Cortland Gridiron Report- Regular Season Finale

After a tough loss in the “Cortaca Jug,” Coach MacNeill believes Red Dragons can end season on a high note with an ECAC Northwest Bowl matchup looming against St.John Fisher

(Photo's courtesy of Dan Padavona/Myself)

The Cortland Red Dragons were defeated by the Ithaca Bombers in the 51^st contest of the

“Cortaca Jug” in front of a crowd of 9,700 fans at Butterfield Stadium on Saturday, 23-20. Dan Ruggiero rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns. Andrew Rogowski made all three of his field goals for the Bombers. Graduate student Alex Smith threw for 208 yards and three touchdowns. Senior wide-out Wayne Wheeler had two touchdown catches. Senior wide-out Eric Hajnos finished with seven catches for 86 yards and a touchdown. The Bombers have now retained the “Cortaca Jug” three years in a row. With the loss, Cortland drops to 7-3 overall for the season as the Red Dragons close out their season on the road this Saturday with an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Northwest Bowl game against St.John Fisher. Head coach Dan MacNeill expressed his thoughts and opinions on last week’s loss over Ithaca in his weekly interview on “Into the Fire” on WSUC 90.5 FM.

Q: What were you emotions after the loss to the Bombers as well as your postgame speech to the Red Dragons?

A: The game overall was obviously a huge disappointment to lose such a big rivalry game. Everyone in our program looks forward to the match up against the Bombers and we want to win the game every year. I also had to remember with my emotions swirling from such a tough loss that I did not want to say anything under duress that I would regret later. I thought our football team played their hearts out; we just simply did not come out on top in this game. I told our team after the game to look at who we are as a team and realizes we have a lot of heart. Our football team looks forward to one more game next week at St.John Fisher.

Q: Cortland out-gained Ithaca in total offensive yard with 308-268. Ithaca forced four turnovers as well as outgaining Cortland on punt returns 77 to 2. Do you believe the essential reason for last week’s loss was the play of the special teams combined with turnovers that seemed to be too hard to overcome?

A: There is no question that turnovers and special teams play essentially cost our football team this game. The game of football is all about field position. We just gave up to much field position in this contest. We had one turnover in the first quarter that killed a drive with a bad interception. Our punt return team had a muffed punt that our defense did indeed end up overcoming, but that was play was huge in the sense of field position. The turnovers from interceptions and the muffed punt put points up on the board that really put our team in a tough position to win. At the end of the day it is very difficult to overcome mistakes like these and our team was not able to do it.

Q: The Cortland defense held Ithaca to 14 first downs and 268 yards of total offense. The Red Dragons defense fought throughout the whole game to hold the Bombers from breaking the game open in the second and third quarter with three fields goal from Andrew Rogowski. Cortland closed the Ithaca lead to 16-12 with 6:37 remaining. The Bombers answered with 7-play 67-yard touchdown drive that put the Red Dragons down eleven. From a defensive standpoint what went wrong on that drive that saw the Red Dragons give up their first touchdown drive since the first possession of the game?

A: On the touchdown drive that you spoke of that made the score 23-12, we had two missed tackles on a critical third down reception that opened up the drive. The Bombers ran a bootleg on that third down and our defense missed two tackles after the reception. The bootleg was a huge play in the drive that put our defense in a tough position. We have enjoyed success on stopping opposing offenses on third downs in the 4^th quarter, but we did not get enough pressure on that particular play. We just simply did not execute defensively. Our defense fought all game to keep our team alive in this game and we were proud of that. Andrew Rogowski of the Bombers brought his top performance in this game. He did not miss a kick. Our defense hoped to force Rogowski to beat us with his leg. Early in the fourth we elected to go for two points after a touchdown to eliminate the possibility of letting Rogowski have another opportunity at making a big kick. We felt as a coaching staff that the defense had done a great job, but obviously the players are frustrated that they could not hold the Bombers to a field goal or less on the touchdown drive late in the 4^th quarter.

Q: Late in the 4^th quarter the Red Dragons were down eleven points and rallied to close the Bombers lead to 23-20. Alex Smith connected with Eric Hajnos for 36-yard pass play to the Ithaca 4-yard line. A 2-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Hajnos, and a two-point conversion pass play to Hajnos, brought Cortland to within 23-20 with 2:18 to play. Can you explain what finally got the Red Dragons offense going in the late in fourth quarter after the offense struggled to put a touchdown after three quarters?

A: Our kids were finishing plays in the 4^th quarter. It was just simply a lack of execution offensively in the first half. We had five critical drops, which would have enabled drives to continue. Every offense had playmakers that need to make plays. Every non-catch and turnover changes the complication of the game. We just did not simply make play offensively until the 4^th quarter.

Q: The Red Dragons got the ball back trailing by three at their own 6-yard line with 1:09 left to play. After an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that moved the Red Dragons up fifteen yards, Ithaca’s Kevin Cline intercepted Alex Smith near midfield to seal the Bombers victory. Can you explain what went wrong on that play as well what Alex Smith saw from the Bombers defense that caused the interception that seemed to be in double coverage?

A: On the last offensive play of the game of the game for our team the receiver that Alex was looking at was open. Alex just simply overthrew him. The pass was a little high. At the point of the game our offense is backed up looking to find any way to make a play and there were a lot of “bullets” flying everywhere. Our offense knew there was a sense of urgency and we just came up short.

Q: The Red Dragons seemed to be a 4^th quarter team all season long. Cortland put together to scoring drives late in the game to close the Bombers lead within three. Can you explain the heart of this football team from leaders like quarterback Alex Smith to the wide receiving core of Eric Hajnos and Wayne Wheeler?

A: Without a doubt in my mind our football team had a ton of heart this season. Character is all about creditability. We had to overcome adversity this season more than once. There is a true understanding of what our coaching staff had to go through to find the right guy to step up after players went down with injuries. Our leaders as mentioned Alex Smith, Eric Hajnos, and Wayne Wheeler to just name a few played a big role on our team. There are many other leaders and unsung heroes to mention. Our football team was a pleasure to be around this season. It is a disappointment overall when you look at the season because our goal is to win every game. There is no such thing as an ugly win and a pretty lose in the game of football. We wish things could of went a different way in some games, but the past is done and over with. Our team looks to take advantage in the opportunity of playing one more game this Saturday at St.John Fisher.

