St. Lawrence (3-6) Finishes With Win; Clarkson Closes at 3-3

University of Rochester’s Richard Brunet (85) gets gang tackled by St. Lawrence University’s by four players, including Christian Bianchi (21) and John Lesofsky (37).  St. Lawrence, which led 13-3 with 13:26 left in regulation, failed to stop Rochester on back-to-back scoring drives and dropped a 16-13 heartbreaker at Leckonby Stadium.  (Eric Foote photo)  Game Gallery

St. Lawrence University’s Ethan Sutton (2) makes a diving catch while also being tackled by Rochester’s Zach Cicero (44).

November 12: The St. Lawrence University football team won its 2011 season finale by the score of 21-14 over WPI in Worcester, MA.  The team's seniors carried the load on Saturday, as co-captain Marcus Washington had 187 yards and two touchdowns rushing to go over 1,000 yards on the season while Phil Hamilton and Trevor Saunders anchored the defense. The Saints finish the year with a 3-6 record overall and a 2-4 mark in Liberty League play, owning the time of possession on Saturday, 34:48 to 25:12.  Meanwhile, the Engineers fall to 2-7 (1-5) despite outgaining St. Lawrence 260-242 in total offense. In a battle of two of the premier running backs in the league, Washington's 187 yards and two scores on 38 carries trumped the 88 yard game from Ernie Mello of WPI.  Meanwhile, Phil Hamilton turned in a game-high 11 tackles on defense for head coach Mark Raymond, including 10 solo tackles and three for a loss.  Saunders, also playing his last game in a Saint uniform, made eight tackles and added an interception. St. Lawrence would waste little time in taking an early 7-0 lead thanks to a 92-yard kick-off return to start the game by first-year student John Wittig that got the visitors offense to the Engineer 1-yard line.  Washington would take the first carry and cross the goal line for a 6-0 lead, while senior Doug Geraghty added the extra point to make it 7-0 only 27 seconds in. After forcing WPI to punt on its first drive, sophomore quarterback Zach Migliore and Washington helped the Saints move 96 yards in 16 plays to make it a 14-0 game.  Pinned deep in its own territory, St. Lawrence continued to rush the ball with Washington, while Migliore added two key first down runs and a 13-yard completion to sophomore Mike Tateosian.  On 3rd-and-5 from the WPI 14, Migliore then connected with sophomore Evan Shifley for a 14-yard touchdown catch with 4:00 minutes left in the opening quarter.  Geraghty again added the extra point for a 14-0 lead. The Engineers threatened to score on the final drive of the first half, as quarterback Johny Antonopoulos moved his offense down to the St. Lawrence 18-yard line.  However, after needing to convert 4th-and-5 from the 13, junior Jesse Clark delivered a big sack for the Saints, allowing them to keep their 14-0 lead intact at halftime. St. Lawrence looked to be in control midway through the third quarter after dodging a big play by WPI.  Mello blocked a St. Lawrence punt and Manny Cambra appeared headed for the end zone.  However, he fumbled at the Saint 9-yard line and first-year student Louis Muraco recovered to keep the Engineer offense off the field. The home team's special team's unit would come right back on the field, though, and deliver another blocked punt, and this time, Mello scooped up the loose ball and went 20-yards for the touchdown with 3:56 to go in the third quarter.  Cody Beckel added the extra point to cut his team's deficit to 14-7. After a three-and-out by the Scarlet and Brown, WPI went 54 yards in only three plays to tie the game at 14-14.  Mello used a 19-yard rush to get into St. Lawrence territory, followed by a 32-yard touchdown strike from Antonopoulos to Cambra.  Beckel again added the extra point to tie the score at 14-14 heading into the fourth quarter. St. Lawrence owned the better field position in the fourth quarter and took over 1st-and-10 on the WPI 45-yard line with 8:29 remaining.  With the game in the balance, the Saints turned to Washington, who rushed the ball eight out of nine plays on the drive to march his team into the end zone.  The Pahokee, FL native converted two 3rd downs on the drive, which he eventually capped with a 4-yard touchdown rush with 3:25 remaining in regulation.  Geraghty again added the extra point for a 21-14 lead. Though Antonopoulos would get WPI to the St. Lawrence 37-yard line, the home team's final drive stalled after a sack by Clark and junior Oraene Morgan.  After WPI failed on 4th-and-15, St. Lawrence was able to run out the clock and celebrate the 21-14 win.

