This Weekend
The Union College Dutchmen welcome the Cortland Red Dragons to Frank Bailey Field for the inaugural New York Bowl on Saturday, Nov. 18. Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m. (ET).
Media Coverage
The game against Cortland will be streamed live through UnionAthletics.tv and an audio feed can be accessed for free through TeamLine.cc. Live stats will also be provided through UnionAthletics.com.
The Series vs Cortland
Union and Cortland have only played each other twice, and the all-times series is tied at 1-1. The Dutchmen last defeated Cortland on Nov. 18, 1989 at Frank Bailey Field.Â
Last Week vs Rensselaer
A handful of turnovers and a lack of a running game were the downfall of the Union College football team, as RPI claimed a 20-14 victory in the final Liberty League conference game of the season on Saturday afternoon at Frank Bailey field. Rensselaer had 386 yards in offense compared to Union's 245, but detrimental changes in possession were the reason RPI came out with the victory in the game. The Dutchmen had four turnovers in the form of a fumble and three interceptions. Additionally, Union's offense was stifled without their usual dominant performance on the ground. The Dutchmen ran 27 times, averaging slightly over one yard per carry for a game total of 28.
Cascione Named Performer of the Week
Throwing a season-high 272 yards in a 28-23 win over Hobart on October 21st, quarterback
Nick Cascione was named the Liberty League's Offensive Performer of the Week. Against the Statesmen, the junior from New Canaan, CT, threw three touchdown passes. He completed 14-24 passes in the game without any interceptions, and had a game-high 64-yard pass to
Chris Nicholas for a touchdown that put Union up 21-3 in the third quarter. Currently, Cascione is completing over 64 percent of his passes, has thrown for over 1,700 yards, and has completed 15 touchdown passes.Â
Cascione's achievement makes him the sixth Performer of the Week honor for the Dutchmen this season. Previous winners include
Tucker Newman (Defensive Performer) for Oct. 14
Vincent DiCaterino (Defensive Performer) for Sept. 30,
Evan Gilland (Defensive Performer) and
Nick Cascione (Honor Roll) for Sept. 26,
Tyler Barnes (Special Teams Performer),
Jason Nelson and Cascione (Honor Roll) on Sept. 19, and
Connor Kinzelmann and DiCaterino (Honor Roll) Sept. 11. DiCaterino also earned D3Football.com National Team of the Week honors on Sept. 12.
When Was The Last Time?
Union finished third in the Liberty League standings with a 7-3 overall record and a 3-2 record within league play. The last time the Dutchmen had at least seven victories in a season was 2009. Union had an overall record of 8-3 that year and a Liberty League record of 6-1.
Union's Oct. 14 win against Rochester was the first time Union had a shutout win since Oct. 22, 2005. Union defeated Coast Guard 7-0 in front of a homecoming crowd on Frank Bailey Field in 2005. The victory was the Dutchmen's seventh consecutive win of that season, which would become a 10-1 season. The only loss of the 2005 season was in the second round of Division III NCAA playoffs.
All-Liberty League Honors
A total of 14 student-athletes from Union College's football team earned All-Liberty League honors for the performances on the field during the 2017 season.
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The group was highlighted by the trio of
Brendan McGuire (Offensive Line),
Jack Reilly (Line Backer), and
Griffin Beal (Return Specialist), who were named All-Liberty League First Team members.
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Union had nine student-athletes make the All-Liberty Second Team, three on offense, five on defense and one specialist:
Alex Kaplanovich (Wide Receiver);
Connor Kinzelmann (Running Back);
Ryan Ehrets (Offensive Live);
Vincent DiCaterino (Defensive Line);
Bobby Law (Defensive Line);
Jake Lombardo (Linebacker);
Jason Nelson (Defensive Back);
Tucker Newman (Defensive Back); and
Tyler Barnes (Punter).
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The Dutchmen then had two earn All-Liberty League Honorable Mention accolades in Evan Gillard (Linebacker) and
Jonathan Schaible (Place Kicker).
