SUNY CORTLAND FOOTBALL NOTES
Cortland Red Dragons (5-0, 3-0 Empire 8) vs. Alfred Univ. Saxons (2-3, 1-1 Empire 8)
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026; Noon; Yunevich Stadium; Alfred, N.Y.

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THE MATCHUP: Cortland looks to remain unbeaten in Empire 8 play as the Red Dragons travel to Alfred University. The Red Dragons, coming off a bye week, are 5-0 overall and 3-0 in league play. Cortland is ranked 13th nationally in Division III by the AFCA and 14th by D3football.com. Alfred also is coming off a bye; the Saxons (2-3, 1-1 Empire 8) have won two of their last three games.
 
THE SERIES: Alfred leads the all-time series 31-18-1, but Cortland has won the last six meetings and eight of the last 10. The Red Dragons were victorious at Alfred in 2024 (59-17) and 2022 (31-8), and at home in 2025 (65-12), 2023 (59-21), 2021 (47-3), 2019 (31-21), 2017 (20-17 in overtime) and 2015 (20-14). The Saxons won on their turf in 2018 (38-33) and 2016 (41-28). The 2021 and 2022 wins each clinched Empire 8 titles for the Red Dragons.
 
Prior to 2015, Alfred won 12 straight in the series; nine in a row from 1977-86 along with an NCAA second-round game at Cortland in 2010 and the ECAC North Central Bowl at Alfred in 2013. The schools first met on the gridiron in a night game at Alfred in 1940, played again in 1946 and 1947, and faced each other every year from 1952-86.
 
Last season, Cortland scored 35 second-quarter points to take a 42-3 halftime lead and the Red Dragons won, 65-12, in Cortland. Mike Rescigno ran 11 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns, including a 60-yard scoring run, and he completed 11-of-17 passes for 159 yards and four touchdowns. Ethan Gallo scored twice - once rushing and once receiving - and Jacque LaPrarie caught two TD passes. Dylan  Kiely and Max  Barone also scored touchdowns offensively, Jayden Locke returned an interception 14 yards for a score, and Alex Gecaj recorded a tackle in the end zone for a safety. Cortland finished with 439 yards of total offense - 266 rushing and 173 passing.
 
The Red Dragon defense limited Alfred to 124 yards of total offense, including 10 rushing yards on 28 attempts. Cortland finished the game with five sacks for minus-32 yards. Gavin Guers ended with 1.5 sacks, while Aidan Lochner and Joe Galea posted one sack apiece.
 
CORTLAND CAPSULE:  Ethan Gallo ran for three touchdowns and Nazair Jean-Lubin returned an interception 100 yards for a score on the final play of the first half as Cortland built a 28-7 halftime lead on the way to a 31-21 win at Utica in a battle of nationally ranked, unbeaten teams. Quarterback Mike Rescigno ran 13 times for 106 yards and completed 6-of-7 passes for 92 yards. Sam Cotton caught four passes for 75 yards. Josh Kama gained 54 yards on six carries, and Gallo finished with 15 rushes for 49 yards.
 
Aidan Lochner led Cortland with 11 tackles, five solo, and his forced fumble late in the first quarter was recovered by George Gjelaj in Cortland territory with the Red Dragons up 14-0. Joe Galea recorded eight tackles, while Joe Russo made seven. Carson Glover blocked a punt three plays into the second quarter that set up Cortland at the Utica 18-yard line, leading to a touchdown drive to push the score to 21-0.
 
Rescigno leads the Red Dragons with 484 rushing yards (96.8 per game), and he is 64-of-103 passing (62.1 pct.) for 877 yards and eight touchdowns. Gallo leads the Red Dragons with nine rushing scores, followed by Rescigno with four. Joe Iadevaio has 20 receptions for 201 yards, Cotton and Jayson Zeva each have caught 13 passes, and Jacque LaPrarie has nine receptions for a team-high 208 yards. Zeva and LaPrarie lead the team with three TD catches apiece.
 
Lochner has team highs of 33 tackles and two forced fumbles, and Galea's 26 tackles include 3.5 sacks and six total tackles for loss. Memphis Ferguson has 21 tackles and four pass breakups, and Jean-Lubin has picked off two passes. Cole Callard has connected on 25-of-27 PAT kicks and 5-of-6 field goals, with his only miss coming from 40 yards out in the first game of the season. Gavin Dandrea averages 37.6 yards per punt with five inside the 20.

Cortland enters the game ranked in the top 10 nationally in four defensive categories - fifth in rushing defense (43.6 yards/game), sixth in team passing efficiency defense (89.2 opponent rating), seventh in total defense (207.6 yards/game), and seventh in scoring defense (9.6 points/game). The Red Dragons also rank 10th in time of possession, holding the ball for 34:25 per game.
 
