ROCHESTER, N.Y. - With its defense posting three stops inside its own five yard line and blocking a field goal during one stop, The Catholic University of America earned a 27-14 victory over the University of Rochester at Edwin Fauver Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The critical stop came early in the fourth quarter. CUA had taken a 21-14 lead on a one-yard run by quarterback Jorge Pola and Peter Rosa's PAT with 4:23 left in the third. Rochester drove from its own 28 to the CUA 4, where the Yellowjackets faced 3rd-and-1. Ross Sanford and Patrick Vidal threw Nick Perpignan for a two-yard loss to the 6 as the period ended. On fourth down, UR QB Dan Bronson lunged around right end but was dragged down by Nick Della Jacono at the four.
After an exchange of punts, Catholic scored the clinching TD on a 13-play, 89-yard drive covering 5:27. Nick Esposito had the crucial run. On 2nd-and-7 from his own 28, he ran 33 yards to put the ball at the UR 39. Seven plays later, Pola hit Lucas Morley in the right corner of the end zone on a fade route. Rosa's kick failed, but the guests had a 27-14 lead with less than seven minutes to go.
CUA's other red zone stop came as the game ended. Rochester drove from its own 20 down to the Catholic 14. On 2nd-and-5, Bronson ran for nine yards to gain a first down, but the game ended before he could call another play.
Catholic totaled 412 yards in offense – 197 on the ground (Matt Perno rushed 17 times fo4 102 and Esposito gained 94 on 22 carries. Pola was 17 of 26 for 215 yards and two TDs. He was not intercepted, but was sacked three times – by Ricky Simcic, Justin Warner, and Devin Woodyard. Morley had eight catches for 51 yards and one TD. Seven others had at least one catch. Perno caught two goals for 99 yards. He opened the scoring by catching a short pass and weaving through the defense for a 55-yard TD on CUA's first possession.
Rochester rolled up 456 yards. Dan Bronson completed 27 of 46 passes for 325 yards and one TD. He was not intercepted, but like Pola, sacked three times. Greg Mayer had two sacks and Vidal had one. Bronson ran 21 times for a net of 77 yards, including a TD.
Bronson led Rochester on a 5-play, 47-yard drive late in the first period to tie the score. With the Yellowjackets facing 1st-and-20 at the CUA 45 after a holding penalty, he found Max Berger on a slant route that Berger turned into a 39-yard gain down to the six. Bronson carried twice, finally getting in from seven yards out. Paul Tricarico's PAT was good.
Early in the second quarter, Woodyard sacked Pola who fumbled at his own 32 and Joe Cappotelli recovered for Rochester. UR moved down to the 10 where Shane Saucier ran eight yards for 2nd-and-goal at the 2. Bronson gained one yard, then threw incomplete in the end zone. On fourth down, Vidal blocked Tricarico's 18-yard field goal attempt.
The Yellowjackets put together a late drive in the second quarter to carry a 14-7 lead into the locker room. Bronson completed five passes and Perpignan ran for an 18-yard gain. On 1st-and-10 from the 15, Bronson rolled out and threw a 15-yard TD to Kyle Allegrini in the left side of the end zone.
Pola was 2-2 on passes and rushed for three yards on the opening third quarter drive. That helped move the ball to the Rochester one where Brayden Massie rushed one yard for the score and Rosa made the PAT. It evened the score at 14-14. Catholic scored on its next possession (21-14) and the Yellowjackets weren't able to get even.
Ross Sanford led CUA with nine tackles. Jake Marcellino had seven. Eigght players had at least five tackles. The Cardinals had eight tackles for loss (Vidal had 2.5, Sanford and Mayer two each). Rochester's tackle leader was Ricky Simcic with 13 stops. Ricky Sparks had 10, Cappotelli nine, and Kevin LeBlanc had eight.
Scoring Summary:
Catholic 7 0 14 6 - 27
Rochester 7 7 0 0 - 14
CUA – Matt Perno, 55, pass from Jorge Pola (Peter Rosa kick)
UR – Dan Bronson, 7, run (Paul Tricarico kick)
UR – Kyle Allegrini, 15, pass from Bronson (Tricarico kick)
CUA – Brayden Massie, 1, run (Rosa kick)
CUA – Pola, 1, run (Rosa kick)
CUA – Lucas Morley, 11, pass from Pola (kick failed)
A – 1,000