November 5: The University of Rochester football team scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter on Saturday, propelling the Yellowjackets' comeback in a 16-13 win over St. Lawrence University on "Senior Day" in Canton, NY.  St. Lawrence, which led 13-3 with 13:26 left in regulation but failed to stop Rochester on back-to-back scoring drives, falls to 2-6 (1-4) on the year.  Meanwhile, the Yellowjackets improve to 4-4 (3-2) after outgaining the Saints 314-164 offensively.  "This was a disappointing loss because we wanted to let our seniors celebrate their final home game," said St. Lawrence head coach Mark Raymond.  "I'm very proud of the way Zach (Migliore) stepped in and played this afternoon.  The support we received this weekend from family, friends and alumni on campus has been tremendous and we will look to give a great effort next Saturday against WPI."  Both offenses struggled to get going, but the Saints' defense got them on the scoreboard first up 6-0 at with 5:10 left in first quarter.  With the Yellowjackets deep in their own territory, senior co-captain Trevor Saunders jumped a passing route and intercepted Rochester quarterback Dean Kennedy for a "pick six" from 12-yards out.  The two point conversion try failed, keeping the visitors down one touchdown. The Saints had a chance to extend their lead in the second quarter after Obi Nwaigwe forced a fumble on a punt return, giving his team great field possession at the Rochester 23-yard line.  However, the team came away empty on a missed 42-yard field goal.  Following the defensive stand, the Yellowjackets switched the field on a 62-yard pass completion to Thomas Hayes that got the visitors in the red zone.  Rochester would have to settle for a 25-yard field goal by Alex Antonucci, though, pulling them to within three at 6-3 with 7:06 left in the first half.  Neither team threatened to score again in the first half, while the third quarter was a battle for field possession that saw all five drives finish with punts.  St. Lawrence seemingly took control of the game thanks to a 9-play, 80-yard drive that pushed the home team's lead to 13-3 early in the fourth quarter.  Migliore, who replaced sophomore quarterback Nik Busharis late in the first half, completed his first collegiate touchdown pass to senior co-captain Ethan Sutton for a 25-yard score.  Senior co-captain Doug Geraghty would add the extra point, giving the Saints the 10-point cushion. Though Saunders would intercept Kennedy on the ensuing drive, the Saints would have to punt and give their opponents the ball back on the Saint 33-yard line.  A 27-yard completion from Kennedy to Willie Roberson moved the visitors into the red zone, and on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Chris Bickford pushed the pile into the end zone for the first Rochester touchdown.  Antonucci's extra point made it a 13-10 game with 6:20 to play. Rochester's defense did its job, forcing a three-and-out by the Scarlet and Brown and putting the offense right back on the field.  Facing a 3rd-and-6 from his own 18-yard line, Kennedy made the big play, finding Hayes wide open at the 30-yard line and the wide receiver did the rest, rumbling 82 yards for the eventual game-winning score.  Junior Oraene Morgan blocked the extra point try, keeping St. Lawrence within three points at 16-13. Migliore would move the chains for St. Lawrence behind back-to-back rushes that totaled 21 yards that moved the home team to its own 29-yard line.  However, Jordan Honjiyo would intercept Migliore on 1st-and-10 at the Saint 40-yard line, ending the threat and giving Rochester the ball back.  The Yellowjackets used four consecutive rushes including the clincher from Bickford to earn one first down and seal the come-from-behind win. Migliore finished with 73 yards, a touchdown and an interception on 7-of-13 passing while Kennedy was 9-of-27 for 218 yards, a score and two interceptions.  Hayes closed with 144 yards, while Sutton led St. Lawrence with 67 yards and a score.  Senior co-captain Marcus Washington led all rushers with 61 yards on the ground. Defensively, Tony Ortega from Rochester led all players with 13 total tackles including 3.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks.  St. Lawrence was led on the defensive side by Saunders, who had six tackles and two interceptions, and Ramon Mignott who finished with a team-high eight tackles. St. Lawrence will look to finish the 2011 with a victory next weekend in Worcester, MA when the team squares off with WPI on November 12.  Kick-off between the Saints and Engineers is scheduled for 12:00pm.