Tom Blumenauer is in his second season as Cortland's head coach and is currently 13-3 (.813) with the Red Dragons. He and his assistants were named the Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year in 2025. Blumenauer came to Cortland from Franklin & Marshall, where he led the program to a combined 21-11 record, including an 11-8 mark in the competitive Centennial Conference, from 2022-24. The Diplomats won postseason bowl games versus Delaware Valley in 2024 and King's (Pa.) in 2023. Prior to F&M, "Coach Blu" served as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Williams College for six years from 2016-21, and his prior coaching stops include Bowdoin in 2015, Endicott in 2014 and St. Lawrence from 2010-13.
 
A 2007 Ithaca College graduate, Blumenauer played outside linebacker and free safety for the Bombers for two seasons from 2005-06. He was a two-time All-Empire 8 selection and was named to the 2006 Football Gazette All-East Region team. He's a native of Brentwood, N.Y., and was a football and wrestling standout at Brentwood High School.
 
A LOOK AT...ALFRED UNIVERSITY:  Alfred's last contest was a 27-7 win at Hartwick on Oct. 3. Tommy Nyquist ran 24 times for 139 yards and three touchdowns, and Caleb Eastman completed 6-of-11 passes for 37 yards and a score and rushed for 56 yards. Ryan Waddell paced the Saxons' defense with 14 tackles, Micheal Davis finished with nine stops, and Domanik Clark intercepted a pass and made six tackles. Davis also averaged 42.7 yards on three punts, with all three pinning the Hawks inside the 20.
 
Matt Parker started the first four games at quarterback for Alfred this fall but did not play versus Hartwick and is not listed on Alfred's preliminary two-deep. Parker is 77-for-111 passing (69.4 pct.) for 899 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions. Eastman, who's appeared in four games, threw his first passes in the Hartwick game. Nyquist has 317 rushing yards and five touchdowns, and he's caught 23 passes for 145 yards. Cameron Lew and Damone Allen each have two touchdown receptions.
 
Jack Bestpitch leads the team with 42 tackles and five pass breakups, and Davis has 40 tackles, five for loss. Martin Flanders Jr. is the team leader with four sacks and seven total tackles for loss, and Clark has two interceptions. Dominic Bronco has made 10 of his 11 PAT kicks and 3-for-4 field goals, with a long of 41 yards. Joshua Almendarez-Yanez averages 35.6 yards on 19 punts, 11 of which have resulted in fair catches.
 
Bob Rankl is in his 13th year as Alfred's head coach. He was appointed in May 2014 after serving as an assistant coach with the Saxons for 15 seasons. His head coaching record of 70-54 (.565) includes a 12-1 record and Empire 8 title in 2016. The Saxons finished the 2016 regular season 10-0 (8-0 in league play) and won two NCAA playoff games before losing to perennial power Mount Union, 70-45, at home in the national quarterfinals. Rankl also guided Alfred to an 8-3 record and ECAC bowl game victory in both 2015 and 2017, a 7-4 mark and ECAC bowl win at Salisbury in 2018, and a 7-4 mark and an ECAC bowl appearance in 2024. As an assistant coach, he was in charge of coaching Alfred's offensive line and coordinating the running game. Rankl is a 1999 graduate of Ursinus College, where he was a four-year starting defensive lineman for the Bears.

NOTEBOOK:
 
* Ethan Gallo has career totals of 2,201 rushing yards, 43 rushing touchdowns, two receiving touchdowns and 270 points scored in 29 games. He currently is tied for second at Cortland in rushing touchdowns (along with Dave Cook from 1981-84); the leader is Jaden AlfanoStJohn with 45 rushing TDs from 2021-24. Gallo also ranks third in career scoring with his 270 points, behind AlfanoStJohn (366) and kicker Mike Baloga (298 from 2022-24), and he's ninth in career rushing, with the next players on the list Mike Bowe in eighth (2,299 from 1979-82) and Omar Darling in seventh (2,314 from 1994-95, 97-98).
 
* Mike Rescigno averages 7.6 yards per rushing attempt (484 yards on 64 attempts). Last season, he set the school record for highest rushing average per attempt (minimum 100 attempts) at 6.9 yards per carry (155 rushes for 1,068 yards).
 
* Nazair Jean-Lubin's 100-yard interception return for a touchdown at Utica broke the school record of 94 yards, set by Steve Armstrong versus New York Tech in 1981. The maximum interception and kick return distance per NCAA rules is 100 yards, despite where in the end zone the return is initiated. Jean-Lubin intercepted a pass with his back foot in the end zone and ran for a touchdown on the final play of the first half to give Cortland a 28-7 halftime lead over the Pioneers.
 
