Clarkson Finishes 3-4; St. Lawrence Closes Season Without Win

Springfield’s Keith Rodman (38) and Andy Bean (2) run past the St. Lawrence defense, after a slow start early in the game. S.L.U. quarterback Danny Metzgar made his first collegiate home start, finishing 26-of-38 passing for 240 yards, two aerial touchdowns and another on the ground. However, the Saints lost 33-20.  (Casey Stephens photo)  Game Gallery

St. Lawrence University quarterback Danny Metzgar (5) is flushed out of the pocket, but eludes a diving tackle by Springfield’s Joe Knaub (97).  It was the first meeting between the teams since 1946.

Nov. 10: The St. Lawrence University football team fell to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy on Saturday afternoon at Brooks Stadium in Kings Point, NY by the score of 33-12 in the season finale. Quarterback Alex Coviello led the Mariners to the win, which both won the Hoffman Cup in the annual game and sealed a .500 season for the first time since 2003. Coviello rushed for a game-high 141 yards, while Mario Colangelo added 54 yards and two scores on the ground for the home team. Though Coviello completed only two passes, they both went for touchdowns and totaled 147 yards. St. Lawrence quarterback Danny Metzgar was 16-of-26 passing for 248 yards including a 37-yard score to Colby Johnson, who finished as the game's leading receiver with 106 yards. Merchant Marine closed with a 430-262 lead in total offense and was 7-of-14 on third down conversions while scoring on all three of its red zone tries. The Saints were 0-for-2 in the red zone and finished 0-for-9 on third down. Senior Joe Napolitano was the game's leading tackler with 12 stops, while Cooper Keller, Oraene Morgan and Jesse Clark all added 11 tackles for the Saints. James Cameron's nine tackles led the Mariners. The Saints scored on their second play from scrimmage, as Metzgar followed a 28-yard rush by Jake Gnieser with the touchdown pass to Johnson only 44 seconds into the game for a 6-0 lead. Brody Corless' extra point try failed. St. Lawrence's defense would cause a fumble and force a punt on the first two Mariner drives, but the offense was unable to turn them into points. The home team would tie the game at 6-6 with 3:51 left in the first when Coviello connected with Colin Hinchey for a 67-yard touchdown to cap the frame's scoring. Merchant Marine would take the lead on its first play of the second quarter, as Coviello's only other completion of the game went for 80 yards to Connor Kennedy for a touchdown. Daniel Kennedy added the extra point for a 13-6 cushion, which swelled to 20-6 after the home team scored on a Colangelo 1-yard rush on the ensuing drive. The Saints' defense would cause a big turnover to keep their team in the game, as Andrew Cox pounced on a fumble by Hinchey at the Mariner 4-yard line. Two plays later, senior Zach Migliore scored on a 2-yard rush to cut into St. Lawrence's deficit at 20-12 heading into intermission. Neither team was able to score in the third quarter, with the majority of offense coming on the ground and running the clock. However, Merchant Marine would go 40 yards on 12 plays and score only 56 seconds into the fourth quarter to build the lead to 26-12. The home would convert two third downs and a fourth down en route to the end zone, capped by a 3-yard rush by Kennedy. After the Saints turned the ball over on downs at their own 23-yard line, Merchant Marine would put the game away on a 4-yard score by Colangelo. Daniel Kennedy's extra point brought the game to its final score of 33-12, as the Mariners would run the final 7:47 off the clock with its impressive rush attack. Johnson was named the St. Lawrence Most Valuable Player of the Hoffman Cup game, while Coviello earned the same honor for the Mariners. The inaugural Hoffman Cup game was played in 2003 to commemorate the rivalry between the St. Lawrence University and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy football teams. Hoffman dedicated the game to his father, Captain Richard A. Hoffman, a 1944 graduate of Merchant Marine, for his 80th birthday. Captain Hoffman passed away in 2006, but this tradition honors both he and his family's commitment to athletics, the Merchant Marine Academy and St. Lawrence University.

Nov. 3: The St. Lawrence University football team went into the locker room at halftime of "Senior Day" tied with nationally-ranked No. 7 Hobart College on Saturday at Leckonby Stadium in the Saints' 2012 Homecoming Game. However, the Statesmen scored on their first four drives of the second half to take control of the game en route to a 34-14 victory to clinch the Liberty League title and an NCAA Tournament berth. Hobart, ranked No. 1 in the region, improved to 9-0 (6-0) with the win behind quarterback Nick Strang, who was 15-of-18 passing for 233 yards and three touchdowns. The Saints fall to 0-9, as the Statesmen defense sacked quarterback Danny Metzgar five times. "I'm really proud of the way our guys battled," said St. Lawrence head coach Mark Raymond. "That is one of the best teams in the country on both sides of the ball and we made them earn it today." Hobart finished with the edge in total offense (370-249), as eight receivers caught passes from Strang led by Junior Woodard's six receptions for 83 yards and a score. Metzgar was 9-for-25 passing for 152 yards and a touchdown to Mike Tateosian. Colby Johnson finished as the game's leading receiver with 113 yards on three catches. Hobart's Steven Webb was held in check by the Saints' defense (62 yards), while Pete Nesbitt led the home team on the ground with 50 yards. The first half was arguably the best half of football the Saints have played this season, as they controlled the possession and tempo, opening up a 7-1 advantage in first downs. Though neither team scored in the opening quarter, the Saints appeared to be ready to take the lead on a 30-yard field goal try. However, the holder, Zach Migliore, stood and fired a beautiful pass downfield to Evan Shifley for a touchdown on the fake which gave the Scarlet and Brown a 6-0 lead with 7:48 to play in the first half. Senior Chris Dris added the extra point.

