GENEVA, N.Y. – The College at Brockport football team started their season with a statement win on Saturday afternoon, taking down No. 14 ranked Hobart College 34-20. The Golden Eagles used 606 yards of total offense to earn the victory, led by Joe Germinerio who threw for 360 yards and Justin Morrison who rushed for 169.
The Green and Gold offense did not take long to get started after receiving the opening kickoff, as the first four plays from scrimmage all resulted in first downs. The opening drive did not end with a touchdown however, as the Statesmen forced a fumble deep in their own territory to gain possession of the ball.
Brockport was able to get on the board first however, when they began a drive at their own 41 yard line with 1:57 remaining in the quarter. Germinerio launched a 45-yard completion to DaQuan Hubbard to begin the drive, before taking it in himself on the next play, a 14-yard rush. In total, the drive took just 0:23 seconds to go 59 yards in two plays.
After the ensuing Hobart drive ended with a punt, the Golden Eagle offense got back to work with another explosive drive. This time, the scoring play came when Morrison took a read option pitch from Germinerio in the backfield and exploded through the right side for a 68-yard touchdown rush, giving Brockport a 14-0 lead.
They nearly added another touchdown to make it 21-0 on the next offensive possession, as they had first and goal at the one yard-line, but Hobart forced their second fumble of the day, this time returning it 98 yards for a touchdown. The Golden Eagles did respond quickly however, as Tyree Brown took the ensuing kickoff 52 yards, putting Brockport in solid field position for a drive that resulted in a 22-yard Brett Renzi field goal.
The Statesmen were able to close the gap before the half, using a dynamic passing offense to quickly drive the field before punching it in with a two-yard rush, making it 17-13 at the half.
Both defenses prevailed in the first 12+ minutes of the third quarter, resulting in three straight punts before Brockport finally broke the drought with a 39-yard field goal by Renzi to increase their lead to 20-13. Hobart once again responded on the next drive, taking it 86 yards on nine plays for a touchdown which tied the game at 20-20.
With the pressure on, the Golden Eagles responded, once again finding the end zone on their next drive. Facing third down and 16 to go on their own 33, Germinerio uncorked a deep bomb to Hubbard over the middle of the field, who came down with the leaping catch and scampered into the end zone, putting Brockport back in front 27-20 with 13:28 left in the game.
Hobart threatened once again on their next drive, moving the ball all the way to the Brockport 25 before Julius Brunson came up with a huge interception on the one-yard line, ending the drive and shifting the momentum back to Brockport.
With 8:54 on the clock, Germinerio and the Brockport offense began a methodical drive that all but sealed the victory. They used up 6:13 of clock, going 90-yards on 12 plays that was capped off by a 22-yard run from Justin Morrison. The touchdown put Brockport up 34-20 with 2:41 remaining.
With Hobart against the ropes, the Brockport defense came up strong once again, as Aaron Mayers picked off a pass from Shane Sweeney regain possession and allow Brockport to take three knees for the win.
Germinerio ended the game with 68 yards on the ground to go with his 360 passing yards. Morrison led the rushing category with 169 yards and two touchdowns, and also added 20 yards on two receptions. Hubbard led all receivers with 158 yards on five catches, and was backed up by Brown (seven catches, 96 yards) and Joseph Ortiz (six catches, 52 yards).
Defensively, Rashad Baker and Jake O'Connell combined for 13 tackles, ranking first and second on the team. Brunson, Matt Szymanski, Julius Mizro, Tim Terry, and Mayers all had five tackles apiece.
Brockport will have their home opener next Saturday, September 9th when they welcome Ithaca College to Bob Boozer Field for a game beginning at 2 p.m.
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