BROCKPORT, N.Y. – The No. 10 ranked College at Brockport football team moved into the NCAA Elite 8 with Saturday's 49-28 victory over No. 13 Wesley College. The Golden Eagles used five second half turnovers to outscore the Wolverines 28-7 in the second half, securing the win.
The Brockport football team now sits at 12-0 on the season, and advance to the Quarterfinal round for the second time in school history. Wesley finished the season with a 10-2 record and their 13th straight appearance in the NCAA Championship Playoffs.
For the first time since the week five game against Cortland, Brockport needed to come from behind, as Wesley scored on their opening drive. On a third and 11 play, quarterback Khaaliq Burroughs threw an 82 yard bomb to Alex Kemp to put the Wolverines on top 7-0.
The Green and Gold did not take long to respond, scoring on their first offensive drive 2:18 later on a seven play, 75 yard drive. Joe Germinerio went six-for-six on the drive, throwing the touchdown pass to DaQuan Hubbard who found himself wide open in the end zone for the 10 yard score.
After a stalled Wesley drive, Brockport received the ball back at their own 20, and took the lead with a methodical 15 play, 80 yard drive that lasted 5:23. The drive ended with Tyree Brown, who scored one of his three touchdowns on the day, taking the snap from the wildcat and following his big offensive line into the end zone.
After three more defensive stops, the Green and Gold extended their lead to 21-7 with another rushing touchdown from Brown. On a third and 14 in Brockport territory, Germinerio found Joseph Ortiz up the middle for a 45 yard reception that put the Golden Eagles in the red zone. A long rush from the sophomore QB put the ball at the four, where Brown ran it in a few plays later.
Wesley responded with two quick touchdowns at the end of the half, capitalizing on a Brockport fumble deep in their own territory to knot things up at 21-21 going into the break.
After receiving the kickoff to start the second half, the Brockport offense went back to work, regaining the lead on a drive that was capped off by a two-yard touchdown grab from Ortiz. The big play of the drive was a 33-yard completion to Brown, which gave Brockport a first and goal from the 10, where they eventually punched it in.
The defense came alive on the next two Wesley drives, finding the end zone on each to give Brockport a commanding 21-point lead. Terry McDonald was responsible for the first one, intercepting Burroughs' pass at the 15-yard line and taking it back untouched for the score. On a third and long on the next drive, Julius Mizro forced a fumble that was recovered by Austin Dean who rumbled his way into the end zone for his first career touchdown.
The Golden Eagles would tack on one more score in the fourth quarter, with Brown finding the end zone again, this time a 21-yard receiving touchdown from Germinerio that put the score at its eventual final, 49-28.
Brown led all receivers with 118 yards on 11 catches, and was aided by Hubbard (five catches, 59 yards) and Ortiz (three catches, 50 yards), who each had touchdown grabs as well. Distributing them the ball was Germinerio, who finished the day with 292 yards on 30 of 38 passing and three scores.
Defensively, Nathaniel Keith III led the team with 10 tackles while fellow linebackers Alex West and Matt Szymanski combined for 15. Mizro, McDonald, and Julius Brunson all had interceptions, while West and Mizro forced fumbles.
Eric Yaeger was instrumental in pinning the Wolverines deep in their own territory, averaging 46.8 yards on his five punts, including three of over 50 yards.
Saturday's game at Delaware Valley is scheduled for 12 p.m. Ticket and travel information will be available later this week.