Hobart, which couldn't get much going offensively in the first quarter, would respond with a touchdown drive of its own to tie the score at 7-7. The visitors went 67 yards in nine plays with the key play coming on 3rd-and-8 when Strang found Troy Robinson for 23 yards. Strang would rush in from five yards out for the tying touchdown, with James Hull adding the extra point to cap the first half scoring. The third quarter belonged to the nationally-ranked Statesmen, as they came out clicking on both sides of the ball to blow the game open. After taking the opening drive of the second half in for a touchdown and a 14-7 lead on a four yard completion to Yosh Karbowniczak, the defense forced a three-and-out. Hobart then needed only six plays to go 72 yards, with Woodard catching a Strang pass from 21 yards out, pushing the lead to 21-7 to cap the third quarter scoring. Hobart would score on its next two drives as well, as Dominique Ellis crossed the goal line on a 4-yard rush and Mike Berkowitz caught a 6-yard touchdown pass. Hull added one extra point but had the other blocked, giving Hobart a 34-7 lead with 5:18 to play in regulation. St. Lawrence would convert a 4th-and-15 on a deep pass downfield from Metzgar to Johnson for 50 yards to keep its ensuing drive alive. Metzgar would then find Tateosian on 3rd-and-goal with 3:21 to go for a Saint touchdown, with Dris' extra point making it 34-14. The Saints got the ball inside the Hobart 2-yard line in the final minute, but could not punch it into the end zone, falling by the score of 34-14. Tyre Coleman and Troy Johnson were tough along the defensive line for St. Lawrence, as all three of Coleman's tackles went for a loss in the game. Andrew Klindera had 10 tackles to lead the Statesmen, matching St. Lawrence's leading defensive player, Joe Napolitano. First-year student Leondre Simmon added an interception for the Saints, while Jolyon Davis also had a pick for Hobart. Saturday's game was the last home contest for the Saints' football team's class of 2013, which includes Robert McCourt, Houston Judd, Jesse Clark, Don Rohauer, Stephen Buskey, Tyler Swertfager, Chris Dris, Will Chapman, Ryan LaHue, Oraene Morgan, Greg Kelly, Zach Migliore, AJ Blaisdell, Derek Delzer, Dan Kent, Joe Napolitano, John Petosa, Aaron Lawton and Taylor Zappia. Also prior to kick-off on Saturday, the Saints' football program presented a check for $7,675 to the United Service Organization of Fort Drum in Watertown, NY. The team hosted a "Tribute to the Troops" earlier this fall, donating the proceeds from the event to the USO, a group dedicated to lifting the spirits of troops and their families, while providing support to "Operation Enduring Care."