Q: The loss to the Bombers dropped the Red Dragons to 7-3 overall for the season. The Red Dragons will take on St.John Fisher on Saturday in an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Northwest Bowl. What are your thoughts on the upcoming opponent as well as playing in one last game for the season?

A: The ECAC Northwest Bowl game at St.John Fisher is going to be a great contest. St.John Fisher lost to the #1 ranked team of Division III in Mount Union. St.John Fisher also lost to Alfred who won the Empire 8 conference over them in the head-to-head tiebreaker. Fisher beat Ithaca, 40-17. We would love the opportunity to play Ithaca again after last week, but we get the next best opportunity in playing a team that beat the Bombers this season. Our football team gets one more opportunity to put the football down this season and we look to end the season on a high note.

The Cortland Gridiron Report can be heard in its’ entirety every Monday from 6-8 p.m. on "Into the Fire" on WSUC 90.5 FM and also seen at Cortlandfootball.com.

Cortaca Jug Press Conference Notes

My co-pilot Mike Millstein and I just made it over to Ithaca College on time this morning to take part in the Cortaca Jug Press Conference. The Cortaca Jug Press Conference Conference lineup featured:

(Photo's courtesy of Ithaca Athletics, Dan Padavona and Mike Millstein)

Brian McAree, Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Life- Ithaca College
 Greg Sharer, Vice President for Student Affairs- SUNY Cortland
Terri Stewart, Director of Public Safety- Ithaca College
Mike Welch, Head Football Coach- Ithaca College
Dan MacNeill, Head Football Coach - SUNY Cortland
Adam Drescher, Defensive End/Captain- Ithaca Bombers
Bryan Wiley, Defensive End/Captain- Cortland Red Dragons

Here are some quotes from Mike Welch when he was at the podium:

"I would like to congratulate Coach MacNeill on the season the Red Dragons have had in a very tough NJAC.  Our football team is looking forward to another great game this year. We have had an up-and-down season. It is amazing to think that this game comes up early in media discussion every season from day one of training camp. The discussion of the Cortaca Jug is something we try to put aside until this week. This a very exciting game for our football team to take part in. Our players have always been outstanding during this rivalry and the sportsmanship is top notch. We hope the great sportsmanship can extend off the field as well. Our student-athletes love the atmosphere that the fans bring. I would hope the fans keep this game a clean and safe environment."

Some quotes from Dan MacNeill when he was at the podium:

"We want to congratulate Ithaca College on a long tradition of winning seasons in their program. I always look forward to hearing Mike Welch's history of Cortaca speech because I believe he was part of the first kickoff in this rivalry. (That got the crowd going) It has been quite a different year for our football team. We have lost four quarterbacks as well as had a freshmen quarterback finish a game. I was not sure if I just wanted our quarterback to solely hand off the ball because we did not want to see another injury at the position. We had faced a bit of adversity this season because of injury. There are tremendous stories for our team coming into this game as we continue to find new ways to win. Every year both programs come in with a winning culture. We have found a prescription and I know our opponent has done the same. I have enjoyed coaching our players this season because our guys aspire to win as well as talk about it. Our team is excited about this game. I hope everyone can enjoy and honor the contest."

Adam Drescher was very short and brief at the podium:

"We want to congratulate Cortland on a successful season. We remind the fans to be safe as well as have fun on Saturday. (Drescher noted he was sticking to his index cards in keeping things brief)

Bryan Wiley had some other thoughts:

"We would also like to congratulate Ithaca on another successful season. The first thing on everyone's mind on campus is the Cortland-Ithaca game. We are now finally here again. This game is why student-athletes come to both schools. There is quite a bit of history and tradition in this rivalry. I believe every student-athletes come to both schools to become a part of history. For the Seniors of our team this game brings a little extra sentiment because it is our last chance to grab hold of the jugs one more time. We feel confident in our chances to take back the Cortaca Jug on Saturday."

I had a chance to catch up with a few players after the press conference which included Red Dragons LG Chris Van De Weert (Captain), Bombers QB Brian Grastorf (Captain), and a follow up with Bombers head coach Mike Welch.

Red Dragons senior left guard, Chris Van De Weert: 


At the start of the season the Cortland offensive line looked to be a big concern. How have you made this young inexperienced offensive line so effective this season?

"We knew coming into this off-season that we were coming in with five new guys. In this off-season we took pride in working harder than other unit because we knew we had too. At the start of the season it was very tough in the beginning, we went through quite a bit of growing pains. Each week we continue to grow as a unit and we find what works best for us. We have found all season long that we were able to protect the quarterback very well. It took our unit a little bit of time to develop a running game, but we have come together to make it work."

On what the Cortaca Jug game means in his last season:

"This game means everything to all of our seniors including myself. This is an opportunity to take part in a great rivalry on the big stage. This will be my last opportunity to put on the jersey in the regular season if we get an opportunity at a bowl game next week."

On the difficulty of the constant shuffling of quarterback due to injuries this season:

"It does not effective our unit as much as you would think. It does not matter who is under center for our team. We know we have a job to do each and every game regardless of who is taking the snaps. The injuries to the quarterback position are unfortunate, but they are part of the game. The injuries that we have sustained this season have said a lot about who we are as a football team because we have found a way to come together.


Bombers senior quarterback, Brian Grastorf:

What is the confidence of this Ithaca team coming into this game this year as oppose to last year when you faced an undefeated Red Dragons team looking for their first perfect regular season since 1988? Do you feel that this years Cortaca Jug game is different because both teams have an outside shot of making the playoffs?

"The confidence of our football team is just the same as it was last year. The records coming into this game do not matter regardless of this year or last year. We try to remain just as confident of a football team each and every week. The victory we had over top seeded Alfred in our conference helps us feel better going into this game as well. "

Ithaca Bombers Head Coach, Mike Welch:

The Bombers have beaten the Red Dragons in the last two Cortaca Jug games. How difficult is it to keep the pace each season and continue to throw new looks at your opponent in such a hyped game?

