SCHENECTADY, NY – Senior running back
Tom Arcidiacono (Castleton, NY/Columbia) rushed for 172 yards and a career-high five touchdowns and junior linebacker
Vito Pellerito (Pompano Beach, FL/St. Thomas) had 11 tackles as Union College downed St. Lawrence University, 42-7, in Liberty League football action Saturday at Frank Bailey Field.
The Dutchmen, who won their 17th regular season game in the last 18 regular season contests, improved to 6-1 and 4-0 in the Liberty League. The Saints fell to 3-4 and 1-3 in the league.
Arcidiacono, who entered the game ranked second in NCAA Division III in scoring and rushing, is now averaging 16.3 points per game and 159.3 rushing yards per game this season. His career rushing total is now 4,677 yards, which moved him up to 19th in NCAA Division III career rushing yards. He now has 18 rushing touchdowns this season.
Senior quarterback
Anthony Marotti (River Edge, NJ/River Dell) was 11 for 24 for 155 yards for the Dutchmen, while senior wide receiver
Ryan Twitchell (Fayetteville, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) had five catches for 87 yards. Senior quarterback Matt Bezio (Morrisonville, NY/Peru) was 10 for 18 with one interception for 130 yards for the Saints. Sophomore free safety Mike Bruno (Westport, CT/Staples) made eight solo tackles for St. Lawrence.
Union had 26 first downs and posted 570 total yards in offense, while holding the Saints to 237 yards including 61 on the ground.
The Dutchmen made it 14-0 with 7:10 left as Arcidiacono scored from five yards out. It was a three-play, 34 yard drive that consumed 1:46. On their next drive, the Dutchmen made it 14-0 with another five-yard scoring run by Arcidiacono. He capped an eight play, 57 yard drive that took 2:42, and had 40 all purpose yards on the drive. On their first drive in the second quarter, the Dutchmen took over on their own 28 with 11:47 left. Eight plays and 3:24 later, Arcidiacono had his third straight scoring run, an 11 yard rush to make it 21-0 for the only scoring on the quarter.
On Union's second possession of the third quarter, the Dutchmen took over on the Saints 47, and on the first play, Arcidiacono was stacked up on the left, but cut right and broke free for a 47 yard scoring run with 9:52 left in the stanza. Union started another drive with 7:31 left in the third, and 17 plays and 93 yards later, Arcidiacono had his final score of the day, a one yard run with 13:28 remaining in the fourth quarter, for a 35-0 Saints lead.
The Saints scored their lone touchdown of the day with 6:57 remaining. Reserve quarterback Brad Heil (Fayetteville, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) completed a 16 yard pass to wide receiver Troy Lassial (Ogdensburg, NY/Ogdensburg) to cap a 52 yard, five play drive in 1:00. Union provided the 42-7 final as freshman running back
John Johnson (Smithtown, NY/St. John Baptist) scored his first career touchdown on a 24-yard run. It was a two play, 64 yard drive that included a 45 yard run by reserve freshman quarterback
Jared Gourier (New Orleans, LA/Northfield Mt. Hermon).
Kevin Flike (Stillwater, NY/LaSalle) and
Mike Wess (Allendale, NJ/N. Highlands) had seven tackles each for the Dutchmen, while Joe DeLaura (Tuckahoe, NY/Eastchester) made seven tackles for the Saints.
Union will play at Hobart next Saturday, November 4 at 1 p.m., and the Dutchmen will clinch the Liberty League Championship and an automatic NCAA playoff bid with the victory. St. Lawrence hosts league rival U.S. Merchant Marine Academy November 4 at 1 p.m.
