Brockport battles back for Courage Bowl win
By: Joey Campbell
BROCKPORT, NY - Saturday Night Lights at Bob Boozer Field would set the stage for the twenty-first annual Courage Bowl matchup between the (4-0) St. John Fisher Cardinals and the (3-1) SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles. After trailing early, Brockport would roll on past the Cardinals 38-28 to give Head Coach Jason Mangone his 100th career win at SUNY Brockport.
"It's been fun," Mangone said. " 100 wins really does not mean much to me at all. At the end of the day, it's the people that I have gotten the chance to encounter which has made it fun".
For St. John Fisher, quarterback Ryan Whitney went 19/29 for 252 with a touchdown and interception combined with 43 rushing yards and a pair of touchdown runs. Jackson Cusack led the way with seven catches for 103 yards, a punt return touchdown, and a 53-yard touchdown pass to Shawn Watson as well. Tailback Justin Maier had four catches for 60 yards as well.
For the Golden Eagles, Zymier Jackson went 14/21 from the pocket for 133 yards and two touchdowns, with 122 rushing yards and two touchdown runs. Freshman Allen Paul was the lead back with 89 yards on 17 carries, as well as Derrion Battle, who had 10 carries for 40 yards and a touchdown. Nolan Slywka once again led the way for receiving with 82 yards on six grabs and a touchdown. Tight end Xavier Smith picked up a touchdown as well. For the defense, Jahmere Clark led the team with eight tackles as well as the lone interception. Linebacker Darius Cervi had 1.5 sacks with a tackle for loss and 6 tackles. Austyn Gollnitz, Nazhier Wilson, and Ari Gefell had 0.5 sacks, and safety Colton Thorpe had a forced fumble.
Fisher got things rolling early after a big return from Maier. On the second play of the game, Whitney took off down the far sideline going untouched into the end zone to make it 7-0 Fisher.
The Cardinals would come marching back down the field after a Brockport three-and-out. Whitney would power his way for a three-yard touchdown run for his second of the game to make it 14-0.
SUNY Brockport would put their foot on the gas. An eight-play drive would be capped off by a Jackson rush up the middle to cut the lead in half at 14-7.
Brockport would get a big swing of momentum after Thorpe forced a big fumble to give Brockport position right around midfield. Sylwka would snag a 17-yard slant route in the end zone to tie it up at 14.
Brockport Kicker Christopher Bascetta would add a key field goal to give SUNY Brockport their first lead going into halftime at 17-14.
Brockport would pick up where they left off. After some punts, SUNY Brockport had a seven-minute drive which was finished off by Smith, who caught an out route on the nearside sideline to give Brockport a ten-point lead.
Fisher found life from their special teams unit in the third quarter to fight back. Cusack received a punt right around the 45-yard line, which he bounced outside for a massive return touchdown to cut the lead to three points, 24-21.
Fisher had some momentum, forcing a third and one right at Brockport's 40-yard line. Jackson kept the ball on the ground with his legs and found a hole where nobody would get a hand on him to give Brockport a ten-point lead, 31-21.
SUNY Brockport would add one more touchdown on a Battle hand-off inside the five-yard line. Fisher ran a trick play where Cusack fired a touchdown pass to Watson to make it 38-28. A failed onside kick would end the game.
"Its a blessing to play under Mangone," Wilson said. "A lot of years, blood, sweat, and tears that we have to play for, so it's very good to play under him at a collegiate level."
(4-1) SUNY Brockport heads into a bye week before going on the road to take on Alfred State on October 17, with kickoff slated for 12:00 pm. As for (4-1) St. John Fisher, they head to take on (1-4) Hartwick next week. Pregame coverage against Alfred State starts at 11:30 here on 89.1 The Point.
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