Oct. 27: The St. Lawrence University football team committed five turnovers on Saturday, as WPI used its defense to set up offensive chances en route to a 36-17 Liberty League victory over the Saints at Alumni Field in Worcester, MA. WPI's Mitch McClune set a school record with four interceptions for the home team, while quarterback John Antonopoulos accounted for four touchdowns and a career-high 347 passing yards. The Engineers improve to 2-6 (1-4), while St. Lawrence falls to 0-8 (0-5). Evan Shifley and Colby Johnson each had receiving touchdowns for the Scarlet and Brown, while rookie Jake Gnieser had 91 yards on 20 carries. Antonopoulos was 26-of-47 passing for 347 yards and three scores, including seven completions to Aaron Marshall, who had 111 yards and a touchdown. Danny Metzgar was under center for St. Lawrence, completing 27-of-45 passes for 229 yards and a touchdown, but was plagued by four interceptions. McClune had the big day defensively with four picks and five tackles, while Shaine Grogan and Mike Grasis had a game-high 10 tackles for the home team. First-year student Leondre Simmon had eight tackles to lead St. Lawrence, while Joe Napolitano had seven tackles including a forced fumble. WPI scored on its first drive to take a 7-0 lead, but St. Lawrence cut into the deficit thanks to a 31-yard field goal by senior Chris Dris on the ensuing possession. The Engineers would get those points back to cap the first quarter scoring, as Mitch Lewis was good from 28 yards out to give WPI a 10-3 lead at the end of one. Though Napolitano kept WPI out of the end zone by forcing a fumble at the 1-yard line and recovering it early in the second quarter, the Saints' offense was unable to get a first down, giving WPI excellent field position after the punt. Antonopoulos moved his team 45-yards in six plays, capped by a 9-yard touchdown strike on 3rd down to Ehab Hamdan to open up a 16-3 lead. Lewis' kick failed. As the two teams exchanged possessions throughout much of the second quarter, the Saints looked to have a scoring chance before the half, as they took over at the WPI 44 with 1:43 left. However, McClune made his first interception of Metzgar on 1st down, and Antonopoulos took advantage three plays later with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Marshall to end the first half with the home team up 22-3. With the defenses controlling the third quarter, St. Lawrence used some trickery to get back into the game. Metzgar lateraled the ball to rookie Joe Battaglia at the WPI 27, who then fired a pass to Colby Johnson in the end zone for the touchdown. Dris' extra point made it 22-10. St. Lawrence would strike again on its next drive, taking only three plays before Metzgar connected with Shifley for a 34-yard touchdown that go the Saints within striking distance, trailing 22-17 after Dris' extra point. The Saints would get the ball back trailing by the same margin, but were forced to punt after being hit with one of six penalties on the day, this one a 10-yard holding call. Antonopoulos would make them pay on the ensuing drive, marching 62-yards in six plays, capped by a 6-yard score to Anthony Andre. WPI's lead was 29-17 after Lewis hit the extra point, but saw the lead climb to 36-17 after scoring on its next drive when Gallagher Hogan rushed in from one yard out with 2:14 remaining to put the game away. St. Lawrence will play its final home game next Saturday as part of "Homecoming Weekend", as the Saints host nationally-ranked Hobart College at Leckonby Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:30pm.

Oct. 20: The St. Lawrence University sophomore quarterback Danny Metzgar made his first collegiate home start on Saturday against Springfield, finishing 26-of-38 passing for 240 yards, two passing touchdowns and another on the ground. However, the Pride used several big plays from scrimmage and blocked punt en route to a 33-20 victory at Leckonby Stadium in the first meeting between the teams since 1946. St. Lawrence falls to 0-7 after playing Springfield as a Liberty League opponent, while the Pride improves to 5-3 (3-2). "I'm proud of the way our guys battled this afternoon," said St. Lawrence head coach Mark Raymond. "We gave great effort against a very good football team, but they made the big plays and we came up a little short." St. Lawrence had the edge in first downs (25-17) and total yards (352-342), as Springfield did not complete a pass in the game. However, the triple option was effective early in scoring plays, and later in the contest in moving the chains. Quarterback Jonathan Marrero led the Pride with 103 yards on 16 carries including two scores, while Mike Davis, Andrew Alty and Keith Rodman each added touchdowns on the ground. The Saints were led offensively by Mike Tateosian's game-high eight catches for 79 yards, while Brad Parrott and Evan Shifley added touchdown receptions. Defensively, senior Joe Napolitano had a game-high 12 tackles, while Springfield was led by Sam Weiss and Brian Staub with 11 stops each. St. Lawrence came out clicking on its first drive, which covered 79 yards on 16 plays to build a 7-0 lead. Metzgar led the hurry up offense, converting on four third downs, including a nine-yard touchdown pass to Shifley to put the Scarlet and Brown on top. Chris Dris added the extra point for a 7-0 lead. Though Springfield went three-and-out on its first possession, the Pride would score on four consecutive drives to build an impressive lead. Marrero's 63-yard rush helped tie the game, with Ricky Peacock's extra point, while Alty raced in from 67 yards out to give the visitors a 13-7 advantage. Peacock's point after was blocked by senior co-captain Oraene Morgan. After the Saints' offense went three-and-out, Dris had his punt stuffed inside his own 20-yard line by Mike Dublin, giving the Pride the ball at the Saints 14. Rodman would cap the short five play drive with a two yard score for a 19-7 lead, though the two-point conversion failed. Springfield would cap the first half scoring with a 74-yard drive, aided by a 24-yard run by Davis and a 15-yard penalty against St. Lawrence. Davis would finish the drive from four yards out, giving Springfield a 25-7 lead with 4:56 remaining in the first half. Peacock's extra point try pushed the lead to 26-7. St. Lawrence would have a chance at the end of the first half deep in Springfield territory. Though the team found the red zone, they were unable to push the pile on 4th-and-inches, turning the ball over at the Pride 6-yard line to end the first half trailing by three scores. After the defense forced a punt from Springfield, the St. Lawrence offense would turn in a seven play, 47-yard scoring drive, as Metzgar used the QB sneak to cross the goal line from the 1-yard line. Dris' extra point was good, pulling the Saints within two scores at 26-14 early in the third quarter. However, a 15-play, 67-yard Springfield drive that took 8:10 would take the momentum away from the home team once again. The critical play on the drive came with Springfield facing a 3rd-and-16 at the Saints 34-yard line, as Marrero's pass was incomplete to Phil Baier, but pass interference was whistled against the home team, giving the Pride a fresh set of downs. Three plays later, Springfield was celebrating a 33-14 lead thanks to an 18-yard score by Marrero followed by Peacock's extra point. Metzgar continued to shine, leading a 9-play, 73 yard touchdown drive to bring the score to 33-20 with 14:22 left in regulation. He once again converted a pair of long third downs, and eventually found Parrott on a roll out to his right for a 7-yard touchdown score. Dris added the point after. The Saints' defense would stop Springfield on the ensuing drive, but not before the visitors wiped 8:39 off the game clock, forcing the Scarlet and Brown to attack through the air. Though Metzgar would get his offense to the Springfield 24-yard line, rookie Jake Gnieser was stopped on 4th-and-1, giving possession back to the Pride on downs, who ran out the clock after kneeling on the ball.