"The past outcomes real do not play a factor in our game plan or coaching strategies. Every year is a new year with a different approach. I do not feel it is more difficult to devise a gamelan based on past outcomes. It seems like the playoffs are a long shot for both teams. We need to just concentrate and prepare for this game and not look at the past or future."

On how he evaluates the Red Dragons record this season based on conference:

"We do not take our opponent lightly in any way. The Red Dragons play in a very talented New Jersey Athletic Conference. We do not factor conference and competition when we looked at how much more talented our opponent is compared to ours."

On what he believes are the keys to stopping the Red Dragons:

Cortland has a very strong running game that has now become a big part of their running game. Dom Sair is great running back who is a north-to-south runner. We need to stop the run game. The Cortland defense is very talented unit from top-to-bottom. We believe the defensive line tandem of Bryan Wily and Evan Wyler are a big cause of concern. 

On his thoughts on Alex Smith being the Red Dragons starter and how to prepare against a former foe:

Alex Smith is fortunate to have another opportunity to partake in this rivalry. It is very ironic to see Alex back under center after he had become a coach. We know how talented Alex Smith is and we are very aware of how successful he has been against our football team. We have looked at old tape on Alex from the past, but we have tried to focus on his performance from the last few weeks overall. We believe that we should have a good handle on Alex based on seeing him frequently over the years.

The 51st Cortaca Jug game should be quite different than it was last season. Both teams come in with respectable records, but a very slim shot at getting bids to the DIII playoffs. The Bombers are coming off a huge victory at home over first place Alfred last week while the Red Dragons have won four in a row. The Red Dragons have faced quite a bit of adversity due to injuries at the quarterback position. I was at last year's press conference and it seemed that the Red Dragons were trying to say all the right things coming into the game undefeated. The Bombers deserve a ton of credit for beating the Red Dragons in last year's 50th anniversary Cortaca Jug game. The Bombers seemed to make the Red Dragons offense become conservative until the game fell out of reach.

This season the Red Dragons seem to have the mentality that they have nothing to lose going into this game. Coach MacNeill seemed very confident once again at the podium, but the players seem to have revenge on their mind from last season. The Bombers coaching staff and players seemed very passive in the press conference, although the Bombers have always seemed to be a quiet bunch since I've seen them talk with the media over the years. I would like to think this year's contest will be decided in the late in 4th quarter.

Cortland Gridiron Report- Cortaca Jug Edition

Coach MacNeill believes the Red Dragons are a fun football team to be around as Cortland looks to “cement” regular season off in the Cortaca Jug game

The Cortland Red Dragons defeated the Brockport Golden Eagles on the road in their final regular season game of New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Saturday, 56-42. The combined 98 points scored by the Red Dragons and Golden Eagles set a new school record that surpassed the previous mark of 96 points scored set during a 62-34 loss at Springfield in 1998. Alex Smith completed 22-of-33 passes for 324 yards and four touchdowns. Eric Hajnos caught 12 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Dom Sair rushed for 155 yards and four touchdowns. Cortland completed its NJAC schedule with a record of 7-2 in the league and overall. Brockport fell to 3-6 overall and 2-6 in league play. Cortland finishes the regular season up with a non-league Cortaca Jug game at Ithaca this Saturday, November 14th at noon. Head coach Dan MacNeill expressed his thoughts and opinions on last week’s victory over SUNY Brockport in his weekly interview on “Into the Fire” on WSUC 90.5 FM. (Photo's courtesy of Dan Padavona)

Q:The Red Dragons offense came into Saturday’s game at Brockport averaging 26.8 points per game. The Red Dragons exploded for 522 yards of total offense with an aerial attack that amounted for 324 yards passing. The ground game headed by Dom Sair’s 155 yards rushing and four touchdowns amounted for 198 yards. The Cortland offensive line did not allow a sack. Do you attribute the struggles of the Golden Eagles defense going into the game as the reason for the offensives coming out party or do you feel that the Red Dragons have finally hit their stride offensively?

A: I really can only speak on the behalf of our players. I believe no matter who we play each week that it is extremely difficult to score 56 points. I really have to tip my hat to our offensive line that opened up holes for a running game that helped making our passing game very efficient. Our offensive line did not allow a sack as you had mentioned and they have really come together as a unit. The offensive line has become now become very seasoned and really proven that they could step up in a big spot. We had terrific performance offensively and our football team continues to find a way to win under adversity. Some of that adversity has been due to injury. This week much of our team’s adversity came from that fact that our football team kept fighting despite struggling to stop the Brockport offense while being at a hostile environment on the road. Our offense took advantages of weaknesses that were presented. This is a fun football team to be around because our players expect to win as well as not losing their composure under any circumstance that is presented.

Q:Last week we spoke about the Cortland defense dictating the pace of this football team. The Red Dragons defense had allowed 19 points or under in seven of eight games going into last Saturday’s game at Brockport. The Cortland defense struggled massively against the Golden Eagles yielding 492 yards of total offense to Brockport. The Red Dragons defense gave up a lead of 21-7, after the first quarter and trailed at halftime, 35-28. What do you pinpoint as the essential reason for the uncharacteristic performance of the Red Dragons defense? Would you say the Golden Eagles offense which was averaging 35.1 points per game going into last Saturday was also one of the most talented offenses that you have seen this year?

A: There is no question that Brockport is the most talented offense that we have seen this season. Brockport has amounted for the most points and yardage in the NJAC. Jake Graci is the best quarterback that we have seen this season. Our defense had Graci bottled up on some plays, yet he still found ways to make plays. I found Graci to be what I like to call “A play making fool.” Our defense struggled to stop Brockport just like any other defense that has played them in the NJAC. Brockport is a very hard offense to stop; I think that attributed to a lot of our troubles defensively. I’m proud to say our defense only relinquished one score allowed to the Brockport offense in the second half. Our team continues to win new ways to win here at Cortland every week. Our punter Kyle Peterson might have been one of the most important players in this game for our defense throughout this game because his punting game helped pin the Golden Eagles back into their own second half. Kyle Peterson’s punting game has really helped our defense to take advantage of the bad field position that our opponents are presented with.

