CORTLAND, NY – Junior defensive lineman and game MVP Ben Nagle (Rochester, NY) forced three fumbles, had four sacks and 5.5 tackles for losses to lead SUNY Cortland to a 23-7 victory over Union College in the 2007 ECAC Division III Northeast Bowl Saturday afternoon. Senior kicker Matthew Mintz (Lawrence, NY) kicked three field goals for the Red Dragons.
The Red Dragons finish the season with an 8-3 mark, while Union wraps up the 2007 campaign with a 5-5 record. Union has not had a losing season in Head Coach John Audino's 16 years. It was the Dutchmen's first loss in five ECAC playoff games.
The two defenses combined to force nine fumbles and four interceptions on the day. The Union seniors finished their careers with a 29-12 overall record, including three playoff appearances (two NCAA and one ECAC) and two Liberty League championships. These Dutchmen were 24-4 in Liberty League games.
Junior running back Andrew Giluiano (Thornwood, NJ) led the Red Dragons with 138 yards rushing along with a touchdown, while junior quarterback Ray Miles (Port Byron, NY) was 15 for 32 with a touchdown and 172 yards. Junior linebacker Jim Smith (Nanuet, NY) and freshman linebacker Brian Haas (East Aurora, NY) each posted 13 tackles for Cortland, and Haas had a sack and forced two fumbles. Junior tight end Michael Zielinski (Corning, NY) had a game high 50 yards receiving on two catches for the Red Dragons.
LB
Vito Pellerito (Pompano Beach, FL), with 11 tackles, finished his career with 254 tackles, placing him fifth all-time at Union. He is only the fifth player in school history to post 250 or more career tackles.
LB Joseph Catalano (Albany, NY) had a career and game high 17 tackles for the Dutchmen. He ended the year with 97 tackles, just missing out on becoming the eighth Dutchman to record 100 tackles in a season. Union quarterback
Jared Gourrier (New Orleans, LA) had 41 yards passing and 50 yards rushing, and was 7 for 16 with a touchdown.
Andrew Cattelier (Voorheesville, NY) was 6 for 15 with 68 yards for the Dutchmen.
Mintz opened the scoring for the Red Dragons with a 35 yard field goal with 5:18 left in the first quarter. It capped an eight play, 59 yard drive in 2:39 that featured a 18 rushing yards by Giuliano. With 3:17 left in the quarter, Cortland's Brian Bert (Massapequa Park, NY) blocked a Union punt and the Red Dragons took over on the Union 26. But two plays later,
Mike Daley (N. Bridgeton, ME) intercepted a pass at the Union 8 to stop the threat with 2:55 left in the quarter.
The Dutchmen took their only lead of the day when Gourrier found
Josh McKelligan (Canton, MA) for a four yard touchdown with 8:39 left in the second quarter. The drive took eight plays and 35 yards in 4:16 for a 7-3 lead. But Cortland pulled to within one at 7-6 on a 26 yard field goal by Mintz with 4:11 left in the second stanza. It was a 10 play, 59 yard drive in 4:20.
On the second play after the kickoff, Cortland's Kyle Pierce (Cortlandt Manor, NY) recovered a Union fumble at the visitor's 29. Seven plays and 2:29 later the Red Dragons took the lead for good when Giuliano rushed in from two yards out and it was 13-7 Cortland with 1:29 left in the half.
Nagle forced a Union fumble at the Union 20 with 11:51 left in the third stanza, but four plays later, a 36 yard field goal attempt by Mintz was wide right. The Dutchmen then drove to the Cortland 33 in eight plays but Nagle's forced fumble was recovered by Richard Rolo (Yonkers, NY) at the 38 to stop the drive.
Mintz made it 16-7 with 8:58 left in the fourth quarter. He converted a 27 yard field goal attempt to cap a six play, 21 yard drive in 2:40. Cortland scored the final points with 4:00 left in the fourth. Zacc Guaragno (Lansing, NY) caught a 13 yard touchdown pass from Miles for the 23-7 Cortland lead with 4:00 left in the fourth. The drive took five plays with 48 yards in 1:57.
Cortland finished with 324 yards in total offense while Union had 244 yards in offense for the game.
