Box Score
CORTLAND, NY – The defense forced five turnovers to lead SUNY Cortland to a 17-6 victory over Rowan University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Saturday.
With the win, Cortland improves to 7-2 overall and 6-1 in the conference. Rowan has a 4-5 overall record and a 2-4 NJAC mark. Leading the way for the defense were linebackers Brian Haas (fr. East Aurora, NY/St. Francis) and Jim Smith (jr. Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) with 12 tackles apiece. Linebacker Adam McPartland (jr. Beacon, NY/Beacon) followed with 10 stops. Defensive back Colan Shue (fr. Theresa, NY/Indian River) collected eight tackles, one fumble recovery and one interception. Linebacker Kyle Pierce (sr. Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas) and defensive backs Jeff Beck (sr. Middlehope, NY/Marlboro) and Greg Steward (sr. Elmont, NY/Sewanhaka) each had one interception. Steward returned his pick 26 yards for a touchdown.
Quarterback Miles (jr. Port Byron, NY/Port Byron) completed 16 of 33 passes for 221 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver Eric Hajnos (jr. Grand Island, NY/Grand Island) had six receptions for 107 yards. Wideout Keith Greene (sr. Brentwood, NY/Brentwood) added four catches for 73 yards and one touchdown. Fullback Mike Sveda (sr. Smithtown, NY/Smithtown) rushed for 32 yards and tailback Cory Russell (fr. LaFayette, NY/LaFayette) had 31.
For Rowan, quarterback Joe Rankin (sr. Toms River, NJ/Toms River N.) threw for 139 yards, completing 16 of 29 passes. Superback John Impagliazzo (jr. Somers Point, NJ/Mainland Reg.) totaled 53 yards on nine carries. Wide receiver Billy Magill (fr. Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) made six grabs for 29 yards.
Linebacker Andrew Yezzi (so. Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Reg.) had a team-high 11 tackles and one fumble recovery. Safety Kelvin Bellamy (sr. Trenton, NJ/Nottingham) posted nine stops and two sacks (-10 yards). Safety Eric Bailey (sr. Pittsgrove, NJ/Schalick), nose tackle Frank Giannetti (sr. Lake Hiawatha, NJ/Parsippany), cornerback Ahmad Stokes (fr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Mem.) and linebacker Matthew Bailey (so. Pittsgrove, NJ/Schalick) each recovered a fumble. Stokes also recorded his fifth interception of the year.
Cortland took a 3-0 lead at 7:23 in the first quarter following a 21 yard field by kicker Matthew Mintz (sr. Lawrence, NY/Lawrence). The Red Dragons started on the Profs’ 45 yard line and Miles completed three passes for 36 yards to set up the kick. With 32 seconds remaining in the first, Greene caught a 48 yard touchdown pass from Miles to put Cortland up 10-0 at halftime.
In the third period, Rowan cut the deficit to four points (10-6) with field goals of 23 (10:07) and 40 yards (5:53) by kicker Dan Roberts (sr. Eastampton, NJ/Hamilton West). A 32 yard run by superback Ben Boursiquot (fr. West Orange, NJ/West Orange) made way for the first field goal. Defensive end Justin Hinds (jr. Port Reading, NJ/Woodbridge) forced Miles to fumble the ball and Giannetti recovered it on the Red Dragons’ 29 yard line prior to the second kick. Steward’s 26 yard interception return for a touchdown at 4:39 in the fourth quarter sealed the victory for Cortland.
Rowan travels to William Paterson University for its season finale on Saturday, November 10 at 1 p.m.
