Cortland Scores Early and Often in 59-21 Win vs. Buffalo State

More news about: Cortland
CORTLAND, N.Y. – Cortland scored on seven of its first eight drives and the Red Dragons sailed past visiting Buffalo State, 59-21, in a non-league contest.
 
Brett Segala (Webster/Webster Schroeder) completed 21-of-30 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns, Zach Tripodi (New Fairfield, CT) rushed 15 times for 131 yards and two scores, and Jason Carlock (Babylon) caught six passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns to lead Cortland, which improved to 3-0 with the victory. The Red Dragons outgained the Bengals in total offense, 580-280, with a balanced attack that featured 291 passing yards and 289 yards on the ground.
 
In addition to Carlock's six catches, Angelo Foster (Newburgh/Newburgh Free Academy) had six receptions for 72 yards. Foster also returned the game's opening kickoff 62 yards to set up a short touchdown drive. Tyrell Plaza (Richmond Hill/Bayside) carried eight times for 66 yards and a score, Tai-sean Dodd (Riviera Beach, FL/Roy C. Ketcham (NY)) ran for two touchdowns, and backup quarterback Tommy Heuer (Oceanside) had a 10-yard TD rush and completed both of his pass attempts.
 
Paul Imperiale (East Meadow) and John Listwan (Putnam Valley) led Cortland with seven tackles each. Stone Murray (Latham/Shaker) intercepted a pass and added five solo tackles. Patrick Luby (Glen Rock, NJ/Ridgewood), seeing his first placekicking action of the season, made all eight of his PAT kicks as well as a 33-yard field goal on his only attempt. Luby also averaged 62.4 yards per kickoff with three touchbacks.
 
Buffalo State (0-4) was led offensively by Jordan Evert, who caught nine passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. Martin Bailey rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries and Myles McKinney added 54 yards on eight rushes. Zak Ciezki completed 18-of-29 passes for 131 yards and a score. Gino Bonagura made a game-high 20 tackles, including nine solo stops, and returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter.
 
The teams traded touchdowns on their opening drives, with Plaza scoring on a 3-yard run and Bailey answering with a 3-yard scoring rush of his own. Tripodi's 1-yard TD run on Cortland's next possession capped a 77-yard scoring drive, and Dodd pushed in from one yard out early in the second quarter to give the Red Dragons a 21-7 lead.
 
Carlock's 22-yard TD catch from Segala extended the lead to 28-7 a few minutes later. Bonagura's pick-six cut the Cortland lead to 28-14 with 3:11 left in the half, but Cortland scored twice in the final 1:13 of the period to take a 38-14 halftime lead. Luby scored the first of those points with his 33-yard field goal, and Carlock hauled in a 28-yard TD pass from Segala with less than six seconds remaining.
 
The teams each scored once in the third. Tripodi ran in from 14 yards out on Cortland's first possession of the period, and Evert caught a 9-yard slant pass with 7:03 remaining. Cortland closed the scoring in the fourth on a Dodd 4-yard run and Heuer's 10-yard QB draw.
 
Cortland begins Empire 8 play next Saturday, Oct. 5, when it hosts Utica College at 1 p.m.