Box Score
SENIOR DAY PHOTO GALLERY
SCHENECTADY, NY – Rich Palazzi passed for three touchdowns to lead Susquehanna University to a 28-17 win at Union College Saturday at Frank Bailey Field. With the victory, the Crusaders (8-2, 6-1 in the Liberty League) clinched the league's automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs. Union, which honored 21 seniors after the game on Senior Day, fell to 7-3 overall and 6-1 in the league.
Palazzi tossed a 24 yard pass to Greg Tellish with 7:22 left in the fourth quarter to give the Crusaders a 21-17 lead. Dave Paveletz added insurance with a 25 yard touchdown run with 3:30 left, and broke the single season rushing yards record in the process. He ended the game with 116 yards with the touchdown.
J.J. Moran had 82 yards on six catches and Mike Ritter had 68 yards on two catches and a touchdown for Susquehanna. Palazzi was 11 for 22 for 179 yards.
Union running back Chris Coney posted his sixth 100 yard rushing game of the season. He had a season high 160 yards and two touchdowns. Coney now has 13 100 yard rushing games in his career. Andrew Connolly was 17 for 32 for 182 yards. Justin Gallo had 67 yards on six catches and Jared Gourrier had 61 yards on five catches.
Erich Majors had 14 tackles, including seven solos, and Trevor Terpening had nine tackles, including two for losses. Marc McDonough had 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.
John Peters led Union with a game high 15 tackles, and 12 assisted hits. Steve Modliszewski made 13 tackles and forced a fumble for the Dutchmen.
Union had 372 yards while Susquehanna had just four yards less, (368).
The Crusaders took the lead with 2:45 remaining in the first quarter. Palazzi hit Moran for 17 yards on a 3rd and 12 to cap an eight play, 54 yard drive in 3:56.
Union took the ensuing kickoff and marched 60 yards in nine plays in a drive that ended 35 seconds into the second quarter. Coney rushed for two yards out and it was 7-7.
The Dutchmen took the lead with 2:43 remaining in the half. Zach Epley hit a 29 yard field goal to complete an impressive 15 play, 87 yard drive that consumed 6:04. It remained 10-7 Union entering the half.
In the third quarter, the Crusaders took a 14-10 lead with 6:25 left in the period. Palazzi found Ritter for a 31 yard touchdown. Paveletz rushed for 22 yards on the seven play, 68 yard drive that took 2:41.
Union regained the lead at 17-14 with 4:44 gone in the fourth quarter. Coney rushed from one yard out to wrap up a nine play, 64 yard drive. But after the kickoff, on the sixth play of the drive, Palazzi had a 24 yard touchdown pass to Greg Tellish and the kick made it 21-17. Paveletz' 25 yard scoring run with 3:30 left wrapped up the scoring.
The NCAA playoff field will be announced Sunday at 3 p.m. on ESPNews. The ECAC playoff teams will be announced later in the day on Monday.