October 22: The St. Lawrence University football team dropped a Liberty League contest to Rensselaer on Saturday by the score of 14-7 at East Campus Stadium in Troy, NY.  The Engineers, who outgained the Saints 248-162 in the game, improve to 3-3 (2-1) with the win while the Scarlet and Brown slip to 2-5 (1-3). St. Lawrence's lone touchdown came on a 33-yard interception return by senior cornerback Christian Bianchi in the third quarter.  Senior co-captain Marcus Washington gained 90 yards on the ground on 18 carries, while sophomore Nik Busharis completed 10-of-24 passes for 94 yards.  Bianchi finished with the pick as well as eight tackles and two pass break-ups, while senior co-captain Trevor Saunders posted a game-high 11 tackles. Rensselaer finished with a sizable advantage in first downs (17-9) and was impressive on third downs, converting 7-of-18 to St. Lawrence's 4-of-14 mark.  The two teams combined for 17 punts in the game as both defenses were very sharp from the get-go. The home team would take a 7-0 lead with 1:19 remaining in the first quarter, capping a 7-play drive that started at the St. Lawrence 32-yard line thanks to a 29-yard punt return by Austin Caswell.  The Engineers used two key third down conversions, including a 3rd-and-13 pass from quarterback Mike Hermann to Reggie Colas that went for 18 yards to sustain the possession.  Hermann would then connect with Mike Blais for a 6-yard touchdown, followed by an extra point from Andrew Franks for a 7-0 cushion. With St. Lawrence struggling to gain the advantage in field position, RPI would strike again late in the second quarter to take a 14-0 lead into halftime.  Hermann orchestrated a 12-play, 81 yard drive that ate up 6:08 of clock that was capped by a 23-yard touchdown to Nick Weber for a 13-0 lead with 2:59 remaining in the stanza.  Franks again added the extra point for a 14-0 lead. The Saints' offense was unable to put points on the board in the third quarter, as they were forced to punt on each of the team's four drives.  However, after a 41-yard punt by senior co-captain Ethan Sutton put RPI back on its own 30-yard line, Bianchi picked off Hermann on first down and took the ball to the end zone to get the Scarlet and Brown on the scoreboard trailing 14-6.  Senior co-captain Doug Geraghty added the extra point to cut the visitors' deficit to 14-7 with 1:47 left in the third quarter. Unfortunately for St. Lawrence, Rensselaer would dominate time of possession in the fourth quarter, allowing the Saints only one possession while holding the ball for 11:36.  Though Hermann and the RPI offense did not put up any points, they were able to control the ball for the final 5:42 thanks to an 11-play drive, running out the clock to earn the 14-7 conference win. Hermann closed with 188 yards and two touchdowns on 20-of-36 passing along with one interception.  Weber led all receivers with 58 yards, and Rensselaer's defense was anchored by Cody Hinrichs and Ray Pasco, who each made six tackles. St. Lawrence will have next weekend off before returning to action on Saturday, November 5 when the team celebrates "Senior Day" during Homecoming Weekend against the University of Rochester.  Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00pm.

St. Lawrence University's Marcus Washington (1) cuts back to the middle to elude a tackle from a Dutchmen's defender.  Union outlasted S.L.U. 10-6.  Washington carried 48 times, one short of the Saints all-time record. (Eric Foote photo)   Game Gallery

St. Lawrence kicker James Stewart (87) booted the extra point against a brutal wind and hit the left upright.

October 15: The St. Lawrence University football team dropped a tough Liberty League contest on Saturday afternoon to Union College 10-6 at a soggy Leckonby Stadium.  The Dutchmen scored the game-winning touchdown with 3:12 left in regulation, and their defense made a stop in the red zone in the final minute to secure the road victory. The Saints (2-4, 1-2) were led offensively by senior co-captain Marcus Washington, who carried the ball 48 times, only one shy of the University record.  The Pahokee, FL native totaled 171 yards on the ground and scored the only Saint touchdown.  Defensively, the home team was anchored by senior co-captain Doug Geraghty's team-high 10 tackles including 1.5 sacks. "It was a true battle in the trenches thanks to the elements," said St. Lawrence head coach Mark Raymond, referring to the pouring rain and gusty winds that continued throughout the game.  "At the end of the day, (Union) made the key plays down the stretch and we came up short." The Dutchmen took a 3-0 lead on a 27-yard field goal 6:27 into the first quarter, as running back Darnel Thomas carried the ball nine times on a drive that went 57 yards in 14 plays.  As both teams struggled to move the chains in the weather, the Saints would come up with a 9-play, 52-yard drive to take the lead before halftime.  Washington did the majority of the work, carrying the ball six times before sophomore quarterback Nik Busharis connected with rookie John Wittig for a 24-yard gain down to the Union 3-yard line.  Washington did the rest, taking the ball across the goal line on 1st-and-goal for a 6-3 St. Lawrence lead. 