Kinz Folk
Connor Kinzelmann has five career 100-yard rushing games. He led Union last year with 950 rushing yards and nine TDs with an average of 95.0 yards per game while splitting time with senior running back Jermaine Carn, who in fact lead the Dutchmen in carries last season. This season, Kinzelmann averages 55 yards per game and 40% of the team's carries. Against Ithaca, Kinzelmann totaled 98 yards on 24 carries. Kinzelmann accounted for over 50-percent of Union's 188 offensive yards.
Pick Six Times Three
Jack Reilly could have the nickname "Pick Six" Reilly. In each of his three years, he has had a pick six. Reilly had a 27 yard int. for a TD on Sept. 2 vs. Coast Guard. In 2016, he had a 41 yard int. for a score against Western Conneccticut on Sept. 10. And in 2015, Reilly intercepted a pass and scored on a 73 yarder Oct. 10 vs. WPI. In his career he has four total interceptions.
Beal Shines Again
Against RPI, Union was led by receiver
Griffin Beal who had a career-high 118 yards receiving on six catches. Beal's day also included a 63-yard touchdown catch, a career long. Beal now leads all Union receivers in touchdowns with five.Â
Earlier this season, Beal had a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown at Morrisville State. It was the longest in the Liberty League in 2017 and is tied for the 8th longest in NCAA Div. III this season. It was the longest in the league since WPI's Alex Domond had a 99 yarder vs. Rochester on Nov. 17, 2015. Beal is one of only 65 players in all-four NCAA divisions (FBC, FCS, II, III) to have a kickoff return of 95 or more yards this season. He is one of 21 players in NCAA Div. III to return a kickoff for a touchdown this year.
Against Hobart on Oct 21st, the former quarterback made a spectacular diving one-handed catch that brought about visions of Odell Beckham Jr. on his way to a three catch, 59 yard performance that included a touchdown as well. After making the transition from quarterback to receiver earlier this season, Beal has used his exceptional speed and athleticism to emerge as a valuable compliment to captain and senior receiver
Alex Kaplanovich. Known simply as "Kap" to much of the team, Kaplanovich is a skilled route runner who leads Union in receptions (37), receiving yards (491), and is second to only Beal in receiving touchdowns with three.
DiCaterino Keeps Racking Up The Sacks
Against RPI,
Vincent DiCaterino added a sack to his total which now stands at 11, a statistical category he leads the Liberty League in. In the home opener vs. Coast Guard, DiCaterino had a season high three sacks for losses of 32 yards. For the season, he has 14.5 tackles for losses of 103 yards, and 11 sacks for 87 yards.
NCAA Stat Check
Thus far into the season, turnovers created by the Union defense have been a significant factor. In NCAA Div. III stats, Union ranks 8th in fumbles recovered (13), and ranks 42nd in turnover margin (+0.80). Union ranks 23rd in average kickoff-return yardage (23.26), 41st in completion percentage (.628), 56th in sacks allowed (1.40 per game), 87th in passing efficiency (137.61), 18th in turnovers gained (26), 38th in scoring defense (16.4) and 24th in net punting (35.98).
Nick Cascione is 33rd in completion percentage (.638),
Vincent DiCaterino is 15th in sacks (11) and
Tyler Barnes is 53rd in punting (38.4).
Liberty League Stat Check
In this week's Liberty League statistics, Union leads the league in kickoff return average (23.3), and sacks (25). The Dutchmen are also second in scoring defense (16.4). Union is third in offensive efficiency (137.4) as well as second in fourth-down conversions (50.0%) and punting (36.7).
Vincent DiCaterino leads the league in sacks (1.10/gm.) and sack yards (87).
Jack Reilly is third in tackles for losses (1.45/gm.).
Tyler Barnes' average of 38.4 yards per punt leads the Liberty League.
Nick Cascione is second in pass efficiency (139.4).
Jake Lombardo is second in tackles (10.4/gm).
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