MORRISVILLE, N.Y. –
Visiting SUNY Brockport used three scores in the final quarter to top host Morrisville State College 43-33 in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) action Saturday afternoon in Morrisville.
The Mustangs complete the season with a 3-7 overall record, going 2-5 in NJAC action, while Brockport wraps up their final season in the conference with a 7-3 overall record (6-1 NJAC), sharing the conference title with Rowan University.
Freshman quarterback Tony Deese (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led the Morrisville State efforts, connecting on 9-of-22 passes for 188 yards and a score, while adding 114 rushing yards to his tallies on the day. Deese found Anthony Gray (Smallwood, N.Y.) six times for 109 yards receiving on the day, his second 100+yard receiving game of his career.
Cristina Pena (Ridgewood, N.Y.) led the Mustang charge on the ground, compiling 156 yards and two scores as Morrisville State racked up 285 yards rushing offense.
Defensively, Morrisville State had huge games from linebackers Wally Stephens (Kingston, N.Y.) and Travis French (Newark Valley, N.Y.) who posted 17 and 11 tackles, respectively, but also from lineman David Williams (Central Islip, N.Y.) who saved his last game to post a collegiate high 12 tackles.
Brockport posted 535 total yards offense on the day, behind a potent rushing attack, 244 alone from running back Dan Andrews. Wayne Bosnell started the game for the Golden Eagles went 2-for-3 for 22 yards before being replaced by Chase Venuto who went 9-for-14 for 156 yards and two scores. Four completions were to Eric Malave for 61 yards and a score, and three were to Andrew Mrozek for 79 yards and a score.
Anthony Bianchi posted 17 tackles for Brockport to lead the defensive unit, as teammate Cortland Haines added 11, including two sacks for a loss of five yards.
Morrisville State opened the contest with a score on their first drive, taking advantage of Pena who was able to find three significant holes up center for mark able gains. Johnson capped off the 75 yard opening drive with a two yard scoring pass to Josh Powell (Yonkers, N.Y.), and Juan Rios (Grahamsville, N.Y.) completed the point after for the early 7-0 lead.
On the ensuing Brockport drive, Andrews broke a tackle at the line and raced out to a 51 yard gain, only to be chased down by defensive back Ray Woolford (Staten Island, N.Y.) who prevented the touchdown. Not gaining much ground thereafter, Morrisville State's Delroy Young (Binghamton, N.Y.) and Maurice Russell (Syracuse, N.Y.) made a huge stop for the unit on fourth down, forcing Brockport to turnover the ball on downs on the Mustangs own three yard line.
Brockport forced a three and out series for the Mustangs on the drive and forced them to punt out of their own endzone, gaining field position on Morrisville's 36 yard line to start their drive. The Golden Eagles used an option play to Jake Spalik to move the ball down sideline to the Mustang one, before Shireem Cobb went up and over the line for the equalizing score with 6:12 to go in the opening stanza.
Morrisville State had the chance to go ahead quickly, but a pass from Johnson to Gray who had the secondary beat, sailed just beyond reach in the endzone, forcing the Mustangs to punt the ball away.
In the second, Brockport put together an 88-yard drive by were met head one by the Mustang defensive line and linebackers unit as four attempts in the red zone turned into goal like stands, the final on fourth down and one by Williams and senior Jeremy Stewart (Moravia, N.Y.).
Brockport forced a three and out series on the following Mustang drive, and punting from their own endzone, Tyler Dunworth (Poestenkill, N.Y.) collected the low snap and sent it sailing for a career high 78 yard kick into Golden Eagle territory.
Positioned at their own 31 yard line, Brockport attempted to put together a scoring drive, but a diving Caleb Wright (Cortland, N.Y.) came up with the interception in the middle of the field, leading to the go ahead score by the Mustangs with just under four minutes to go in the quarter. Deese capped off the eight play, 58-yard drive with a 12-yard pass to Pena, who walked into the endzone for the 14-7 lead.
The lead was short lived, however, as Brockport marched down field on the following drive, with Andrews leading the way with a 50-yard run after breaking two tackles and getting three blocks. Spalik collected the reverse pitch and raced to the left corner for the score.
On the following drive, Deese hit Pena on another scoring pass play, but a holding penalty waived off the touchdown score, and another penalty forced the Mustangs back. Deese scrambled for an 17 yard gain to put Morrisville State back within field goal range with two ticks remaining on the clock before the half. Rios sent the 29 yard field goal through the uprights as time expired, giving Morrisville State the 17-14 lead at the break.
In the third, Morrisville State put together a 45-yard drive into Brockport territory before Rios again stepped on the field to attempt his second field goal of the day, this time from 43 yards out. The ball ricocheted off the upright, off the cross bar, and upright again, finally going end over end through the posts, giving Rios a new collegiate high field goal for the senior on senior day, and 20-14 Mustang lead.
Brockport took their first lead of the day midway through as Andrews went around the right corner and dove for the pylon for the 21-20 Golden Eagle lead with 5:24 to go in the quarter.
Morrisville State responded on the ensuing drive, as Pena capped off the nine play, 73-yard drive with three straight carries, the final a 10 yard scoring run, regaining the lead for the Mustangs heading into the final stanza. The two-point conversion attempt was no good as the pass from Deese went over the head of a wide open Dunworth in the endzone.
In the fourth, Brockport regained the lead early with a 14-yard pass play from Venuto to Malave, and extended the lead to 10 following an interception by Brickler who stepped in front of the pass by Deese, with a 21-yard strike from Venuto to Mrozek.
Morrisville State climbed to within three with nine minutes to go on a four yard scoring run to the left by Pena, but the momentum quickly shifted to the Golden Eagles, who behind a 44-yard scoring run by Andrews, claimed the 43-33 win.
Prior to the contest the Mustangs honored the graduating Class of 2014, that included seniors French, Williams, Stewart, Rios, but also wide receiver Sanley Pierre-Louis (Gaithersburg, Md.), defensive back Ousmane Diallo (Bronx, N.Y.), offensive lineman Nate Ryan (Staten Island, N.Y.), tight end Alec Strong (Yonkers, N.Y.), defensive back Kaylin Johnson (Queens, N.Y.) and John Kiskiel (Remsen, N.Y.).
Morrisville State College sets the world in motion for students. Curriculums are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology. Lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs, the college was named to the 2012 President's Higher Community Service Honor Roll. Visit www.morrisville.edu to experience, Morrisville in motion.
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