Ryan Bitka, center, and Zac Boyes, right, have been friends since their dads were Division III football coaches together at Buffalo State. Cortland athletics photo by Darl Zehr Photography

By Brian Lester
D3sports.com

Cortland’s Zac Boyes and Ryan Bitka have been around college football a whole lot longer than most Division III student-athletes.

Their dads were long-time coaches at Buffalo State, and that meant Zac and Ryan spent more time at the football field than on the playground. Zac’s father, Jerry, was the head coach at Buffalo State on two occasions (1986-2000 and 2009-18) and Ryan’s dad, Terry, spent nearly 40 years at the same school, arriving on campus in 1986.

So, naturally, Zac and Ryan forged a strong friendship long before they became teammates at Cortland, which is in the midst of another impressive season.

The Red Dragons, winners of 18 consecutive regular-season games dating to last year, have already won the Empire 8 title and are assured of an NCAA playoff berth for the second year in a row.

“We grew up together and whether we liked it or not, we were going to be friends,” Boyes said. “He’s been my guy for 18, 19, 20 years. We’ve always been around each other and have always wished each other the best.”

Boyes is the starting quarterback of the Red Dragons, the same position his dad played at Ithaca. Bitka starts on the offensive line, which is where his dad played during his days at Cortland. Though they played at different high schools, they talked about maybe one day playing in college together.

“We had the same schools on our radar and wanted the same things. It happened to work out,” Bitka said.

It’s also worked out for Cortland, which went 11-1 last season and is unbeaten through eight games in 2022. The Red Dragons were the first team in Division III to clinch a playoff berth this season, as Empire 8 champions, and their win streak has tied the mark set in the 1988 and 1989 seasons.

“This group is hungry,” Cortland coach Curt Fitzpatrick said. “To be back in this position is not easy. Anytime we have even a remotely close game, everyone thinks something is wrong. There is a lot of pressure built into that. But our team has accepted the challenge and has risen to the occasion every week. Now that we’ve punched a ticket, our players are focused on continuing to get better and be better in the postseason than we were a year ago.”

Boyes and Bitka, both sophomores, have played key roles in that success. Boyes has completed more than 70 percent of his passes (117-of-166) and has thrown for 2,008 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Bitka has helped make that success possible playing up front and has helped the Cortland offense generate an average of 524.6 yards per game, including 250.8 on the ground.

Their ability to thrive at this level is hardly a surprise, though. Not with their backgrounds. Both players credit their time spent with their dads at the football field has made a difference.

“It’s definitely made the process of playing college football easier,” Boyes said. “We knew what camp was going to be like and how long the days are and how much of a grind it is. We have the understanding that it is a long season and you can always be better.”

Bitka agrees.

“Growing up with dad in that environment and knowing the level of play it takes to play college ball, and being around it all the time helped with the transition to college,” Bitka said. “I saw what kind of player I had to be if I wanted to play, and that made it easier to get to the college level.”

Fitzpatrick has no doubt that the experiences of Boyes and Bitka have been difference makers.

“No moment is too big for Zac,” Fitzpatrick said. “He knows what to expect, and being the son of a coach, he’s coachable. I am able to coach him hard, and that’s important for the rest of the team to see. It sets a level of accountability for everyone else.

“Ryan is a hard-nosed player,” Fitzpatrick continued. “That probably comes down to the way his dad played. The way he was brought up. Some of our linemen don’t make great basketball players. They are too physical for that. And that is part of why Ryan is and has been a good player, and like Zac, he’s been around college ball his whole life.”

Both are following in big footsteps. Zac’s dad was a two-time All-American at Ithaca and earned a free agent tryout with the Browns. Ryan’s dad is a graduate of Cortland and was a team captain there, earning best offensive lineman honors twice while in the program.

Zac is asked if he ever gives his dad a hard time about who is the better quarterback.

“He tells me he is faster than me, but I don’t believe it,” Zac said. “He played in a triple-option style (offense), so he did run a lot. He didn’t give me any of his moves, that’s for sure, but I got him in arm strength. I think that matters more.”

Ryan is asked the same question in regards to who the better offensive lineman is.

“Every once in a while we’ll talk about it, but he’ll never say it,” Ryan said with a laugh.

What isn’t up for debate is that Boyes and Bitka are talented players. Interestingly enough, for Boyes, there was a time when he didn’t expect to play football in college. He was actually being recruited to play basketball for the Red Dragons.

“It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I decided on football in college. I had a good year of football and a decent year of basketball, and that’s when I was recruited in that sport,” Boyes said. “I brought something more playing football than basketball. I love basketball, but growing up I did want to play football. I just didn’t know if I’d be big enough or strong enough. When I got the opportunity, I pounced on it.”

Bitka always had football on his radar. He wrestled and played lacrosse in high school, too.

“For me, it was always football," Bitka said. "The other sports were just something fun to do. Something I enjoyed. They helped me be a better football player.”

They certainly found the sport that suits them best and hope to keep Cortland rolling in the right direction. The Red Dragons made it to the second round of the playoffs a year ago. This team wants more.

“We understand our potential and where we can be,” Boyes said. “We can talk about being a great program, but all that talk is smoke. We have to prove it. We have to prove each day we are who we say we are and continue to get better to be the team we want to be.”

Fitzpatrick has no doubt the team will continue to push to be at its best.

“We want to be the best version of ourselves every week," Fitzpatrick said. "If we keep working towards our potential, we’ll have no regrets no matter how the season ends.”