* Cortland is 6-5 all-time in overtime games, with the last its 32-26 home loss to Brockport in 2019. All 11 games were decided in the first extra session. The Red Dragons are 3-1 in OT since joining the Empire 8 (wins vs. Utica and Hartwick in 2015, win versus Alfred in 2017, and loss to Brockport in 2019).
 
CORTLAND EMPIRE 8 NOTES:
 
* Cortland has been an Empire 8 conference member since 2015 (previously competed in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) for 15 seasons from 2000-14 - finished in at least a tie for first place in the NJAC six times).
 
* Cortland is one of three Empire 8 affiliate members for football, along with Morrisville and Alfred State (all three are otherwise full-time members of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC)). Brockport moved from affiliate to full-time status in the league in 2024. Alfred University, Hartwick, St. John Fisher and Utica also are full conference members.
 
* Cortland's Empire 8 titles - outright league title and NCAA automatic bid in 2021 (6-0), 2022 (6-0), 2023 (6-0), 2024 (7-0) and 2025 (7-0); co-champion in 2015 and 2019, earning an NCAA bid in 2015. Second or tied for second in 2017 and 2018.
 
* Cortland has a 36-game Empire 8 winning streak dating back to late in the 2019 season. During that streak, only four games were decided by two scores or less. Margin of victory breakdown during the streak:
 
33+ points              23 times
25-32 points           3 times
17-24 points           6 times
9-16 points             3 times (31-21 at Utica, 2026) (28-13 vs. Utica, 2025) (32-21 at Hartwick, 2019)
1-8 points               1 time (29-28 at Brockport, 2024)
 
* Cortland's last Empire 8 loss was a 32-26 home overtime setback versus Brockport in 2019. The Red Dragons' last Empire 8 loss in regulation was 21-16 at Brockport in 2018.

NCAA TOP 40:

* Cortland and Alfred rank in the top 40 nationally in Division III in the following team and individual categories:
 
CORTLAND:
 
5th, Rushing Defense, 43.6 yds./game
6th, Team Passing Efficiency Defense, 89.2 opponent rating
7th, Total Defense, 207.6 yds./game
7th, Scoring Defense, 9.6 pts./game
10th, Time of Possession, 34:25/game
12th, First Downs Defense, 60
16th, Rushing Offense, 256.8 yds./game
25th, Scoring Offense, 40.4 pts./game
26th, Blocked Punts, 1
31st, Kickoff Returns, 24.4 yds./return
32nd, Total Offense, 442.4 yds./game
33rd, Fourth Down Conversion Percentage, 66.7 pct.
34th, Red Zone Offense, 89.3 pct.
35th, First Downs Offense, 115
38th, Punt Return Defense, 3.4 yds./return
38th, Sacks Allowed, 1.0/game
 
Cortland is one of 25 undefeated Division III teams
 
Ethan Gallo, 10th, Rushing Touchdowns, 9
Mike Rescigno, 12th, Rush Yards per Carry, 7.6 yds./attempt
Cole Callard, 16th, Field Goal Percentage, 83.3 pct.
Ethan Gallo, 18th, Total Touchdowns, 9
Ethan Gallo, 19th, Scoring, 10.8 pts./game
Aidan Lochner, 20th, Forced Fumbles, 0.4/game
Cole Callard, 25th, Field Goals, 1.0/game
Mike Rescigno, 31st, Total Offense, 272.2 yds./game
Mike Rescigno, 36th, Passing Efficiency, 157.3 rating
Mike Rescigno, 40th, Rushing, 96.8 yds./game
 
ALFRED:
 
1st, Passes Had Intercepted, 0 (one of 6 teams not to be intercepted this season)
1st, Turnovers Lost, 1
13th, Completion Percentage, 68.0 pct.
20th, Fumbles Lost, 1
32nd, Turnover Margin, plus-1.0/game
33rd, Red Zone Defense, 61.1 pct.
39th, Fewest Penalty Yards, 38.0 yds./game
 
Martin Flanders Jr., 2nd, Fumbles Recovered, 2
Matt Parker, 16th, Completion Percentage, 69.4 pct.
Cameron Lew, 24th, Yards per Reception, 21.8 yds./catch
Matt Parker, 39th, Passing Efficiency, 155.2 rating
 

2026 Cortland Weekly Award Winners (game date/opponent in parentheses)
 
Joe Galea, Sr., Linebacker
Empire 8 Co-Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 12 at Union)
 