Oct. 6: St. Lawrence University junior Mike Tateosian caught nine passes for 121 yards and a score, while rookie Miles Crump added 85 yards and two touchdowns, but the Saints football team was unable to stop quarterback Mike Hermann and the Rensselaer offense, as the Engineers racked up a 46-27 win in Troy, NY on Saturday afternoon. Rensselaer (4-1, 2-1) keeps its hopes of a Liberty League title alive with the victory, which came thanks to a 302-64 advantage in rushing yards. Hermann accounted for four scores, three passing touchdowns and another running, while TJ Strunk and Andrew Armato also found the end zone for RPI. Meanwhile, the Saints fall to 0-6 (0-3) despite a three-touchdown outing from sophomore Danny Metzgar. Both teams finished with 26 first downs in the game, while the Saints held a 360-306 advantage in passing yards. Junior Evan Shifley had a career game for the Saints, catching eight balls for a game-high 129 yards. Defensively, Matthew Day finished as the game's leading tackler, making 15 stops for RPI while adding an interception. Senior Derek Delzer led the Saints with seven tackles. St. Lawrence took a 7-0 lead than to an impressive 12-play, 76-yard drive orchestrated by starting quarterback Zane Fish. The visitors converted on two third downs, and on 1st-and-goal from the 4-yard line, sophomore CJ Stewart plowed into the end zone for a touchdown. Chris Dris added the extra point. Rensselaer would respond with a scoring drive of its own, capped by a 9-yard touchdown rush by Strunk. Andrew Franks' extra point tied the score at 7-7, though RPI was back in the end zone only 56 seconds later. Nick Borkowski intercepted Fish on the first play of the ensuing drive, giving Hermann the ball at the Saints' 23. The quarterback then found Austin Caswell on first down for a 23-yard score to put the Engineers on top 13-7, with Franks again adding the PAT. Rensselaer threatened again on its next drive, but Caswell fumbled the football at the St. Lawrence 10-yard line. Though linebacker Andrew Cox recovered the ball for St. Lawrence, he ran into the end zone and was tackled for a safety, growing the home team's lead to 16-7. RPI would tack on three more points early in the second quarter after getting the ball on the safety on a 31-yard field goal by Franks for a 19-7 cushion. The Engineers would then cap the first half scoring with 6:28 left in the second quarter, as Hermann found Reggie Colas for a 14-yard touchdown to make it 25-7. Fish was intercepted two more times, including on 2nd-and-goal at the RPI 9-yard line, which kept the Engineers in control. On 1st-and-10 from the 12, Hermann rushed the length of the field, 88 yards, for a back-breaking touchdown midway through the third quarter. Franks' extra point try was good for a 32-7 Rensselaer lead. Metzgar replaced Fish on the ensuing drive and marched 65-yards in 10 plays for a St. Lawrence touchdown. The Natick, MA native was 5-for-7 on the drive including three completions to Tateosian, the last a 10-yard touchdown toss. Dris added the extra point to make it 32-14, which capped the third quarter scoring. Rensselaer continued to move the ball on its first drive of the fourth, which ended with an 18-yard touchdown run by Armato. Metzgar and the Saints' offense came right back and scored on a 79-yard drive, finished by a 13-yard pass to Crump to bring the score to 39-21. The two teams again exchanged touchdowns on consecutive drives, with Hermann finding Steven Burpoe for a 41-yard touchdown, while Metzgar found Crump from 7-yards out to bring the game to its final score of 46-27. Hermann finished 19-of-35 passing for 277 yards and three touchdowns. Metzgar was 13-of-22 for 189 yards and three scores, while Fish was 14-of-26 for 171 and three interceptions.

Clarkson’s offensive line celebrates around quarterback Mitchell Jones after he ran to the end zone in the third quarter. Jones also scored in the second quarter in leading the Golden Knights to a 28-12 victory over Boston University. Clarkson closed its 2012 regular season at 3-4, winning three of the last four games.   (Eric Foote photo)  Game Gallery

Clarkson running back Andrew Dorr (25) gets wrapped up from behind and brought to the turf. In their final game of the year, Clarkson scored seven points in each quarter, while Boston put up six points in the second and fourth frames.