St. Lawrence University's Marcus Washington (1) cuts back to the middle to elude a tackle from a Dutchmen's defender.  Union outlasted S.L.U. 10-6.  Washington carried 48 times, one short of the Saints all-time record. (Eric Foote photo)   Game Gallery

Clarkson’s Sean Eustace (2) straight arms Vermont’s Nihad Cekovic (31) in an attempt to go end-around against the University of Vermont defense. For the first time, the Golden Knights were shutout in a very defensive game. Vermont led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter and increased the advantage to 14-0 at intermission. Defenses dominated the second half.

October 15: Clarkson University won its third game of the season to improve to 3-1 in a forfeit from Northeast Elite.  The Elite was unable to field enough players to make the trip.

October 6: In the most recent 2011 Intercollegiate Club Football Federation poll, the Golden Knights’ Club Football team has been ranked 5th in the nation.  The second-year team plays in the Yankee Collegiate Football Conference.  The YCFC is comprised of teams from Boston University, University of Maine, University of Vermont, Eastern Connecticut State University, Onondaga Community College, Southwestern Connecticut Community, NorthEast Elite (Bronx) as well as Clarkson University. The 2-0 Golden Knights have 4 games remaining on their regular season schedule with a trip to ECSU this Sunday, followed by two home games the next two weeks (October 15 vs. NorthEast Elite and October 22 vs. UVM) and a road trip to Boston University on October 30.  The ICFF Club Division College Football is an opportunity for students, student-athletes and their fans to once again participate in intercollegiate athletics in its purest and most traditional form. These non-scholarship players are truly representative of the “student body”. The Intercollegiate Club Football Federation is the governing body for Club Division College Football, and also serves as a support system to advance the growth and promotion of club football. The latest rankings are at www.intercollegiateclubfootball.com.

September 24: Clarkson University got off to a fast start with 21 points in the first quarter and 22 more in the second frame in blowing past the University of Maine 50-0 in the team’s second game of the season. Sean Eustace, who carried 13 times for 144 yards, led the Golden Knights by opening the scoring on a two-yard run. Nick Bullock, who also carried 13 times for 114 yards, pounded the ball into the end zone on the Knights second drive. Connor Kuharik tacked on a third score in the first quarter by scooping up a fumble recovery and jetting 22 yards to the end zone. In the second stanza, quarterback Austin Hill hit paydirt on a 14-yard keeper, then fired off a 20-yard pass to Matt Schofield (two receptions for 33 yards) for another touchdown just minutes later. Hill was 4-for-5 passing for 65 yards and a touchdown. Eustace ripped off a 42-yard touchdown run to close the half, with the Knights up 43-0. Clarkson’s final score came in the third quarter when Tyler Ward took a 14-yarder to the house. Clarkson’s defense also shined, with both a shutout and eight sacks.

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October 15 (continued): However, graduate student James Stewart's extra point try hit the left upright and stayed out, keeping that same margin intact heading into intermission. A scoreless third stanza that featured the St. Lawrence ground game and swarming defense set up a dramatic fourth quarter.  Though Union failed the move the ball on their first possession of the final period, the Dutchmen went to work with 6:48 left in regulation and quarterback Drew Connolly delivered his biggest throws of the game.  He connected with Chris Paolini for a 30-yard pick-up into St. Lawrence territory, and then followed with a 25-yard pass to Jimmer Bennett into the wind down to the Saint 22-yard line. Facing a key 4th-and-8 at the St. Lawrence 20, Connolly looked to the right sideline for Bennett but the pass fell incomplete.  However, a penalty flag for pass interference kept Union alive and three plays later, the Dutchmen were celebrating a 9-yard touchdown strike from Connolly to Eric Zavadsky and a 9-6 lead.  Adam Henry added the extra point, pushing the score to 10-6 in Union's favor. Needing a touchdown, the Saints went to the air as Busharis found senior co-captain Ethan Sutton for a 43-yard catch that got the home team down to the Union 17-yard line with plenty of time remaining.  However, the offense faced a 3rd-and-14 after a false start penalty, but a pass interference call against Union gave St. Lawrence life with a 1st-and-goal at the 6-yard line.  Washington carried the ball on first down, but the Dutchmen defense, led by Jeff DeVico, stuffed him at the line of scrimmage.  On 2nd-and-goal, Busharis scrambled to his right and tried to thread a pass in to Sutton at the pile on.  Unfortunately for the Saints, Alex Macchio stepped in front of the pass and intercepted the ball at the 2-yard line, ending the threat and allowing Union to run out the clock en route to a 10-6 win. St. Lawrence closed with the edge in total offense, 283-194, and first downs, 15-11.  DeVico led all defensive players with 14 tackles and Sutton led all receivers with 62 yards through the air.