Q:The combined efforts of Alex Smith, Dom Sair, and Eric Hajnos helped propel the Red Dragons offense to score a season high 56 points. Alex Smith threw for 324 yards and four touchdowns last week against Brockport. Do you feel that Smith is finally in mid-season form and fully adjusted to the Red Dragons offense?

A: Alex Smith was a tremendous general on Saturday. As good as Jake Graci was for Brockport I believe that Alex Smith was the better quarterback on Saturday. At the end of the day for both teams it really only matters who comes out with the victory and Alex was able to do that for our football team. The performance of Alex Smith was of the best in his career here at Cortland. I would like to think that Alex now is finally settled into our offense after arriving here later in the season to help our football team.

Q:This week the Cortland Red Dragons take on the Ithaca Bombers to close out the regular season. The Bombers are coming of a 31-10, upset victory over previously undefeated Alfred, who was first place in Empire 8 play. The Red Dragons have a four game winning streak of their own coming into this game sitting at third place in the NJAC with a record of 7-2 while the Bombers are tied for second place in the Empire 8 conference at 3-2. What are your feelings on where the Red Dragons sit in the D3 playoff race as they prepare for the biggest game of the season against a Bombers team that is playing for a playoff birth? Do the Red Dragons have revenge on their mind after losing to the Bombers last year at home, 35-13 to lose their bid for their first unbeaten regular season since 1988?

A: I think both teams are sitting here in an unlikely position. In our case Rowan was defeated by Montclair State a few weeks ago. This week Kean University and Montclair State will battle for an automatic bid to the NCAA III playoffs by virtue of who wins the NJAC. From our standpoint the best we can do is finish behind these two teams in third play in the NJAC. Ithaca College has experienced three losses to St.John Fisher, Union, and Springfield. Ithaca College is also sitting at position where their team is on the outside looking in. Both teams understand the circumstances coming into this game that records do not mean as much. Records can be thrown away at this point because both teams look like they won’t make the DIII playoffs. Both teams have had a successful season. It just comes down to who will make the plays this week to win this game. We are looking to cement our regular season with a big victory this week as well as possibly having the opportunity to be playing in an ECAC game next week.

Q:The Cortland-Ithaca rivalry dates back to 1930. The Cortaca Jug portion specifically began in 1959, where the Bombers dominated the Red Dragons, winning 23 times between 1960-90. As a player for the Red Dragons in the late 1970’s you had never won a Cortaca Jug game. The tide of the rivalry began to change when you arrived at Cortland in 1997. In your first year on the sidelines the Red Dragons defeated the Bombers at Butterfield Stadium snapping Ithaca’s 30-game home winning streak in the process. How do you handle the pressure from the media in preparing your football team in playing in a game that has been tabbed “The Biggest Little Game in the Nation?”

A: I believe it has always been fun to prepare the Red Dragons for a game of this magnitude. I would like to think that many players for both squads come to these two schools for the chance to partake in this rivalry. I know from our football team’s standpoint this is marquee event that we enjoy to play in. The Cortland-Ithaca matchup is a big rivalry although this game is just the same as any other. The field measures the same as it does over in Ithaca as it does here. In our order to win this football game we have to be fundamentally sound. Our football teams need to tackle, block and play smarter than our opponent. I think our football program find this game to be a privilege to be in because it only comes around once a year.

Q:The Ithaca Bombers lead the overall series against Cortland with a record of 38-26-3(including 33-17 since the purchase of the Jug), nine of the last 12 games have been decided in the final two minutes, two in overtime. Ithaca has won the Jug for the last two seasons. Last season the Red Dragons lost their undefeated record in the 50^th anniversary of the two teams before winning two playoffs game in the DIII playoffs before falling to Mount Union in the quarterfinals. Ithaca lost to Curry College in the first round of the DIII playoffs last season after beating the Red Dragons in the season finale. Do you feel that Cortaca Jug game can make or break a season because last year the Red Dragons ended up going farther than the Bombers in the DIII playoffs? Do you feel that this game is a little overhyped because at the end of the day it is a non-league game that can sometimes not even factor in a team making the DIII playoffs because conference play is more important?

A: The Cortland-Ithaca rivalry better known as the “Cortaca Jug” game is what it is. The hype of this football game is just part of the experience of taking part in this event regardless of being a player or fan. I think it is great that these two communities can come together as well as be involved in a game like this. There is certainly a very different flavor and aura in this game. We enjoy the culture that is part of this game. I believe that the hype of this matchup can only be a good thing for our football team because it challenges every player to step up their game. I know our football team really looks forward for the opportunity to further this history of this great rivalry.

The Cortland Gridiron Report can be heard in its’ entirety every Monday from 6-8 p.m. on “Into the Fire” on WSUC 90.5 FM and also seen at Cortlandfootball.com.

Cortland Gridiron Report- Week 9

Coach MacNeill believes Red Dragons defense is the best unit he has ever seen in his coaching career

(Photo's courtesy of Dan Padavona)

The Cortland Red Dragons defeated The College of New Jersey in their final regular season home game of the regular season on Saturday, 30-7. The Red Dragons defense set the tone once again in this game holding the opposition to 190 yards of total offense. In seven of eight games this season the Cortland defense has held opponents to under 20 points or less. The Red Dragons also rushed for 207 yards compared to 76 for the Lions. Justin Autera had 98 yards rushing on four punt returns as well as 67 yards on 5 carries in the backfield. Alex Smith had two touchdowns passes. Anthony Guiliano threw a touchdown pass to Bill Smith on shovel throw out of the “Wildcat” formation. Marc Corrado made a season high 40-yard field goal. Cortland improved their record to 6-2 overall in the NJAC while The College of New Jersey fell to 3-4. Cortland will take on the Brockport on the road this Saturday at 1 p.m. in their final NJAC game of the regular season. Head coach Dan MacNeill expressed his thoughts and opinions on last week’s victory over William Paterson in his weekly interview on “Into the Fire” on WSUC 90.5 FM.

