SCHENECTADY, NY – Sophomore quarterback Jared Gourrier (New Orleans, LA) ran for two touchdowns and threw another to lead Union College to a fourth straight win, 34-7 over Susquehanna for Homecoming at Frank Bailey Field Saturday. The Dutchmen improved to 4-0 in the Liberty League and 4-2 overall while the Crusaders fell to 0-4 in their first season in the league and 1-6 overall.
Gourrier ran for scores of two and four yards and passed for a 16 yard score as the Union offense racked up 360 yards in the triumph. Gourrier was 7 for 12 for 110 passing yards and had 44 net yards rushing. Senior tailback Zach Tillo (Lancaster, MA) ran for 67 yards and senior wide receiver Andrew Reigle (Dania, FL) had 83 yards receiving with four catches and a touchdown. Defensively, Charles Hovsepian (Hingham, MA) had six tackles, a nine yard sack and a fumble recovery, while Mike Daley (N. Bridgeton, ME) recorded seven tackles, an interception and three pass break ups. Joseph Catalano (Albany, NY) had an 85 yard interception return for a touchdown.
The Dutchmen have allowed a total of 31 points during the four game winning streak, and the Dutchmen have allowed just seven points in the fourth quarter during the streak.
Junior quarterback Derek Pope (Selinsgrove, PA) was 17 for 36 with a touchdown for the Crusaders, and sophomore running back Dave Paveletz (Warrior Run, PA) had 66 rushing yards on 18 carries. Jim Owen (Harrisburg, PA) had 56 yards on six catches. Eddie Jones (Selinsgrove, PA) had a game high 12 tackles and Dan Golias (Johnstown, PA) had 10 with a sack while Jeff Hauser (Exton, PA) also had 10 tackles with a tackle for a loss.
Gourrier opened the scoring with a two yard run to cap a 16 play, 85 yard drive that consumed 7:45 of the first quarter, and it came with 1:02 remaining. The Dutchmen made it 14-0 when Catalano intercepted a Pope pass at the Union 15, and ran it up the right sidelines for 85 yards for the touchdown with 12:31 remaining in the quarter. After a four and out for the Crusaders, Union took over on its own 35 and drove six plays in 2:20. Gourier found Reigle for a 15 yard scoring pass and a 21-0 lead.
Susquehanna's next drive was halted when Pat Sheridan (Short Hill, NJ) intercepted a pass at the Union 26 and returned it 30 yards. After a holding penalty against Union was called on the play, the Dutchmen took over on their own 26 and freshman running back John Johnson (Smithtown, NY) ran in from 10 yards for a 28-0 lead. It wrapped up a seven play, 74 yard drive in 3:17. With 3:12 left in the half, the Crusaders took over on their own 30 and drove 13 plays and 47 yards before Daley made an interception at the Union one yard line with 20 seconds remaining to stop the threat.
The Crusaders got on the board with 3:33 remaining in the third quarter, as J.J. Moran (Pottsville, PA) caught a 33 yard pass from Pope to conclude a five play, 56 yard drive in 2:18. Sheridan had a 26 yard return off the ensuing kickoff and fie plays and 50 yards later, Gourrier ran in from four yards for the 34-7 lead with 48 seconds left in the third stanza. The teams were scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Union is idle next week and returns to action October 27 at St. Lawrence. Susquehanna is also idle next week and will play at Rochester on October 27. Both games will be in Liberty League play.
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