October 1: The St. Lawrence University football team lost its first Liberty League game of the season on Saturday, as the Hobart College defense shutout the Scarlet and Brown en route to a 23-0 win in Geneva, NY.  Senior co-captain Marcus Washington led St. Lawrence with 81 yards on 20 carries, while senior Ramon Mignott and sophomore Andrew Cox each had a game-high 11 tackles. The Saints fall to 3-2 (1-1) on the season after being outgained 327-84 in total offense, while the Statesmen improve to 3-0 (1-0). Wet conditions made possession and footing key throughout the game, as St. Lawrence had early chances thanks to three Hobart turnovers.  Senior Christian Bianchi intercepted Hobart quarterback Nick Strang at the St. Lawrence 6-yard line to end the home team's opening drive.  Hobart's Junior Woodard then fumbled both a punt and after a reception, resulting in a pair of Saint possessions. Unfortunately, the St. Lawrence offense was unable to move the football against the Statesmen.  The visitors punted on all six of their drives in the first half, despite having solid field position including a drive starting at the Hobart 29-yard line. The only points of the first half came in the final minute, as Hobart marched 41 yards in 10 plays to take a 7-0 lead before intermission.  The key play of the drive was a converted 3rd-and-6 completion from Strang to Woodard to set up 1st-and-goal at the St. Lawrence 2-yard line.  Three plays later, Strang found Yosh Karbowniczak for a two yard touchdown pass for a 6-0 lead with 19 seconds left in the half.  Reyes Guevara added the extra point for the 7-0 cushion. Hobart would capitalize on a miscue by first-year student John Wittig, who fumbled a punt at his own 20-yard line after the St. Lawrence defense forced a three-and-out.  Kevin Hearon pounced on the ball for the home team, which led to a 36-yard field goal by Guevara for a 10-0 lead with 8:49 remaining in the third quarter. St. Lawrence would have great scoring tries on each of its ensuing drives, but an interception by Drake Woodard in the red zone for Hobart shut down the Saints' first scoring try.  Then, after the Saints blocked Karbowniczak's punt and inherited the ball at the Hobart 8-yard line, they came away empty with a missed field goal try by graduate student James Stewart. The Statesmen would take advantage of the Saints' missed opportunities, taking a 17-0 lead on their first drive of the fourth quarter.  Hobart went 81 yards in 17 plays eating up 9:25 of clock time to take a three-score lead.  The home team converted five third downs en route to the touchdown, which was scored by Strang on a rush from three yards out.  Guevara added the extra point. Hobart's defense would then chip in six points on St. Lawrence's next drive, as Austin DiMarco intercepted a 4th-and-3 pass from Saint quarterback Nik Busharis and took it to the end zone from 38-yards out for a 23-0 lead with 4:47 left in regulation.  Guevara's kick was blocked, but Hobart was able to stop the visitors on their final drive to cap a solid performance and win 23-0. Busharis struggled in his first trip to Geneva, completing only 3-of-21 passes for 25 yards.  He was also sacked five times and was intercepted twice.  Meanwhile, Strang finished 15-of-26 for 139 yards and a touchdown.  Junior Woodard led all receivers with 66 yards on six catches, while Hobart's defense was led by Reggie Robinson's six tackles including 1.5 for a loss.
 

St. Lawrence quarterback Nikolas Busharis (14) quickly gets rid of the football quickly to avoid a possible sack during Saturday’s collegiate game against the U.S. Merchant Marine at Kings Point.

S.L.U.’s Ethan Sutton(2) drops back to punt the ball away as teammate Marcus Washington holds off an oncoming Kingspoint defender in the Saints 20-10 victory over the Merchant Marines on Saturday at Leckonby Stadium.  Game Gallery

