SCHENECTADY, NY – Freshman quarterback Dante Cioffi threw for 389 yards and a school record six touchdowns to lead the Union College football team to a 59-32 win over the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Frank Bailey Field Saturday. The Dutchmen improved to 2-7 overall and 2-5 in the Liberty League on their Senior Day while the Mariners fell to 2-7 and 0-6 in the league.

Senior wide receiver Kyle Reynolds had a career high 204 yards with four touchdowns and senior running back Darnel Thomas had 142 yards and a score on 25 carries. It was Cioffi's first 300 yard passing game in just his fourth start as he broke the school passing TD record set by Anthony Marotti  with five in 2004. Marotti later tied it and also Andrew Connolly also tied the record twice. Cioffi did not throw an interception and finished 21 for 33. Reynolds recorded his fifth career 100 yard receiving game and third this year, while Thomas rushed for 100 or more for the eighth time in his career and fifth time in the 2014 season. Cioffi's 389 yard total was the third highest in Union history and the most yards passing in a game for a Dutchman since Marotti threw for 416 vs. Ithaca in the 2006 NCAA playoffs.

The 59 point total for Union was the most since the Dutchmen defeated St. Lawrence, 59-0 at home on September 19, 1998. Union recorded a season best 606 yards in total offense. Joseph Vito (72 yards receiving) and Josh Callahan (71) each had  a touchdown reception.  Jake LaRovera of Union tied for the game high with 14 tackles and also shared a sack along with a fumble recovery and Julian Gendels had nine tackles and forced two fumbles for the Dutchmen. It was the final home game of the 2014 season and the final home game for 21 Union seniors.

Quarterback Matt McDaniels led the Mariners with 162 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground. Mario Colangelo added 61 rushing yards and a score.  The Mariners finished with 412 yards in offense and 336 on the ground.

Union had the only scoring of the first quarter. Thomas ran in from one yard out with 9:20 left in the quarter to cap a 12 play, 87 yard drive in 5:40. Reynolds scored two receiving TDs in the first four minutes of the second quarter to open it up to a 21-0 lead. He had a 53 yard reception from Cioffi after a four play, 65 yard drive took 1:36 and it was 14-0 just 10 seconds into the second quarter. At 11:16, he had a 20 yard score after a six play, 67 yard drive took 2:15.

McDaniels put the Mariners on the board with a 54 yard run up the sidelines with 6:24 left in the first half to wrap up an eight play, 81 yard drive in 4:47. But Vito got the lead back to 21 points with a 10 yard reception with 3:47 left on a nine play, 55 yard drive in 2:37. Callahan's 21 yard reception with 38 seconds left in the half finished a seven play, 74 yard drive in 1:49, and Union had a 35-7 lead into the break.

The Mariners made it 35-14 as Colangelo ran in from seven yards out 3:44 into the third quarter. That completed a seven play, 82 yard drive that took 3:39. But David Pope made a 30 yard field goal for the hosts with 6:21 left in the quarter, converting a six play, 23 yard 2:20 drive.

Running back Robert Moore threw a 61 yard touchdown pass to quarterback McDaniels with 4:53 left in the quarter on a four play, 73 yard drive that took just 1:19 and it was 38-22. But Reynolds' 26 yard TD reception with 3:20 left in the quarter finished a five play, 51 yard drive in 3:23. McDaniels ran in from one yard out as time expired in the third quarter and the six play, 72 yard drive that took 3:13 made the score 45-29 Union after three quarters.

Reynolds had yet another 26 yard TD catch from Cioffi, coming just 1:27 into the fourth quarter to put up 52-29. This converted a four play, 65 yard drive that took 1:27. Eric Swayne hit a 34 yard field goal for USMMA with 5:56 remaining in the game and Connor Kinzelmann had a 32 yard touchdown run with 4:31 left on the clock to close out a three play, 43 yard drive in 1:08.

Union closes out the 2014 season next Saturday, November 15 at RPI. It will be the 112th meeting between the rival sin New York State's oldest collegiate football rivalry.  It will be the 65th meeting since the introduction of "The Dutchman Shoes Trophy in 1950.