MORRISVILLE, N.Y. - Senior tailback Andrew Giuliano (Thornwood/Westlake) rushed 29 times for 281 yards, breaking a 25-year old school single-game record, and scored four touchdowns as nationally 22nd-ranked Cortland opened the season with a wild 51-37 victory at Morrisville. The teams each gained more than 500 yards in total offense in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) matchup.

The previous school rushing record of 276 yards was set by Dave Cook versus St. Lawrence in 1983. Giuliano held the second spot on that list, having rushed for 247 yards and three touchdowns in a 71-7 home win versus Morrisville last year.

Senior receiver Zacc Guaragno (Lansing) caught six passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. Senior quarterback Ray Miles (Port Byron) passed for 239 yards and three touchdowns despite completing only 10 of his 21 attempts. Senior Eric Hajnos (Grand Island) finished with three receptions for 83 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown. Cortland finished with 537 yards of total offense.

Morrisville, a new addition to the NJAC this fall, finished with 505 total offensive yards. Senior quarterback Billy Poling (Waretown, NJ/Southern Regional) completed 23-of-31 passed for 344 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 68 yards and three scores. Two Mustangs eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark. Eddie Hull (Brewerton/Central Square) made 10 catches for 158 yards and Wendall Williams (Syracuse/Bishop Ludden) grabbed five passes for 123 yards and a touchdown.

Poling's 14-yard run gave Morrisville an early 6-0 lead. Jeffrey Lang's (Dryden) 37-yard field goal cut the deficit in half with 5:15 left in the first quarter. Giuliano broke free for a 40-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, but the extra point hit the left upright and Cortland's lead was 9-6. Poling capped an 80-yard drive on the ensuing possession with a 1-yard touchdown run and the hosts led 13-9.

It took Cortland just two plays to regain the lead, the second one a 55-yard scoring pass from Miles to Guaragno. However, Morrisville's Dale Ross (Syracuse/Westhill) returned the following kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown and the Mustangs led 20-16 with 8:25 left in the half.

The Red Dragons regained the lead for good at 23-20 on a Giuliano 70-yard touchdown run with 2:14 remaining in the half. The advantage grew to 30-20 midway through the third quarter when Giuliano busted free for an 89-yard touchdown run on a 2nd-and-20 play. The run is the second-longest run from the line of scrimmage in Cortland history, two yards short of Cook's record 91-yard run versus Albany in 1982.

Cortland's lead grew to 37-20 with 3:31 left in the third when Hajnos caught a pass on the right sideline, broke a tackle and raced in for a 46-yard touchdown. Poling responded with a 14-yard touchdown run with 1:38 remaining on the clock. Poling's 43-yard pass to Williams was the key play on that drive.

Miles found Guaragno wide open for a 53-yard touchdown pass with 46 seconds left in the third and Cortland's lead was back to 17 points at 44-27. The Mustangs drove 68 yards on the first possession of the fourth quarter but had to settle for a 20-yard Kyle Ippolito field goal with 8:29 remaining in the game. Cortland answered with a 9-play, 64-yard drive that culminated in a Giuliano 6-yard touchdown run with 3:30 left.

Morrisville put the final points on the board when Poling connected with Williams on a 20-yard scoring strike with 1:12 left. Giuliano eclipsed the rushing record with 14 combined yards on the game's final three carries.

Cortland is idle next week before traveling to Rowan for a Sept. 20 league game. Morrisville hosts Montclair State on that same date, also in a league contest.

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