Oct. 27: Clarkson University closed out its 2012 regular season with a steady 28-12 win over Boston University.  With the win, the Golden Knights won three of their last four games to close the season with a 3-4 overall record.  Two of the four losses were by just one point each. The season turned around in Week 4 when the Knights upset top-seeded Onondaga Community College 14-10 in a comeback win.  In their final game of the year, Clarkson scored seven points in each quarter, while Boston put up six points in the second and fourth frames. Clarkson got on the scoreboard in the first period when Billy VanNostrand scooped up a B.U. fumble at the Clarkson 44 and raced 56 yards to score.  Mitch Jones provided Clarkson's next two scores, scrambling 16 yards to score before the half in posting a 14-6 lead at intermission.  Jones pounded the ball to paydirt from eight yards out in the third quarter to give Clarkson a 21-6 advantage. Sean Eustace closed the Knights' scoring with a one-yard plunge in a 28-12 final.
 

Clarkson’s Luke Porter (16) takes handoff, runs up the middle of the Connecticut defense and stretches out for a touchdown. The Golden Knights won their second game of the season, improving to 2-4, with their biggest margin of the season. Clarkson defeated Eastern Connecticut State University 28-8.

Clarkson defenders swarm Connecticut’s running game at the point of attack, during the second half of Saturday’s game played at Potsdam High School. The Golden Knights rolled to their biggest margin of victory on the season, a 28-8 win over Eastern Connecticut. (Casey Stephens photo)  Game Gallery 

Oct. 20: The week's break for Clarkson University allowed the Golden Knights extra time to prepared for Eastern Connecticut State University, after a heartbreaking 8-7 loss to New Jersey.  Clarkson earned its second win with its biggest margin of the season, a 28-8 win over ECSU, in a game played at Potsdam High School.  The Knights improved to 2-4 and will close the regular season at home next Saturday when they host Boston University, hoping to avenge last year's 6-0 loss.
 

Clarkson’s Andrew Dorr (25) gains several yards against Onondaga’s Dominique Harris (78) on a draw play in the first half of Friday’s game against the nation’s top-ranked college club team, Onondaga Community College. Clarkson rallied for their first win of the season, a 14-10 triumph over O.C.C.  
(John LaRue photo)  Game Gallery

Onondaga Community College’s Parker Kiff (20) is cut down by Clarkson defender Colby Satraw, but not before Kiff advanced downfield into Clarkson territory in the first half of Friday’s game.  The #1-ranked college club in the nation, the Ogres, were dealt their first defeat in Clarkson’s 14-10 comeback. 

October 6: For the second time in four defeats this season, the Clarkson University football team lost a one-point decision.  The Golden Knights fell to New Jersey 8-7.  Clarkson fell to 1-4 in the Yankee Collegiate Football Conference.  The Knights will travel to University of Maine for a Saturday game next week.

September 28: Clarkson University captured its first football win of the season the hard way, coming from behind to defeat the top-ranked college club team in the nation, Onondaga Community College 14-10, on Friday night lights at Potsdam High School.  Clarkson trailed 10-0 at the half, but bounced back with two touchdowns in the second half and impeccable defense to shut down the Ogres in the final 30 minutes to complete the impressive comeback.  More game details were not immediately available.  Clarkson improved to 1-3 on the season, while Onondaga suffered its first loss.
 

Clarkson’s Luke Porter receives the snap, then drops back looking for a receiver and a much-needed spark somewhere, after getting down in the fourth quarter. Clarkson struggled to score against Southwestern Connecticut, losing their third straight in a 35-7 loss in their home opener in Potsdam.
(Casey Stephens photo)  Game Gallery

Clarkson’s Luke Porter (16) receives the snap and drops back looking for a receiver and a much-needed spark, after the Golden Knights fell behind by four scores in the fourth quarter.

September 22: Clarkson University's football team dropped its home opener to a strong team from Southwestern Connecticut.  The Knights fell behind early and were unable to recover in  35-7 defeat at Potsdam High School.  The Knights fell to 0-3 on the season.

September 15: The Clarkson Golden Knights lost a heartbreaker in the final 15 seconds of the game, falling to the University of Vermont 22-21, on the road at South Burlington, VT.  The Knights led 21-15, when the Catamounts' drive produced a touchdown to tie 12-21 and the extra-point kick to win with 15 seconds remaining.

September 8: Clarkson University opened its 2012 football campaign with a 16-2 loss on the road at Onondaga Community College.  After a scoreless first quarter, OCC notched two touchdowns in the second frame to gain a 13-0 lead.  The Lasers booted a third-quarter field goal.  Clarkson was able to prevent a shutout with a third-quarter safety.  The play of the game was hampered by heavy storm rains in the Syracuse area and as a result, the statistics kept on paper were unreadable and details were lost.
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St. Lawrence University quarterback Zane Fish (18) of Evans Mills, NY gets sacked from behind by an Alfred defender. The Saints lost their third straight game on Saturday, falling to Alfred University 28-7. Alfred intercepted Fish four times, while Austin Dwyer piled up 111 yards and two scores for the Saxons.

