SCHENECTADY, NY – Despite putting up 440 yards of offense, the Union College football team came up short in the first inaugural New York Bowl, losing to SUNY Cortland, 35-28, at Frank Bailey Field on Saturday afternoon.
 
Union ends the 2017 season with a 7-4 overall record, as second-year head coach Jeff Behrman more than doubled the wins from last year. Cortland also ends the year with a 7-4 overall record after the win.
 
The Dutchmen came out looking to make a statement and did so, driving down the field on the game's first possession to take an early 7-0 lead, capped off by a 21-yard TD run by Connor Kinzelmann.
 
However, Cortland proved to be just as efficient on offense, as the Red Dragons scored four-straight touchdowns in the first half to take a commanding 28-7 lead.
 
Cortland's first two touchdowns came as the result of long drives down the field; the first going 69 yards in seven plays, and the second for 70 yards in 10 plays. The second pair of TDs for the Red Dragons were scored off Union turnovers, one after a failed fourth-down conversion and another on an interception.
 
Union started the second half strongly, forcing the Red Dragons to punt after a three-and-out on their first possession of the half. The Dutchmen then drove down the field and cut their deficit to 28-14 after Griffin Beal hauled in a 20-yard pass from Nick Cascione.
                                                                                                                                                        
In the fourth quarter, Union kept the Red Dragons a field goal attempt after throwing an interception in home territory. The Dutchmen ended up blocking the kick attempt, but after being unable to secure the ball, Cortland picked it up and turned the would-be field goal into a touchdown and seven points.
 
Facing a 35-14 deficit with less than 11 minutes remaining, the Dutchmen didn't falter and started to put together a late rally.
 
Union's defense forced a fumble and recovered the ball deep in Cortland territory to set up a four-yard TD pass to Alex Kaplanovich to make the score 35-21. Union then forced another fumble on the ensuing Cortland possession, this time setting up a four-yard run by Cascione to bring the Dutchmen within a single score.
 
Unfortunately, the Dutchmen couldn't find the end zone before the game clock ran out on the final possession, giving Cortland the 35-28 victory.
 
Noteworthy: Cortland quarterback Steven Ferreira threw for 232 yards while also leading his team in rushing with 70 yards. Cascione threw for a total of 333 yards. Union wide receiver Griffin Beal made 13 catches for a game-high 201 yards. Kinzelman also broke 100 yards on the day, rushing for 101 yards. Cortland's Dan Appley led his defense with 11 total tackles, three sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss. Jake Lombardo led the Union defense with 10 tackles, one for a loss and had one fumble recovery.