PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – The University of Rochester football team ran into a stout defense from SUNY Brockport on Saturday afternoon, falling 23-3 at Edwin Fauver Stadium.
The Yellowjackets (1-2) entered third in the Division III with over 370 rushing yards per game, while Brockport (2-1) had the nation's 24th ranked defense, surrendering just 217 yards per contest. In the contest, Rochester ended with just 113 yards on the ground and 244 overall.
Brockport's offense only generated 285 total yards against UR, but was able to capitalize with touchdowns on a pair of long scoring drives in the first half. The Golden Eagles finished off the scoring following an interception midway through the third quarter.
For the day, junior Daniel Papantonis led the UR offense with 64 yards rushing on 19 attempts. Will Varney added 31 rushing yards and quarterback Ryan Rose added 18. Rose also passed 14-for-29 for 131 yards and one interception. Trey Johnson was the leading receiver with 62 yards, corralling seven receptions.
Simon Weeren led the UR defense with 12 tackles, six solo, including one tackle for loss. Caden Cole had 10 stops and one tackle for loss. Defensive back Jordy Tawa finished with seven tackles and two pass break-ups.
The Golden Eagles rushing attack was led by Rashad Law who had 109 yards on 21 attempts, adding a touchdown. Quarterback Todd Simonds threw for 108 yards and one touchdown while also rushing for an additional 32 yards and a score. Jared Maurino hauled in four passes for just 17 yards, but one was a big touchdown late in the first half.
Ben Robinson was Brockport's leading tackler with eight on the day, while Raylens Boutin finished with five tackles and an interception. Aidan Thomas had the lone sack of the day, forcing a fumble for the Golden Eagles.
Brockport opened the scoring with a 25-yard field goal from Noah Panepinto with five minutes left in the first quarter.
Rochester stalled out after three plays on the next drive, but a big 57-yard punt from Alex Wing downed Brockport back at its 20-yard line to start.
The Golden Eagles went 80 yards in nine plays, spanning the end of the first and start of the second quarter to make the score 9-0. Timonds scampered in from seven yards for the touchdown, while Panepinto missed the PAT.
On the next drive, Rochester chewed up over seven minutes in 14 plays, reaching the Brockport 4-yard line before settling for a Jordan Laudani 21-yard field goal. On the drive, Rose competed a big third down conversion to tight end Jackson Kane, gaining 15 yards to get inside the Brockport 5-yard line.
Brockport return the favor on the next drive, eating up the remaining 6:06 of the first half over 12 plays and 74 yards. The Golden Eagles scored on the final play of the half, a 1-yard out route to Maurino as the clock hit 0:00.
At the break, the Golden Eagles led 16-3.
To start the second half, Brockport got the ball looking to extend its lead, but the Yellowjacket defense held the Golden Eagles to negative two yards and a punt after just three plays.
UR gained possession back, but stalled out after 20 yards and was forced to punt.
After another Brockport punt, Rochester's Rose was intercepted by Boutin on a third down play at the UR 37-yard line. The ball, intended for Ryan Van Diver, popped up in the air and Boutin made a nice play twisting his body to make the pick.
Brockport capitalized on the short field, scoring four plays later on a Law 2-yard run into the endzone, moving the score to 23-3.
The Yellowjackets next drive was another long one, totaling nearly ten minutes, but ended on a failed fourth down conversion just outside the Brockport red zone.
After a Brockport punt, UR got the ball back with 9:47 left in the game, but on the second play of the drive, Rose was sacked by Thomas and fumbled, with Andre Marianetti falling on it for the Golden Eagles.
Rochester's defense stood tall with their backs against the wall, forcing a missed field goal from Brockport, but offense was unable to get anything going over its final two drives.
UR heads on a bye week next weekend, and will return to action on October 1st for a 1 pm kickoff at home against RPI.