We're live here at the SUNY Cortland Stadium Complex on what is a rainy, sloppy, perfect November day in Central New York. Some of the players are out on the field getting warmed up and beyond the field, there are tons, and I mean TONS, of people tailgating and getting set for what is sure to be a great game!
As a special treat to our loyal Tracking Tompkins County readers, I will be doing my best to provide live updates from today's contest. It will be hard to do as I will also be calling the game on WICB Radio, but I'm up for the challenge.
The game can also be viewed on Time Warner Cable Channel 26 and will also be webcast by Cortland. You can get a preview of the game from my previous post here.
Should be a great game, I will be back right around kick-off for the contest. Enjoy the Game! It is one of if not the best match-ups in Division III football!
UPDATES:
10 minutes to Kickoff: The stands are packed, the Cortland Seniors are being introduced to the crowd, a great environment here at SUNY Cortland Stadium Complex. We'll be back in the first quarter for an update. Enjoy it everyone, this is what D-III football's all about!
Coin Toss: Dick Carmean and Tom Decker are on the field for the coin toss. These were the two captains back in 1959 who bought the Cortaca Jug and decided to play for it. Very nice to have the back here for the game today. The Bombers have won the toss and they elect to receive. Let's get this thing started!!
9:44 Left in 1st Q: Brian Grastorf, who is making his first career start, hits Kyle Crandall in the back corner of the end zone on a fade rout to give the Bombers a 7-0 lead. The 14-yard catch capped a 10 play, 78-yard drive. Excellent decision making from Grastorf and a big start for the Bombers.
End of First Q: Bombers lead 7-0 in what has turned into a defensive battle. IC gets a big stop on defense on fourth down as the Red Dragons tried to convert. Then, Ithaca was helped by a personal foul penalty on Cortland but the drive stalled out when Grastorf fumbled the snap on 3rd and 2. He recovered, but the Bombers had to punt.Cortland starts at their own 36 yard line in the 2nd Quarter.
10:51 Left in 2nd Q: Jeffrey Lang comes on to kick a 39-yard Field Goal to cut the Bombers lead to 7-3. It capped an 8 play 42-yard drive which was fueled by a couple good runs from Andrew Giuliano. Bombers defense did a good job on 3rd down to force an incomplete pass and prevent a touchdown.
9:00 Left in 2nd Q: After the Bombers go 3 and out, Cody Allen blocks the Toporoff punt and Bill Smith returns it for a TD. Cortland lead 10-7. Bad special teams mistake for Ithaca.
1:26 Left in 2nd Q: Bombers defense forces a Cortland punt after a nice drive and on the first offensive play, Brian Grastorf and Kyle Crandall hook up for an 80-yard TD pass. It was a short 15-yarder over the middle but Crandall got great blocking and broke down the left sideline for a score. The two have had such a good connection over the last 3 games.
HALFTIME: Ithaca Bombers 14 - Cortland State Red Dragons 10
The Bombers forced the Red Dragons to punt after putting pressure on QB Ray Miles three straight plays, and then just ran out the half. So the Bombers lead at the half which is exactly what they wanted against the #7 team in the nation. Kyle Crandall has been the big playmaker for IC with 4 catches for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns. Typical numbers for him. Brian Grastorf has done a good job in his first career start, going 10-16 for 177 yards and 2 scores in the first half. As for Cortland, Andrew Giuliano has ran well on the ground and totaled 81 yards on 12 carries. The biggest thing is that Ithaca's defense has yet to allow a touchdown, in what was supposed to be an offensive showcase. The D has stepped up when needed and that's why the Bombers are in front. I expect a great shootout in the second half. Cortland gets the ball first so the Bombers need to make the first key stop. Don't go anywhere, this will be a good one!
11:31 in 3rd Q: Jason Chier comes up with a big pass break up on 3rd and 4 from the 5 and forces the Red Dragons to settle for a 22 yard field goal from Jeffrey Lang. Bombers still in front by just 1 and now it's up to the offense to get the points and momentum back.
6:50 left in 3rd Q: The Bombers have arguably their best drive of the game as they go 71 yards on 10 plays and cap it with a 32 yard touchdown pass to Dan Ruggiero. Grastorf was under pressure, rolled out to his right, then dumped a pass to the sophomore who got great blocks and found the end zone. Bomber fans are pumped up and they should be.
In addition, Alfred is leading St. John Fisher 23-14 with 3 minutes left in the 2nd quarter so great news for the Bombers if they want to get in via the Automatic Bid.
12:22 Left: Brian Grastorf rushes it in from 1 yard out to give the Bombers a 28-13 lead. A great drive again by the Bombers goes for 10 plays and 80 yards for the score. Ithaca is in a great spot right now and a couple more stops by the defense could give Ithaca the lead.
Also, 23-14 Alfred at the half. Good news as well for Ithaca!
6:07 Left: Another fantastic drive for the Bombers ends in a 1 yard score from QB Brian Grastorf who has 3 passing touchdowns and 2 rushing. A tremendous day from him in his first career start and in the Cortaca Jug no less! Unless Cortland can get a score quickly, the Jug will be going back to Ithaca. The drive was just 35 yards, but last 8 plays and killed 4:37 of game clock.
FINAL: BOMBERS WIN 35-13
Ithaca shuts the door and routs the Red Dragons at the SUNY Cortland Stadium Complex. A tremendous performance all around by the Bombers against a very good Red Dragons team. Ithaca improves to 9-1 on the year, almost certainly will get a playoff game, and could even get a 1 or 2 seed. Here are my players of the game:
Offensively: QB Brian Grastorf- In his first career start, he completes 19 of 28 passes for 273 yards and 3 passing touchdowns. He also ran for two scores in the game. To put up those numbers in a first career start, on the road, in the Cortaca Jug, is just unbelievable.
Defensively: CB Jason Chier- The senior did a fantastic job leading his troops and made a statement. He had 3 interceptions, all of which were in the second half, and broke up a couple of passes to go along with 7 tackles. The defense had been criticized all year long and Chier did a great job along with the whole defense in not allowing Cortland a single touchdown.
So the Bombers win Cortaca for the second year in a row and retain possession of the Jug. Ithaca will find out who they will play in the playoffs tomorrow afternoon, and it is likely they could get a home game in the first round. We'll just have to wait and see.
Thanks for reading the blog today, and we hope you enjoyed another memorable Cortaca Jug match-up!
--Michael Polak
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