MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The Morrisville State College football team fell 44-20 in Empire 8 action to Brockport Saturday, as the Golden Eagles took advantage of four costly Mustang turnovers to capture the win in Morrisville.
The loss drops Morrisville State top 0-9 on the year, while Brockport improves to 6-3, 5-2 in conference action.
Morrisville State outgained the visitors in total offense, 427 to 323, after putting together a 290 yard assault through the air. Brandon Gwinner (Schenectady, N.Y.) connected on five of 10 total passes for 116 yards and a touchdown to wide receiver Raffaele Bradshaw (Westbury, N.Y.) in the second quarter.
Cory Benedetto (Rochester, N.Y.) also appeared under center, connecting on 19-of-36 attempts for 174 yards.
Joe Faniel (Clyde, N.Y.) was the lead receiver for the Mustangs, collecting 83 yards on nine receptions, while teammate Nick Edmond (Blythe, Calif.) led the efforts in the running game with 71 net yards on 19 carries. Benedetto added 45 yards on 14 carries, also scoring twice.
Kendall Clarke (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led the Mustangs defensive efforts with seven stops for the Mustangs, with teammates Tim Webber (Oswego, N.Y.) and Samuel Diaz (Dansville, N.Y.) each adding six.
Brockport opened the game with two straight touchdowns on Morrisville State miscues, the first a 61-yard fumble recovery by Ryan Johnson less than two minutes in, and the second a minute later as Terry McDonald recovered a second Mustang fumble and returned it 17-yards for the 14-0 visitor lead.
The Golden Eagles posted their first offensive score with five minutes remaining in the quarter, as quarterback Joe Germinerio connected with Joseph Ortiz on a 23-yard scoring pass play to extend the visitor lead to a three possession game.
Brockport would add a final tally with under a minute to go in the quarter, a 14-yard pass play from Germinerio to Ian Gilhousen to complete the eight play, 61-yard drive, and 27-0 advantage.
Early in the second quarter, Morrisville State put together a four-play, 59-yard scoring drive, with Gwinner hitting Bradshaw on the eight-yard screen for the score. Benedetto added a one-yard rushing score with 2:03 to go before half, capping off an 87-yard Mustang drive to cut the lead to 13.
Brockport, though, would add one final tally, a 40-yard field goal with four seconds remaining on the clock for the 30-14 lead at the break.
Brockport would add another score in the third and one midway through the fourth for a commanding 44-14 lead, before the Mustangs put one final touchdown on the scoreboard with 27 seconds remaining in the contest. Benedetto scored his second rushing score of the day, this time from three-yards out.
Germinerio had a near perfect game, connecting on 17-of-21 passes for 205 yards and three scores, including a 50 yard strike to Ortiz in the third. He also led the Golden Eagles on the ground, posting 92 net yards on 11 carries, most of which came on a 70-yard scramble for a score at 7:13 in the fourth.
Morrisville State hosts Alfred State in its season finale, next Saturday on Drake field at 1 p.m.
Morrisville State College's curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.
The college was ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges 2016 issue and was also recognized in the Top Public Schools, Regional Colleges North in the 2016 Best Colleges rankings. For more information about Morrisville State College, visit www.morrisville.edu.
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