterback but was unable to move his team. Jimmy Cunneen was brought in to punt for Cortland from its own 25-yard line. Frank Schultheis blocked Cunneen's punt for TCNJ. The Lions' Ernest Covington grabbed the bouncing ball and ran it 10-yards into the end zone to put TCNJ ahead 14-2. A huge upset appeared to be brewing in the NJAC.

The Cortland offense steadied the ship when Miles returned but struggled to put points on the board against the Lions. Ronny Rodriguez returned the kickoff 44-yards to set Cortland up just shy of mid field. Ray Miles completed a 21-yard pass to Mike Lane to move the ball to the TCNJ 24-yard line. Dustin Bowser rushed 8 yards on second down to put the ball on the Lions' 15-yard line. But on fourth down and 1 yard to go, Matt Rickert was stuffed for no gain and the drive ended.

With half-time approaching Cortland desperately needed a score to take some momentum into the locker room. The Red Dragons started at their own 44-yard line with 2:41 remaining in the second quarter. Anthony Morat caught a second down 10-yard pass from Miles to move the football to the TCNJ 46-yard line. Morat followed with a key 11-yard catch and run off a Miles pass on third down and 9 yards to go, moving the football to the TCNJ 34. Miles hit Keith Greene for a 9-yard gain to the TCNJ 25-yard line. With the clock running inside of 45 seconds to play Paul Caughell caught a Miles pass for 10-yards to the TCNJ 12-yard line. However the drive stalled at the TCNJ 4-yard line with 11 seconds remaining. Matthew Mintz came in to kick a 21-yard field goal, allowing Cortland to go into the locker room on a positive note. But TCNJ still led 14-5 at the half.

The Cortland passing attack continued to struggle in the third quarter. The Lions put a fierce rush on Ray Miles forcing sacks and incompletions. Bryan Shea returned to the game to relieve Miles. But it was the rushing attack of the Red Dragons, and the punt returns of Stef Sair, which turned the tide. Midway through the third quarter Stef Sair returned a TCNJ punt 23-yards to the Lions' 28-yard line. The Red Dragon offense took advantage of this golden opportunity to score points. The offensive line opened up a big hole for Matt Rickert on first down, who crashed 25-yards over right tackle to the TCNJ 3-yard line. Rickert pounded the ball up the middle on the next play for a 3-yard touchdown run. Mintz added the extra point and Cortland pulled within 14-12.

Jeffrey Lang's kickoff into a swirling wind came down at the TCNJ 3-yard line. Mark Gardner struggled to grab hold of the wet ball for TCNJ and was tackled at the 4-yard line. The Cortland defense forced a 3-and-out series forcing a TCNJ punt from its own end zone. Jeff Beck caught the punt at the TCNJ 48-yard line and returned it 19-yards to the TCNJ 29-yard line. Rickert's running pushed the ball to the TCNJ 16-yard line. On third down and 10 yards to go Ray Miles lofted a pass for Anthony Morat. Morat snagged the pass in the end zone for a Cortland touchdown. Paul Caughell caught a pass from Ray Miles to add the 2-point conversion and Cortland led 20-14.

The Cortland defense continued to do its part. TCNJ could not get any traction against the Red Dragons and at no point put together a sustained drive. With less than 9 minutes remaining the Cortland defense forced another Lions punt. Stef Sair fielded the punt at the TCNJ 47-yard line and raced 27-yards to the Lions' 20. Matt Rickert ran for his second touchdown of the game on third and goal from the Lions' 10-yard line. Cortland took a commanding 26-14 lead. The Red Dragons defense stifled TCNJ the rest of the game to preserve Cortland's victory.

The Red Dragons defense deserved the game ball on this day. Besides pitching a shutout and limiting TCNJ to only 83 yards of offense, the Red Dragons sacked TCNJ quarterbacks 8 times on the afternoon. Senior Anthony Morat caught his 100th career pass for Cortland. Stef Sair was honored at half-time for winning an NCAA wrestling championship, and responded with 120 yards in punt returns. Matt Montpetit and Adam Haas each had 2 sacks. Montpetit added 5 tackles for losses. Dave D'Aurelio broke up 2 passes and added 1.5 sacks. Ray Miles struggled early against a tough TCNJ defense but saw his team through to victory.

Cortland proved it overcome adversity and rally for a victory. This lesson may have been learned just in time, as Cortland travels to Rowan next Saturday. The winner will take over first place in the NJAC. A Cortland victory would clinch the championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.