Q: The Red Dragons defense once again dominated the opposition this game holding the Lions to 190 yards of total offense. The Lions came into Saturday averaging 38.3 points per game. In your opinion what has been the key ingredient in the success of this defense that has now held opponents to under 20 points or less in seven of eight games?

A: Our defensive statistics are even better than they seem when you factor in points given up on special teams. The defense has actually given up under 19 points or less in seven of eight games this season. We have done a great job defensively living up to the goal that we set at the beginning of each season. Our defense is holding opposing offenses down with great execution as a collective unit. We have a super bunch of young men playing on our defense this season. I’ve been coaching here now for thirteen season. This defense may be in my opinion the best defense I have ever coached here and I’ve coached some talented defenses during my time here.

Q: The Cortland offense has seen quite a few changes at the skill positions from the start of the season. Dom Sair has moved over from full back to the tail back position. Sair rushed for 86 yards last week with 502 yards on the season in 8 games played. Justin Autera has now emerged on the scene as this change of pace kind of running back. Autera rushed for 67 yards on 5 carries as well as returned 4 punts for 98 yards. Do you feel that offense has now added another dimension as well as gotten deeper from the start of the season with the sudden emergence of Justin Autera?

A: Justin is a big playmaker for our team and he has stepped forward to emerge as one of the most dynamic players on our offense. He has a brilliant future with this team. Justin has this natural knack of knowing where he is on the field to allow his blockers to set up holes for him to run through. Justin has definitely added another dimension to our offense that is tough to stop. I don’t think anyone outside of this program will understand all the adversity we faced to change our offense after all the injuries in order to win football games. I mean last week we lost our starting tight end (Eddie Spillett) before the game in warm-ups. I have never seen that before in all my time spent coaching this team. We have faced quite a few challenges this season offensively this season due to injuries. We have been fortunate enough to have some warriors on our team step up to the fill the voids on offense as we look to become stronger as the season progresses.

Q: Marc Corrado made field goals from twenty-two and thirty-five yards out against the William Paterson Pioneers in week seven. Corrado made a 40-yard field goal, his longest on the season last week against the Lions. In the beginning of the season you had discussed your concerns in the Red Dragons kicking game. What has Marc Corrado improved on as the season has progressed that has gained your trust in utilizing his kicking game?

A: As the rest of the team has grown from the start of the season, so has Marc Corrado. We regret as a coaching staff in not utilizing Marc kicking game against William Paterson in week seven. In the second half of the game verses William Paterson we had failed on quite a few fourth down attempts. We now realize we probably should have had Marc come in to try attempts field goals with the recent confidence he has had kicking the ball. As a coaching staff we have to utilize Marc’s kicking ability as the season progresses to add another vital weapon to our offense.

Q: Anthony Guiliano threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to Eric Hajnos out of the “Wildcat” formation in week seven against the William Paterson Pioneers. On Saturday, Guiliano threw a 4-yard touchdown pass out of the “Wildcat” to Bill Smith. The “Wildcat” has become a new hybrid formation that has gotten extremely popular at the Division I level as well as the NFL. Has the “Wildcat” now become an instrumental part of the Red Dragons offense?

A: I would definitely say that this new formation we have been using over the past few weeks has become a vital part of our offense. Under our circumstances we don’t exactly call this formation the “Wildcat.” In our situation this new formation brings our offense the opportunity to add another great skill position to the field of play. The opposing defenses now have to prepare for another running back that has the ability to throw the ball as well as the run the ball at any given time. This formation is very tough to defend, but is also very limited at times. Even though we have lost some talented skill players on the offensive side of the ball our schemes seem very difficult for opposing teams to defend.

Q: Alex Smith was granted one final season of eligibility a little over a month ago to help the Red Dragons at the quarterback position after the loss of Dan Pitcher. Hudson Woodward went down week five against Montclair State with a severely separated shoulder. Smith has now played in four games as well as start in three of them. On Saturday Smith threw for 86 yards and 2 touchdowns. He has thrown for 311 yards and 3 touchdowns. How do you evaluate Smith’s progression so far?

A: With every snap under center that Alex takes he seems to be getting back to the old form that we know. The coaching staff is very happy with the development of Alex since he has returned. Our offense continues to grow as Alex progresses, now with that being said we are very cautious with him. We are cautious with Alex due to the fact that he is the last “seasoned” quarterback we have on the roster. As a coaching staff we try to be careful in using what I would say as “less risky” plays in order to keep Alex out of harm’s way.

Q: Cortland defeated Brockport, 42-30 at home last season in week nine to finish NJAC play undefeated. This season the Red Dragons sit in third place in the NJAC with a 6-2 record while the Golden Eagles lie in 7^th place with a 2-5 record. The Golden Eagles have struggled defensively all season giving up 38.6 per game as well as averaging 35.1 points scored per game. Do you feel that this game will be good opportunity for the Red Dragons offense to break out with struggles of the Golden Eagles defense?

A: I would definitely agree that our offense has the opportunity to break out this week. When you take a look statistically at Brockport they are at the top on offensive and at the bottom on defense if all the games that they’ve played this season are comparable. Statistics tell a story, but when two teams matchup it can be a totally different story. Brockport has always played us very tough over the past few years. Brockport’s defense has struggled and we need to harp on that. I also like our special teams to play a big factor this week as they always do. We are hoping to have history repeat itself like last season as we move look to build more momentum for the final game regular season of the year.

The Cortland Gridiron Report can be heard in its’ entirety every Monday from 6-8 p.m. on “Into the Fire” on WSUC 90.5 FM (Cortland.edu/wsuc) and also seen at Cortlandfootball.com.

