CORTLAND (Ny.) – The 10th ranked Delaware Valley University football team opened its 2023 campaign at #17 SUNY-Cortland on Saturday afternoon where it fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter and could not recover as the Red Dragons ran away with a 42-13 victory.
The loss snaps the Aggies 28-game regular season win streak that dated back to September 14, 2019, and drops the squad to 0-1 for the first time since 2018.
Cortland controlled play from the very beginning as it scored on each of its first three possessions and held DelVal to four consecutive three-and-outs to open up a three-score lead after one. The Red Dragons racked up 156 yards of offense with a balanced attack over 23 plays. They scored on passing touchdowns of 19 yards and 12 yards, and converted a 4th-and-goal from the one yard line with a run up the middle to make it 21-0.
The Aggies turned the ball over with a fumble on a handoff exchange late in the first that set Cortland up at the DelVal 32-yard line to start the second. Later in the drive, sophomore Micah Bootman got the ball back to the offense with an impressive interception in the end zone, the second of his career.
On the ensuing drive, head coach Duke Greco dialed up a trick play and the Aggies cashed in. Rob McConnell, one of the team's tight ends, took the shotgun snap and heaved a perfect pass into the end zone where senior Ryan Loughlin made the catch around a defender for a 39-yard touchdown reception with 10:18 left in the half. After a failed extra point, the score was 21-6 Cortland.
After a good kick return, Cortland started its next drive at the DelVal 42. Later in the drive the Red Dragons faced a 4th and 15 from the 25 and instead of trying a long field goal they looked to convert, but a sack by Jacquez Mabin forced a turnover on downs and the Aggies took over at their own 31-yard line. DelVal matriculated its way down the field and into the red zone, but a Louie Barrios IV shot to the end zone was intercepted for a touchback by Luke Winslow.
DelVal trailed 21-6 at the half.
On the first possession of the second half, Cortland marched 55 yards on seven plays and Jaden Alfano-St. John ran in a six-yard touchdown to make it 28-6. The Red Dragons ran away with the contest from there as they outscored the visitors 21-7 in the second half to cruise to victory.
The Aggies lone touchdown in the second half came on a 52-yard catch-and-run touchdown from Nick Arcaroli to sophomore wide out Dillon Shamanow.
Cortland finished the game with 414 yards of offense to DelVal's 253 yards. The Red Dragons ran the ball 54 times for 279 yards and four touchdowns, and threw for 135 yards and another two scores. Quarterback Zac Boyes was 12-for-22 for 135 yards and Alfano-St. John racked up 169 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. Cole Burgess led the receivers with six catches for 62 yards and a touchdown.
Barrios finished 11-for-19 for 85 yards and Arcaroli went 4-for-4 for 72 yards and a touchdown. Junior tailback Jay White ran nine times for 49 yards and caught three passes for 14 yards. Luan Avdijaj hauled in three receptions while Shamanow, Laughlin, and Jasiah Davis each had two. Defensively, Nick Chapman had 13 tackles and Mabin finished with nine tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and a pass breakup. Linebacker Anthony Puntolillo had six stops and a sack, and Bootman had two pass breakups to go with his interception and four tackles.
Delaware Valley will look to bounce-back next week as it opens Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) play at Albright College with kickoff set for 12 p.m.