The Saints' Mike Tateosian (4) looks for more yards after making a catch, but would get wrapped up by Alfred’s Jon Jackson (1).  The Saints (0-3) were led by Tateosian's seven catches for 40 yards. (Eric Foote photo)  Game Gallery

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St. Lawrence University wide receiver Justin nardo (22) gets upended by Nate Fortezzo (26).  The Saints led 7-6 early and had several other chances to score, but suffered a 20-7 loss to Norwich.  (Eric Foote photo)  Game Gallery

On a carry up the middle, Norwich running back Danny Triplett (33) gets wrapped up by St. Lawrence University’s Taylor Zappia (6) from Massena, NY.

Sept. 22: The St. Lawrence University football team dropped its 2012 Liberty League opener on Saturday, as Union College's Kyle Reynolds scored three touchdowns en route to a 31-20 victory for the Dutchmen at Leckonby Stadium in Canton, NY.Union, which closed with a 383-288 advantage in total offense, improves to 1-3 (1-0) while St. Lawrence falls to 0-4 (0-1) after committing three turnovers in the final game of a three-game home stand. "We continue to turn the ball over too many times," said St. Lawrence head coach Mark Raymond.  "You can't have three interceptions at costly times and expect to beat a good football team like Union." Union quarterback Connor Eck finished 15-of-24 passing for 166 yards and three scores, while St. Lawrence starter Zane Fish was 14-of-23 for 123 yards but was picked off three times.  Junior Mike Tateosian was the game's leading receiver, as he caught six balls for 94 yards and a score.  Tim Hersey rushed for 80 yards on nine carries to lead Union's run game, while first-year students Maurice Irby and Miles Crump each hand rushing touchdowns for St. Lawrence. Union held a 3-0 lead late in the first quarter thanks to a Tosin Kazeem field goal, but saw the home team take its only lead of the contest with 36 seconds left in the frame.  Crump showed his speed from 16 yards out on a reverse as he raced to the pile on and scored his second touchdown of the season.  Chris Dris' extra point try failed, keeping the score at 6-3 after the opening quarter. St. Lawrence had momentum after stopping Union on the ensuing drive and reached the Union 39-yard line, but Fish was intercepted by Gajar Johnson and returned back to the St. Lawrence 30.  Five plays later, Union's T.J. Franzese scored from seven yards out for a 9-6 Dutchmen lead.  Kazeem's extra point made it 10-6 with 3:48 left in the half. Johnson and the Union defense would help the visitors pad the lead before intermission, though, as he intercepted Fish again. Eck and the offense would then march 62 yards in the two minute drill, capping the touchdown drive with an easy completion to Reynolds with under :03 seconds remaining in the half.  Kazeem gave Union a 17-6 lead thanks to the extra point. Eck would again orchestrate a touchdown drive on Union's opening possession of the second half to push the lead to 24-6, finding Reynolds from eight yards out.  However, St. Lawrence would respond on the next drive, going 80 yards in eight plays to keep itself in the contest.  Irby would cap the drive with an impressive burst, rushing to the outside and beating the Union defense to the end zone for a 26-yard score.  Dris' extra point was good, keeping St. Lawrence within two scores at 24-13. Union refused to budge, and used a 14-play, 68-yard drive to put the game away.  The Dutchmen converted two fourth down chances, then celebrated as Eck found Reynolds for his third and final score with 2:39 left in the third quarter.  Kazeem's point after made it 31-13 after three. St. Lawrence was unable to rally in the fourth, as they turned it over on downs and Fish was picked by Alex Macchio.  Sophomore quarterback Danny Metzgar entered the game on the Saints final drive, and looked sharp, completing 8-of-10 passes including an impressive 23-yard strike to Tateosian in the end zone with under :04 seconds left.  Dris' extra point capped the scoring with Union on top 31-20. Defensively, first-year student Tucker Stone led all players with nine tackles in his first collegiate start for the Scarlet and Brown while Andrew Cox, Oraene Morgan and Leondre Simmon each added eight tackles.  Brian Daley's seven tackles led Union's effort, while Bill Meile had a game-high 2.0 sacks.

