CORTLAND DEFEATS KEAN IN NJAC ACTION, 35-14

UNION, N.J. (10/06/07) - SUNY Cortland scored on five straight possessions spanning the first and second halves en-route to a 35-14 victory over host Kean University in New Jersey Athletic Conference football action on Saturday afternoon.

SUNY Cortland junior quarterback Ray Miles (Port Byron, N.Y.) completed 16-of-24 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Red Dragons (4-1, 3-0 NJAC).

The Cougars (2-3, 0-2) got on the board in the fourth quarter on a pair of touchdown passes from senior quarterback A.J. Roque (Matawan, N.J.). 

The Cougar loss snapped an eight-game home winning streak, as Kean remained winless against the Red Dragons in 12 all-time meetings. 

For Kean, Roque had 215 yards passing, completing 22-of-34 passes, while junior James Felton (South Plainfield, N.J.) made three catches for 78 yards, including a 54-yard reception to set up the Cougars final score of the game. 

The Cougars had an opportunity get on the board on their first possession of the game, as they looked to take advantage of the short field after receiving the ball on the Cortland 39 yard line following the punt. 

Roque completed a pair of 10-yard passes and eventually the team moved the ball down to the Cortland 10-yard line, setting up a 27-yard field goal attempt.  However, a low snap forced holder Shane Meyer (Hazlet, N.J.) to pick the ball up to advance it before falling short of the first down, turning the ball over to Cortland on downs. 

After 29 minutes of scoreless action to open the game, Cortland scored just before halftime as Miles scrambled in from 16-yards out to give the Red Dragons the 7-0 lead with just 58 seconds left in the first half.

In the third quarter, Cortland's Andrew Giuliano (Thornwood, N.Y.) capped an eight- play, 40-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run to push the Red Dragon lead to 14-0.  On the Cougars' next possession, Cortland senior Ricky Case (Rochester, N.Y.) intercepted the Roque pass and returned the ball 24 yards into Kean territory to set-up a five-play, 38-yard touchdown drive.  Miles found sophomore wide receiver Zacc Guaragno (Lansing, N.Y.) for the 11-yard touchdown pass and the three touchdown lead.

The Red Dragons scored on their next two possessions, an 85-yard touchdown pass from Miles to senior Keith Greene (Brentwood, N.Y.) and a one-yard touchdown run from rookie running back Cory Russell (LaFayette, N.Y.), for the 35-0 cushion early in the fourth quarter.

Kean got on the board with 9:17 left in the contest, as Meyer had a five-yard touchdown reception on the eight-play, 52-yard drive.  Just over three minutes later, junior Durell Dukes (Elizabeth, N.J.) caught a nine-yard pass from Roque for the final points of the afternoon.

For Kean, senior lineman Brian Cilento (Dunellen, N.J.) and junior linebacker Matt Ali (Keasbey, N.J.) each made 10 tackles, with Cilento having 1.5 tackles for loss of 10 yards.  Senior wide receiver Brian Williams (Pleasantville, N.J.) and Dukes each had seven receptions for a combined 102 yards. 

In the victory, a pair of seniors broke program records for the Red Dragons.  Kicker Matthew Mintz (Lawrence, N.Y.) converted all five extra point attempts, giving him 69 consecutive PATs made to break the school record of 67 straight set by George Oostmeyer (2000-2002).  Cornerback Jeff Beck (Middlehope, N.Y.) had one interception to give him 14 career picks, breaking the program mark he shared with former teammate Stef Sair.

Greene led the Red Dragons with 116 yards receiving on three catches, while senior running back Dustin Bowser (Jamestown, N.Y.) rushed the ball 12 times for 46 yards.

Defensively, freshman linebacker Brian Haas (East Aurora, N.Y.) and junior defensive back Matt Berman (Scarsdale, N.Y.) each made nine tackles, while junior lineman Ben Nagle (Rochester, N.Y.) had three sacks for a loss of 31 yards.  The Red Dragons had held opponents scoreless for eight straight quarters before Kean got on the board in the fourth. 

The Cougars return to action on Saturday, October 13, when they travel to Montclair State University in NJAC action.  Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.