Cortland Gridiron Report- Week 8

Red Dragons season hangs in balance with three must win games looming ahead against rivals TCNJ, Brockport and Ithaca. (Photo's Courtesy of Dan Padavona)

The Cortland Red Dragons defeated the William Paterson Pioneers on the road last Saturday, 12-10. Anthony Giuliano’s 54-yard touchdown pass to Eric Hajnos with 3:17 left in the first half proved to be the game-winning score as the Red Dragons defense held the Pioneers offense scoreless in the second half. The touchdown pass thrown by Anthony Giuliano was his first ever collegiate pass attempt.

The Red Dragons defense once again proved to be the difference maker in this game not allowing the Pioneers into Red Dragons territory the entire second half. The Red Dragons defense also held starting tailback Marcus McKinney to 38 yards on 20 rushes after he rushed for 224 yards in a win over The College of New Jersey. The Red Dragons defense has held opposing offenses to fewer than twenty points or lower in six out of seven games this year.

The Red Dragons improved their record to 5-2 overall in the NJAC while William Paterson fell to 2-4. Cortland will take on the College of New Jersey this Saturday at 1 p.m. for a Halloween matchup on C-Club Hall of Fame Weekend. This matchup will be the final regular-season home game of the year for the Red Dragons.

Cortland defeated The College of New Jersey, 24-18 on the road last season in week eight to clinch an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III tournament and at least a share of the New Jersey Athletic Conference title. This season has been a totally different story for Cortland. The Red Dragons sit at fourth place in the NJAC with a record of 5-2 while the Lions sit in fifth place at 3-3.

The College of New Jersey has become a big rival for Cortland over the past few years. In the 2007 season the Lions won a share of the New Jersey Athletic Conference title along with the Red Dragons with a record of 6-1. The Lions beat the Red Dragons, 30-0, in the head-to-head matchup in 2007. That victory gave TCNJ an automatic NCAA III playoff berth with an overall record of 9-3. Cortland was left out of the NCAA III playoffs. The College of New Jersey has scored over forty-seven points or more in four of seven games this season. The Lions’ defense has given up over twenty-eight points in six of seven games this season.It will be imperative for the Red Dragons offense to get on the scoreboard early in this contest. The Lions have a high powered offense along with a very susceptible defense. The Red Dragons offense has struggled to consistently score points all season due to injuries at the quarterback position.

In last week’s contest again William Paterson, Cortland mounted a 14-play, 65-yard drive in the second quarter that resulted in a 22-yard field goal with 5:18 left in the first half to cut the William Paterson lead to 10-6. The Red Dragons drove into Pioneer territory on every one of its drives in the second half, but couldn’t come up with any points. Three of the drives ended on downs inside the Pioneers’ 30-yard line. It seemed as though the Red Dragons dominated the Pioneers throughout the game, but couldn’t come up with the points to show for it.

The Red Dragons have lost former starting quarterback Dan Pitcher and backup Hudson Woodward for the season. Graduate student Alex Smith threw for 174 yards last week. Smith has only thrown for 225 yards and one touchdown in three games this season. Dom Sair rushed for 104 yards on 21 carries last week. Cortland will need to get Dom Sair going early in this week’s game. The Pioneers found out that when the Red Dragons establish an effective running game it opens up other options for the Cortland offense . The Red Dragons sprinkled in their own version of “Wildcat” formation by having Anthony Guiliano take a direct snap and throw a long touchdown pass to Eric Hajnos. Coach MacNeill may be making the “Red Dragon” formation an instrumental part of the offense for the rest of the season.

After the Halloween matchup against The College of New Jersey, Cortland has two roads games remaining to finish the season. The Red Dragons will travel to Brockport next weekend to take on the Golden Eagles. Brockport is currently 1-5 in the NJAC this season. The Golden Eagles have struggled this season, but this game will not be an easy contest for the Red Dragons. In the 2007 season Cortland traveled to Brockport for homecoming weekend in week two and were defeated 28-14. In the 2008 season the Red Dragons defeated the Golden Eagles at home in week nine, 42-30. The game was an offense shootout with both teams combining for 1,053 yards of total offense.

In the season finale Cortland will take on neighboring rival Ithaca in the famous “Cortaca” matchup. Last season the two teams played in the 50^th anniversary of the rivalries history. The Bombers came up with a 35-13 upset victory over the Red Dragons at the Cortland Stadium Complex. The loss ended Cortland’s hope for an undefeated season. In a twisty of irony the last time Cortland beat Ithaca in the “Cortaca” game was when Alex Smith was the starting quarterback in 2006. Senior backup quarterback Brian Shea came in to lead the Red Dragons to victory after Alex Smith and Ray Miles suffered injuries in the contest. Alex Smith will try to rekindle some past “Cortaca” magic to try to earn the Red Dragons their first victory over the Bombers in over two years.

These final three games will tell us a lot about this Cortland football team. It has been an uphill battle for this club all season long with the injuries sustained on offense. The Red Dragons may sit at 4^th place in the NJAC conference, but there still is a lot to play for here at the end.

The Cortland Gridiron Report can be heard in its entirety every Monday from 6-8 on “Into the Fire” on WSUC 90.5 FM (Cortland.edu/wsuc) and also seen at www.cortlandfootball.com

Cortland Gridiron Report- Week 7

The Cortland Red Dragons defeated the Western Connecticut Colonials last Saturday at home, 35-6. Cortland was propelled by the efforts of junior tailback Dom Sair, who rushed for a career high 163 yards and two touchdowns. The Red Dragons improved their record to 4-2 overall in the NJAC while Western Connecticut fell to 0-5. Cortland will travel on the road to Wayne, New Jersey this Saturday at 1 p.m. to take on the William Paterson Pioneers. Head coach Dan MacNeill expressed his thoughts and opinions on last week’s victory over Western Connecticut in his weekly interview on “Into the Fire” on WSUC 90.5 FM.

(Photo's courtesy of Dan Padavona and William Paterson Athletics)

Q: The Red Dragons bounced back from last weeks lose against Montclair State with a much-needed victory over the lowly Colonials. The Red Dragons defense gave up nine of sixteen points verse the Red Hawks two weeks ago and gave up only six points last week. Cortland defense held Western Connecticut to 157 yards of total offense and nine net yards of rushing on thirty-one attempts. What were your feelings on the victory over Western Connecticut and the play of the Red Dragons defense?