Jacque LaPrarie, Sr., Wide Receiver
Empire 8 Co-Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 26 vs. Morrisville)
 
Aidan Lochner, Sr., Linebacker
Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 3 at Utica)
 
Mike Rescigno, Jr., Quarterback
Empire 8 Co-Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 19 vs. Hartwick)


SCHEDULES/RESULTS:

CORTLAND (5-0, 3-0 Empire 8)
 
Sept. 5            at Grove City (PA)................................. W 28-18
Sept. 12          at Union................................................. W 26-0
Sept. 19          * HARTWICK......................................... W 55-3
Sept. 26         * MORRISVILLE......................................W 62-6
Oct. 3             * at Utica..................................................W 31-21
Oct. 17            * at Alfred Univ. .................................... 12:00
Oct. 24           * ST. JOHN FISHER................................ 1:00
Oct. 31            * ALFRED ST. ....................................... 1:00
Nov. 7             * at Brockport.......................................... 12:00
Nov. 14           Ithaca (Yankee Stadium)........................ 1:00
 
* Empire 8 game      HOME GAMES IN CAPS
 
ALFRED UNIV. (2-3, 1-1 Empire 8)
 
Sept. 4            at Hobart................................................ L 17-24
Sept. 12          at Ithaca.................................................. L 3-27
Sept. 19          ST. LAWRENCE.................................... W 31-7
Sept. 26         * ST. JOHN FISHER................................ L 15-33
Oct. 3             * at Hartwick........................................... W 27-7
Oct. 17            * CORTLAND.......................................... 12:00
Oct. 24           * at Utica.................................................. 12:00
Oct. 31            * BROCKPORT........................................ 12:00
Nov. 7            * ALFRED ST. .......................................... 1:00
Nov. 14           * at Morrisville.......................................... 1:00
 
* Empire 8 game      HOME GAMES IN CAPS

CORTLAND vs. ALFRED – SERIES RECORD
(Alfred leads 31-18-1)
 
Year            Winner........................... Score              Site
1940            Alfred.............................. 21-0                Alfred
1946            Alfred.............................. 20-12              Alfred
1947            Cortland.......................... 37-0                Cortland

1952            Alfred.............................. 33-28              Cortland
1953            Alfred.............................. 19-0                Alfred
1954            Alfred.............................. 32-12              Cortland
1955            Alfred.............................. 12-0                Alfred
1956            Alfred.............................. 24-6                Cortland
1957            Tie.................................. 12-12               Alfred
1958            Cortland.......................... 36-0                Cortland
1959            Cortland.......................... 12-2                Alfred

1960            Alfred.............................. 20-7                Cortland
1961            Cortland......................... 13-6                 Alfred
1962            Cortland.......................... 19-12              Cortland
1963            Alfred.............................. 12-0                Alfred
1964            Cortland.......................... 15-0                Cortland
1965            Cortland.......................... 26-6                Alfred
1966            Cortland.......................... 17-6                Cortland
1967            Alfred.............................. 14-6                Alfred
1968            Cortland.......................... 45-28              Alfred
1969            Alfred.............................. 20-17              Cortland

1970            Alfred.............................. 27-7                Alfred
1971            Alfred............................ 17-10                Cortland
1972            Alfred.............................. 29-27              Alfred
1973            Alfred............................. 20-7                 Cortland
1974            Alfred.............................. 19-0                Alfred
1975            Alfred.............................. 9-0                  Cortland
1976            Cortland.......................... 20-16              Alfred
1977            Alfred............................. 15-9                 Cortland
1978            Alfred.............................. 48-14              Alfred
1979            Alfred.............................. 34-7                Cortland

1980            Alfred.............................. 23-0                Alfred
1981            Alfred............................. 21-14               Cortland
1982            Alfred.............................. 35-21              Cortland
1983            Alfred.............................. 39-13              Alfred
1984            Alfred.............................. 43-6                Cortland
1985            Alfred.............................. 31-0                Alfred
1986            Alfred.............................. 34-9                Cortland

2010            Alfred.............................. 34-20              Cortland (NCAA Div. III Second Round)
2013            Alfred.............................. 21-14              Alfred (ECAC North Central Bowl)
2015            Cortland...........................20-14              Cortland
2016            Alfred...............................41-28              Alfred
2017            Cortland...........................20-17 (OT)     Cortland
2018            Alfred...............................38-33              Alfred
2019            Cortland.......................... 31-21              Cortland

2021            Cortland...........................47-3                Cortland
2022            Cortland...........................31-8                Alfred
2023            Cortland...........................59-21              Cortland
2024            Cortland...........................59-17              Alfred
2025            Cortland...........................65-12              Cortland


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