PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The College at Brockport football team let a first half lead slip away Friday night, giving up two touchdowns in the final two minutes of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Presidents Bowl against Washington & Jefferson College, and suffering a 38-31 loss.
The Golden Eagles finish their 2016 campaign with an overall record of 7-4, and 6-2 in Empire 8 play. The President's of Washington and Jefferson boasted an overall record of 9-2 and 6-2 in the President's Athletic Conference.
Rochester native Dan Andrews capped off his Brockport career with 5,001-yards rushing and 434 total points scored. He is the first Golden Eagle to reach the milestone of 5,000 career yards and 400 total points scored.
Washington and Jefferson started the game with the ball, but on the fifth play of the game, Rashad Baker picked off a pass to give Brockport the ball at the W&J 33-yard line. After a penalty pushed back the Golden Eagles, Joe Germinerio connected with Ian Gilhousen for a 35-yard gain. Brett Renzi drilled a 29-yard field goal to give Brockport a quick 3-0 lead.
The Presidents drove down the field for a quick nine play, 71-yard touchdown drive to take a 7-3 lead at 8:36.
During Brockport's ensuing drive, Germinerio found Kory Wyatt downfield for a 48-yard gain. Four plays later, Dan Andrews caught a pass from Germinerio and took it 11-yards to the end zone. Renzi converted the extra point, putting Brockport ahead 10-7 at 6:57 of the opening quarter.
Brockport's defense stood tall on the Presidents' next drive. W&J attempted a field goal from 38-yards out, but it was wide left, maintaining Brockport's lead at three.
Less than one minute later, Andrews found a hole in the Presidents defense, and broke out for a 47-yard touchdown, his second of the game. The extra point by Renzi was good, extending Brockport's lead to 17-7 at the end of the first frame.
The Presidents opened the second quarter with a score of their own, cutting the Golden Eagles lead to 17-13.
Brockport executed an unusual play on its ensuing drive. Germinerio pitched the ball to Andrews, who threw the ball downfield to Gilhousen who broke free from defenders, for a 47-yard touchdown. Renzi's extra point was good, giving Brockport a 24-13 lead at 11:46 of the second quarter, their first two-possession lead of the game.
The two teams would trade two drives to close out the second half. The Golden Eagles took a 24-13 lead to halftime.
During Brockport's opening drive of the second half, Jake O'Connell intercepted his team-leading sixth pass of the season. The sophomore returned it 34-yards to the house for his second pick-six of the season. Brockport jumped out to a 31-13 lead, its largest of the game.
The Presidents responded with a 34-yard field goal, and a tight third quarter kept the score at 31-16 entering the final frame.
Washington & Jefferson chipped away at the Golden Eagle lead in the fourth quarter, scoring a touchdown at the 11:10 mark to make it 31-23. The Presidents shut down the Brockport offense, forcing two three and outs. Holding onto an eight-point lead, Brockport gave up a touchdown with 3:41 remaining, and a two-point play tied the game at 31, the first tie of the game. W&J intercepted a pass at midfield, and a 35-yard touchdown pass with 13 seconds left would hand Brockport the 38-31.
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