A: Our team really finds new ways to win each week. Our defense has been very stingy and that needs to continue. The defense can play with anyone in the conference. The offense has struggled recently due to our inability to throw the football. The quarterback position is on the mend with all the injuries that we have taken this season. Our defense has set the tone for our team this season. The special teams unit look to win the battle of field position to help put our offense in a better position to score. That was the prescription for victory last week and we hope that can continue this week.

Q: The Red Dragons made a few adjustments in the starting offense against the Colonials. Junior fullback Dom Sair moved to tailback. Sair rushed for two touchdowns and 163 yards on the ground last Saturday. Graduate student Alex Smith got his first start at quarterback since the 2007 season. What are your thoughts on Dom Sair performance in the backfield this season? What are your thoughts on Alex Smith’s first start in over two years?

A: Our football is very fortunate to have the ability to switch players at certain skills positions. We were able to benefit from the switch of Dom Sair to tailback and that is great for our team. Sair averaged 8 yards per rush last week. He is an awfully good performer and a great playmaker on the field. The coaching staff felt that he was the best option at tailback and the move has worked out so far. Bill Smith has now moved up into the starting fullback position. We now have a very strong and quick backfield on offense with both backs averaging 230 pounds apiece. As for Alex Smith it really speaks where we are at in regards to the quarterback position that we have to call on him to start. Alex has done a good job in catching at the quarterback position after being away from the game for two years. Alex is still working hard to improve his pass game. He didn’t get a ton of practice time before the Montclair State game. It was unfortunate that Alex went down with a separated shoulder in that game when he did see some game action. Alex bounced back from the separated shoulder to start last week. That was a great thing in itself. Alex Smith will continue to improve each week this season along with the rest of the offense. Our offensive line has done great job to help protect Alex along with the great efforts of Dom Sair.

Q: The injury bug has hit the Red Dragons severely this season particularly on the offense side of the ball. Cortland has lost former starting quarterback Dan Pitcher for the season with an Achilles tendon tear in week two verses Rowan. Hudson Woodward the number two quarterback on the depth chart separated his shoulder in Cortland’s loss to Montclair State, 16-7 in week five versus Montclair State. What is the current injury status on Hudson Woodward from last week? How does the depth chart look for the Red Dragons at quarterback moving forward for the rest of the season?

A: Hudson Woodward suffered a severely sprain shoulder in week five versus Montclair State. Hudson will most likely be out for the rest of the season. Alex Smith is our starting quarterback. The freshmen Rob Von Bargen is our number two quarterback on the depth chart. Rob has already been forced to see some game action due to the injury situation at the quarterback position. Justin Fredenberg a catcher for the baseball team is now our current number three quarterback. Fredenberg was added last week. Justin was an All-State quarterback when he played his high school football at Saugerties. Justin is doing everything he can to get up to speed with our offense, but he is still very behind.

Q: Senior wide out Eric Hajnos was out with a knee injury in week five verses Montclair State, but came back last week to become only the 14^th Red Dragon to have 100 career catches. How is Eric Hajnos’s knee feeling after this week and what is the exact extent of the injury?

A: Eric Hajnos is truly a great competitor for our football team. Hajnos has achieved an elite status in our program. After the game last week Eric’s knee seemed to be fine and he should be back to 100%.

Q: Freshmen tailback Justin Autera seemed to steal the show on Saturday. Autera had a 79-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Autera also had a 59-yard punt return for a touchdown. Do you think Autera brings a new dimension to the Red Dragons special teams unit that was lacking a bit of explosiveness from the returner position?

A: Justin Autera is very dynamic player who is destined to have a great future with our team. Autera brings a new dimension to our special team and I can’t argue with that. We had returning starter Brian Davey depart from the team a few weeks ago and Justin Autera stepped up into his role. It is truly amazing when it seems like one door closes and another one opens right up for our team. Who would have thought that Autera would have had such a great impact after stepping right into the returner position? Justin had two great runs, but the special teams paved the way with great blocking. Our special teams have gotten even stronger as the season has gone on.

Q: Cortland defeated William Paterson, 38-0 at home in week seven last season. The Red Dragons had a 17-0 lead after one quarter and led 31-0 at halftime. This season William Paterson is 3-3 overall and 2-3 in New Jersey Athletic Conference. William Paterson is coming off a 43-28-homecoming victory over The College of New Jersey last Saturday. What are the keys to victory in the Red Dragons third road game of the season? How do you rate-starting tailback Marcus McKinney, who has 651 yards rushing this season and seven touchdowns for the Pioneers compared to some of the other skilled tailbacks you have seen this season?

A: Marcus McKinney is really comparable to Dom Sair in many ways. McKinney is a big back with quick feet. Our defense will be tested. We have our work cut out for us this week.Our rushing defense has played very well this season and we take great pride in stopping the run. The biggest key to victory this week will be stopping the run. If our defense can shut down the running game it helps control the battle of field position. If our defense/special teams team can win the battle of field position, we feel that it well help propel our offense that is just trying to stay healthy as the season goes on.

The Cortland Gridiron Report can be heard in its entirety every Monday from 6-8 on “Into the Fire” on WSUC 90.5 FM (Cortland.edu/wsuc) and also seen at www.cortlandfootball.com.

Cortland Gridiron Report: Week 6 Cancellation

Every year Columbus Day brings out a big open house crowd here at SUNY Cortland. I was unfortunately unable to get my weekly interview with Coach MacNeill due to this occurrence. The Cortland Gridiron Report will be back in full swing next week recapping this Saturday's contest verse Western Connecticut.

In the meantime check out Cortlandfootball.com to get a recap of last weeks loss over Montclair State, 16-7.

(Photo courtesy of Dan Padavona)

The Red Dragons look to bounce back from last weeks tough loss with a matchup against the winless Western Connecticut Colonials.(0-5) The real question is: Who will be under center for Cortland? Hudson Woodward went down with a separated shoulder late in the 4th quarter last week. Alex Smith was also rumored to be injured in last weeks lose. Freshmen third string quarterback Rob Von Bargen threw an interception with :51 seconds remaining that was returned for a touchdown by Dominique Dixon. The interception sealed the Red Hawks victory, but more importantly leaves Red Dragons football fans wondering if this team keep any quarterback healthy for more than two games this season?