Sept. 15: The St. Lawrence University football team lost its third straight game on Saturday, falling to Alfred University by the score of 28-7 at Leckonby Stadium.  Alfred was able to curb the momentum throughout the game behind four interceptions of Saint quarterback Zane Fish, while Austin Dwyer piled up 111 yards and two scores for the Saxons. The Saints (0-3) were led offensively by junior Mike Tateosian's seven catches for 40 yards.  Sophomore CJ Stewart carried the ball 10 times for 40 yards on the ground as well.  Fish was 17-of-31 passing for 140 yards, a touchdown and the four interceptions, while Alfred quarterback Zach Sopak was 11-of-24 for 120 yards, a touchdown and two pick to move his team to 1-1 on the young season. "Alfred is a good football team, but we need to limit our mistakes on both sides of the ball," said St. Lawrence head coach Mark Raymond.  "We continue to make errors at critical times, and we have to find a way fix it before the beginning of conference play." Neither team was able to establish much offense in the first quarter until Alfred put together a late 11-play, 76-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead.  The drive, which lasted 5:00 minutes, was aided by a face mask penalty and a key 4th-and-4 conversion by the Saxons.  Dwyer capped the drive with a 3-yard score, with Zach Tavolaro adding the extra point with only :50 seconds left in the opening stanza. The touchdown got Alfred's offense moving, as they would push the lead to 14-0 on its next possession.  A 9-play, 68-yard drive was capped by another score by Dwyer from two yards out with 9:35 to play in the half.  Tavolaro again added the point after.  Fish and the Saints had excellent field possession with 5:04 remaining in the second, but Fish was intercepted at the Alfred 20-yard line to end the scoring threat.  The Saxons would flip the script thanks to a 58-yard run by Dwyer to the Saints' 3-yard line, and Chuck Beckwith would score on the next play to give the visitors a 20-0 lead.  Tavolaro's extra point capped the first half scoring at 21-0. St. Lawrence would grab the early momentum in the second half, as they forced a three-and-out before going 56-yards in six plays to cut into the deficit.  Fish completed a 23-yard pass to Max Johnson, while Maurice Irby and Stewart added solid run plays down to the Alfred 4-yard line.  On 1st-and-goal, Fish used play-action to open up rookie Jake Gnieser for an easy touchdown catch with 8:59 left in the third quarter.  Chris Dris tacked on the extra point to make it 21-7. The Saints' defense would work to keep the team in the game, as senior Joe Napolitano intercepted Sopak to end an Alfred drive, while fellow classmate Jeremy Ramos would do the same on the ensuing possession to keep Alfred from extending its lead.  Unfortunately for the home team, Fish was picked off on both St. Lawrence drives, including a pick by Reggie Pressley to give Alfred possession at the Saints' 33-yard line.  That turnover led to a 28-yard reception by Beckwith with 2:17 left in the third, giving the Saxons a solid 28-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Saints moved the ball from their own 12 to Alfred's 30-yard line, but were again halted by an interception by Alfred's Chris Steeves on a screen pass in the final stanza.  The turnover ended the home team's rally effort, as the Saxons protected the 28-7 lead to the final whistle. Napolitano had an outstanding game for St. Lawrence, including a game-high 11 tackles to go along with his interception.  Alfred's defense was led by standout defensive lineman Mike Raplee, who made 10 tackles including a game-high 4.0 for a loss.

Sept. 8: The St. Lawrence University football team lost its 2012 home opener on Saturday at Leckonby Stadium, as Norwich University piled up 299 yards rushing en route to a 20-7 victory over the Saints in Canton, NY.  Norwich improved to 2-0 on the young season thanks to their rushing attack and a defense with a "bend but don't break" mentality.  The Saints (0-2) had several quality chances to score, but finished only 1-for-4 in red zone opportunities. "We made crucial mistakes that came back to haunt us throughout the game," said head coach Mark Raymond.  "We need to capitalize on our chances and make plays when opportunities come up.  Norwich is a good football team that came out of the game ready to play." Norwich running backs Derrick Pitts and Dan Triplett ran for 117 and 86 yards respectively, while quarterback Kris Sabourin ran for 67 and threw for 30 more.  The Saints combined for 76 yards rushing, led by first-year Maurice Irby with 36, while junior quarterback Zane Fish completed 21-of-49 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown.  Junior Mike Tateosian had a career-high eight receptions for 68 yards and a score. Senior linebacker Joe Napolitano had a game-high 14 tackles, while fellow seniors Jeremy Ramos (12) and Taylor Zappia (10) also had double-digit tackles.  First-year student Leondre Simmon made his first collegiate interception.  Norwich's defense was anchored by Matt Simonelli and Dave Pallotto, who had six tackles each. Norwich took the ball right down the field and scored on the opening possession of the game, as Sabourin led his team on a 14-play, 75 yard drive that finished with a 1-yard score by Triplett.  The lead stayed at 6-0 after Zappia blocked the extra point try by Patrick Wilson. St. Lawrence would answer later in the first quarter to take a 7-6 lead after 15:00 minutes.  After converting on a 4th-and-3 at the Norwich 31, the Saints worked the ball down to the 7-yard line.  Fish then found Tateosian on an in route for a touchdown pass with :48 seconds left in the opening stanza.  Senior Chris Dris added the extra point. With heavy winds blowing throughout the second quarter, Norwich was able to use its running attack and defense to build the 20-7 lead.  A 63-yard rush by Pitts would get the Cadets down the St. Lawrence 5-yard line, and Mike Cavanaugh would punch it in from one yard out to put the visitors back on top with 10:25 left in the half.  Norwich would grow the lead to 20-7 in the final minute, as Sabourin connected with Zach Allen for an 11-yard touchdown pass with only :53 seconds left before intermission.  Wilson added the extra point following each score. Much of the second half was dictated by weather and field conditions.  Torrential downpours greeted the players to start the third quarter, and though the rain would eventually subside, the Weeks Field was very soft and players struggled to find footing. St. Lawrence had the ball inside the Norwich 20 midway through the third, but came away empty after two short rushes and a pair of incomplete passes.  Needing a score in the fourth, Fish was sacked by Nick Pulaski on 2nd-and-10 at the Norwich 24.  The ball came loose, and Norwich settled on the ball as mistakes cost the Saints a chance at their first victory this season. The Saints hosted a "Tribute to the Troops" on Saturday, which included the 10th Mountain Division band performing the national anthem and a half time show.  St. Lawrence wore commemorative camouflage uniforms which were sold throughout the game to raise money for soldiers stationed at Fort Drum who are facing medical hardships.  T-shirt sales, a 50/50 raffle, and "Touchdowns for the Troops" were other fundraisers held to support the cause.  Sargent Philip Parks and Lieutenant Laura Cook, both stationed at Fort Drum, served as an honorary captains for the game. "It was a special atmosphere in the stadium this afternoon, and I can't thank everyone enough for the support we've received both from campus but also from Fort Drum," added Coach Raymond.  "We're looking forward to continuing to raise money throughout the season, as well as awareness about the struggles our soldiers face while defending our country."

