BROCKPORT, N.Y. - Brockport quarterback Joe Germinerio completed 18-of-27 passes for 210 yards and a touchdowns and rushed 31 times for 188 yards and two scores and the Golden Eagles held on to defeat visiting Cortland, 21-19, in an Empire 8 contest.
Cortland was outgained 520-285 in total offensive yards, but remained close by forcing four Brockport turnovers. Brett Segala (Webster/Webster Schroeder), the Red Dragons' third quarterback of the day and fifth used this season, entered in the fourth quarter for his first action of the season.
With Cortland trailing 21-13, Segala led a seven-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that featured a 46-yard pass to Jon Mannix (East Northport/John H. Glenn) to the Brockport 13-yard line and, three plays later, a Segala 3-yard bootleg to the end zone with 2:37 remaining. Cortland attempted a game-tying two-point conversion play, but Segala was flushed out of the pocket, scrambled, and eventually threw a pass up for grabs into the end zone that was picked off by the Brockport defense.
Cortland, with three timeouts left, elected to kick off deep instead of attempting an onside kick. However, on 3rd-and-2 from the Brockport 25-yard line, Germinerio ran for 13 yards and a first down, and the Golden Eagles were able to take a knee three times to run out the clock.
In addition to Germinerio's 188 yards rushing, Dan Andrews ran for 104 yards on 15 carries as Brockport finished with 310 net rushing yards on 58 attempts. Nate Wilkinson caught four passes for 104 yards and a score and Jerry Thompson added five receptions. Brockport's defense held Cortland to 14 net rushing yards on 19 carries, led by Sean McKean and Matt Szymanski with eight tackles apiece.
Kyle Schneider (Hillsdale, NJ/Pascack Valley) started at quarterback for Cortland and completed 17-of-28 passes for 189 yards before leaving with an injury midway through the third quarter. Ryan VanGalen (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) played the rest of the third quarter, and Segala entered in the fourth and finished 6-for-8 for 82 yards along with the rushing score.
Mannix caught six passes for 102 yards, while Anthony Pintabona (Oceanside) and Josh Riley (Poughkeepsie/Spackenkill) each registered six catches for 58 yards. Shane Cronin (West Nyack/Clarkstown South) made two field goals, including a career-best 40-yarder.
Carson Lassiter (Madison, NJ) made a career-high 17 tackles and also recorded an interception and a pass breakup. Mark DeLuise (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) also posted a career best with 11 tackles. Bryan Providence (Valley Stream/Valley Stream South) and Joe Sarno (Staten Island/St. Joseph by-the-Sea) each had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, and D'monte Woody (Freeport) intercepted a pass.
Brockport scored on the game's opening possession with a seven-play, 72-yard touchdown drive highlighted by an Andrews 35-yard run. Germinerio capped the drive with a 3-yard run on 3rd-and-goal to put the Golden Eagles ahead 7-0.
Cortland cut the lead to 7-3 on Cronin's 28-yard field goal with 6:38 left in the first, and later in the quarter marched 52 yards on eight plays, capped by a Zach Tripodi (New Fairfield, CT) 1-yard TD run, to take a 10-7 lead.
Brockport answered with an eight-play, 66-yard drive that resulted in a Germinerio 15-yard TD run and a 14-10 lead. The Red Dragons pulled with 14-13 with 6:47 left in the second when Cronin connected on his 40-yard field goal.
The only score of the third quarter came with 8:44 on the clock when Brockport ran a reverse play from Andrews to Thompson to Germinerio, who then threw deep. Wilkinson made a diving catch in the end zone to complete the 46-yard touchdown and Brockport led 21-13.
Brockport ran 85 plays from the line of scrimmage to Cortland's 58 and finished the game with a 39:05-20:55 advantage in time of possession. The Golden Eagles converted 8-of-17 third-down opportunities, but were 0-for-4 on fourth down. Brockport held Cortland to 3-of-15 on third down chances.
Brockport improved to 5-2 overall and 4-1 in the Empire 8. The Golden Eagles are tied for second in the league with St. John Fisher, one game behind Alfred (5-0 league record). Brockport plays at Alfred next weekend. Cortland fell to 3-5 overall and 1-5 in the conference. The Red Dragons will host Morrisville State next Saturday at 1 p.m.