Cortland Gridiron Report: Week 5

Coach MacNeill believes Red Dragons responded well to adversity last week and claims he was “taken by surprise” with the sudden acquisition of Alex Smith.

(Photo's courtesy of Dan Padavona and Montclair Athletics)

Q: The Cortland Red Dragons bounced back in a big way last weekend with a 42-13 victory at Buffalo State. Were there any concerns in your team’s performance coming out of this game?

A: Last week’s victory over Buffalo state was a severely needed one. I liked how our team responded to adversity. The win speaks volumes to who we are as a team and the culture we represent. The biggest bugaboo in our team’s performance was turnovers. We really need to stop committing so many turnovers if we want to move forward. The turnovers bring a lot of stress into the game even when our team is winning by a wide margin and it gives the opponent more opportunities. The good thing is that it is easier from a coaching standpoint to solve fumbles rather interception in terms of turnovers.

Q: The Red Dragons rushed for a season high 242 yards rushing against the Bengals last week. Coming into the matchup verse Buffalo State, Cortland had 345 yards on 112 carries on the season. What was the difference this week in practice and game action that finally helped the rushing game break through?

A: The number one difference in last week’s running game was fullback Dom Sair, our offensive player of the game. Every time Dom Sair touched the ball he amassed positive yardage. That was something that really stood out and it’s a big attribute to our offensive line. We also had a complement of different running backs come into the game and do a great job as well. This included Anthony Giuliano, Justin Autera, Bill Smith, Corey Russell, and Will Loeb.

Q: Junior fullback Dom Sair rushed for 64 yards on 17 carries with 4 touchdowns. The Red Dragons defense held the Bengals to seven first downs and 150 total yards. This performance was a total team effort this week bouncing back from the loss against Kean in week four. Who got the game ball last week after the game?

A: From a defensive standpoint when you take away the punters rushing touchdown for Buffalo State our defense truly did not even give up as many rushing yards as the stats indicate. That play was a special team’s error due to missed tackling. Our football team really physically dominated Buffalo State throughout the whole game. The effort in the second half may have been even better than it was in the first half. That is the beauty of football because it is a physical game. Offensively we really consumed the clock. We had the ball thirteen more minutes than our opponent did. The win was a total team effort, but we still had the give the game ball to Dom Sair.

Q: The victory over Buffalo State improved Cortland’s record to 3-1 overall on the season in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. This week the Red Dragons travel to Montclair, New Jersey to take on the Red Hawks. Montclair State is undefeated in the NJAC. (3-0) How do you prepare the team mentally for what seems to be the most important game of the season thus far?

A: The next game is always the most important one for our football team. We take the season one game at a time and can’t take any opponent more lightly than any other. That being said Montclair State has a great program. Montclair State is a big and strong physical team just like our football team. We are preparing for another outstanding continuation of New Jersey Athletic Conference rivalry.

Q: Cortland edged out Montclair State 23-17, at home last season in week five. The Red Hawks now have Tom Fisher under center instead of Ryan Boysen. Fisher has thrown for 893 yards this season and five touchdown passes. In your mind is this Montclair State team any different than it was at this time last year?

A: Montclair State seems to be a more seasoned team this season. They do have a quite bit of players as mentioned that are returning from last season. They many weapons offensively especially at the quarterback position with Tom Fisher. Jeff Bliss compliments a great running game as well. They also have a big offensive line. Our special teams have to be better than our opponents. That can always be a difference maker in a game of this caliber. Our offense will have their hands full with the big size and physical nature of Montclair State’s defense.

Q: Last Friday the Red Dragons grabbed many headlines in Division III when former quarterback and graduate assistant coach Alex Smith was granted playing eligibility by the NCAA Division III. NCAA Division III rules normally allow student-athletes only 10 full-time semesters in which to play four seasons. Alex Smith is in his 11 full-time semester here at Cortland. Smith was given a medical hardship to retain his eligibility from the 2007 season, when he was out for the season after suffering an ACL tear in week one. When were you made aware that Smith was going to apply for eligibility and were you surprised?

A: The move made by Alex Smith did take me my by surprise. When Dan Pitcher went down in week two and was presumed out for the season, Alex made an inquiry with our athletic department. The NCAA Division III looked at Alex’s unique case and granted him the opportunity to play for the rest of this season. The move makes me feel very good for Alex. Everyone wants to a leave a sport they love with no regrets. Alex Smith now has the opportunity to do that. Alex did have his career cut short by injuries before this. It is always a good thing as a coach when you can acquire a player of Alex’s skills.

Q: What is the current playing status of Alex Smith? Is Alex in playing shape to even have a chance at competing for the starting quarterback position this week verse Montclair? Will Smith have any kind of impact on the offense this week?

A: Alex Smith is now back as a player on this team. He will be competing for the starting quarterback position just like every player is competing for their jobs. We haven’t seen Alex in pads nor do anything yet as a coaching staff to make any decisions. We are anxious as a coaching staff to see what Alex can do. The team will enjoy either quarterback who is under center. The competition at quarterback will bring out the best in both Hudson Woodward and Alex Smith. I’m certain that will help this team.

Q: Lastly, how do you evaluate Hudson Woodward’s performance last week against Buffalo State?

A: Hudson did a great job last week. He was very accurate in the passing game and did a great job at dispersing the ball to different receivers. Hudson Woodward is our starting quarterback at this point. Alex Smith has a lot of work to do in order to be considered for the starting quarterback position. My advice to Hudson would be to never look over your shoulder at the players behind you. Hudson needs to always be looking ahead and moving forward. All Hudson can do is play to the best of his ability and let the chips fall where they may.

The Cortland Gridiron Report can be heard in its entirety every Monday from 6-8 on “Into the Fire” on WSUC 90.5 FM (Cortland.edu/wsuc) and also seen at www.cortlandfootball.com.