September 1: Utica College senior quarterback Andrew Benkwitt was 20-for-36 passing for 355 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Pioneers to a 40-7 victory over St. Lawrence University on Saturday under the lights in front of 2,560 fans at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. The Pioneers (1-0) scored on four consecutive drives to jump out to a big first half lead en route to the win, while the Saints (0-1) struggled to find a rhythm on offense and to stop Benkwitt's crew on defense without senior captain Oraene Morgan.  "They're an extremely talented team with an elite quarterback," said St. Lawrence head coach Mark Raymond.  "We didn't perform to our ability and committed too many penalties.  We'll take the experience we gained tonight and start preparing for Norwich." Utica finished with a 508-206 advantage in total offense, while the Saints were haunted by 14 penalties throughout the game.  First-year student Rajiv Heron had an impressive outing in his first collegiate contest, posting a game-high 2.5 sacks and five total tackles.  Utica's Mike Cottle was the game's leading rusher with 69 yards on 10 carries, while both Jeremy Meier and pre-season All-American Matt Dunn went over 100 yards receiving for the Pioneers.  First-year student Miles Crump, who scored the only St. Lawrence touchdown, finished with 92 yards on four catches. St. Lawrence's offense came out of the gate well, with junior Zane Fish under center in his first collegiate start.  Fish generated a 68-yard drive down to the Utica 6-yard line including a 26-yard completion to junior Mike Tateosian.  However, the Saints came up short on 4th-and-inches to give the ball to Benkwitt deep in Utica territory.  The defensive stop gave Benkwitt the ball in a scoreless game, and the quarterback marched his team 94 yards in seven plays to put the home team on top, 6-0, at 10:24 of the first quarter.  Dunn hauled in the 6-yard pass to cap the scoring drive. That turn of events began a tough stretch for the Scarlet and Brown, as Utica rattled off four touchdowns to take a 27-0 lead deep into the first half.  St. Lawrence would get on the scoreboard with 4:27 left in the second quarter, when Fish used play-action to hook up with first-year student Miles Crump deep down the right sideline.  After the completion, the wide receiver showed his speed, as he raced to the end zone for a 70-yard touchdown catch.  Senior Chris Dris added the extra point to make it 27-7. A sack by Heron in the final minute of the first half seemed to give the Saints momentum.  However, on 3rd-and-15 at the Saints' 31, Benkwitt connected with Dunn over the middle for a back-breaking touchdown with a mere :26 left in the half.  Thomas Woodburn added the extra point to cap the half's scoring at 34-7. Utica would keep rolling on the opening drive of the second half, as Benkwitt and the Pioneers marched 63 yards in eight plays for a touchdown drive to make it 40-7.  A 30-yard completion to Dakota Peel gave Utica's offense 1st-and-goal, and Benkwitt would find Jamie Murphy for a three yard score to open the third quarter. The Saints had a few chances throughout the second half to cut into the deficit, but turnovers and penalties plagued them throughout.  Their best chance came on the opening possession of the fourth quarter, as Fish found sophomore tight end Maxwell Johnson down to the Utica 9-yard line.  However, a penalty was followed by an interception at the goal line by Utica's Xavier Richardson, ending St. Lawrence's scoring bid. Fish finished 11-of-20 passing for 206 yards and a touchdown, but was hampered by three interceptions.  He also added 36 yards on the ground to finish as his team's leading rusher.  Junior Keith Goode Jr. had the lone S.L.U. interception of Benkwitt in the second quarter.