September 24: The St. Lawrence University football team retained the Hoffman Cup on Saturday, as the Saints defeated the United States Merchant Marine Academy in their annual showdown by the score of 20-10 at Leckonby Stadium in Canton, NY.  Senior co-captain Ethan Sutton earned St. Lawrence MVP honors with 107 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The Scarlet and Brown, which held a 333-257 advantage in total offense, improve to 2-2 on the season and are 1-0 in Liberty League play.  The Mariners, who were led by team their team Most Valuable Player JP Gosselin, fall to 1-3 (0-1). "We got off to a great start offensively, as we got some big plays through the air," said St. Lawrence head coach Mark Raymond.  "Defensively, we had some quality stops against a very difficult-to-defend triple option offense." Senior co-captain Marcus Washington had another solid day on the ground with 161 yards on 31 carries, while sophomore quarterback Nik Busharis completed his first nine passes en route to a 13-for-20 day for 176 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.  Sophomore Mike Tateosian added five catches for 52 yards for St. Lawrence as well. Defensively, senior co-captain Trevor Saunders led the way with a game-high 11 tackles and two pass break-ups.  Merchant Marine was led by Tyler Washington and Kevin Stapf, who each made 10 tackles on the day. Neither team was able to generate much offense on their first drives, but the Saints struck first at 6:45 of the opening quarter.  After three consecutive rushes by Washington totaled 24 yards, Busharis used play-action to open up Sutton downfield and he delivered a strike in the end zone for a 34-yard score and a 6-0 lead.  The two point conversion attempt failed. Merchant Marine took to the ground on their next drive, but a key stop by senior co-captain Doug Geraghty forced a punt.  St. Lawrence wasted little time, covering 67 yards in 4:07 to take a 12-0 lead on another long touchdown pass from Busharis to Sutton.  This time, the quarterback found Sutton open inside the 5-yard line and the South Paris, ME native leaped over a defender, summersaulting into the end zone with 2:04 left in the first quarter.  Graduate student James Stewart added the extra point for a 13-0 cushion. St. Lawrence would come up with a big play on special teams to extend their lead early in the second quarter.  Junior Oraene Morgan blocked a 42-yard field goal attempt by Merchant Marine's J.P. Bourquin, and Saunders returned the loose ball to the visitor's 36-yard line.  Busharis then threaded the needle again to Sutton, firing a 36-yard touchdown pass for a 19-0 lead with 11:22 left before halftime.  Stewart again added the extra point for a 20-0 lead. The Mariners would crack the scoreboard late in the first half behind a 12-play, 77 yard drive behind Gosselin and quarterback Stephen Sasso.  Sasso completed a key 4th-and-4 pass to Chase Dunn to extend the drive at the St. Lawrence 24-yard line, and four plays later, Gosselin was in the end zone on a 6-yard rush.  Bourquin's extra point brought the score to 20-7 with 4:57 left in the second. Merchant Marine would have a chance to creep closer before halftime, as they went 76 yards in 21 plays to get to the St. Lawrence 21-yard line.  However, Bourquin's field goal from 38 yards out missed wide right, allowing the home team to exit with a 20-7 halftime lead. Though St. Lawrence did not score in the second half, they turned to Washington to move the chains and keep the clock moving.  With the defense allowing only three points on a 23-yard field goal by Bourquin with 10:49 left in the fourth quarter, the Saints were able to run out the final 5:37 of the game thanks to clutch third down conversions.  Washington put the game away for the Scarlet and Brown on 3rd-and-18, as he rushed up the right side, broke two tackles and went for 22, allowing his team to kneel on the ball and preserve the 20-10 win. Following the game, Tom Hoffman '75 and his family presented the Hoffman Cup to Coach Raymond and the St. Lawrence seniors.  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. "To keep the Hoffman cup here in Canton is a big thrill for the guys," added Coach Raymond.   "It's an important game, and it's great to be involved with a great family who has given this rivalry added tradition."

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MORE ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL
September 17: The St. Lawrence University football team dropped its final non-conference game of the 2011 season on Saturday, as nationally-ranked #16 Alfred University got a pair of touchdowns from Adam Schutz en route to a 36-12 win over the Saints in Alfred, NY. St. Lawrence, now 1-2 on the season, was led by senior co-captain Marcus Washington, who went for 114 all-purpose yards and one receiving touchdown.  Senior Ramon Mignott led all defensive players with 12 total tackles, but the Saxons piled up six sacks in the game including two from Nick Clark. Alfred used a tough running game to collect 189 yards on the ground to St. Lawrence's total of 69.  The Saints were haunted by three fumbles lost and impressive play by the Saxons in the red zone, as the home team finished 5-for-5 in their chances inside the 20. "They're a solid football team," said St. Lawrence head coach Mark Raymond.  "We felt like we would need to win the turnover battle, and that didn't happen.  But I think we can take some positives out of this game heading into conference play next weekend." Austin Dwyer led Alfred's balanced offense with 125 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, while quarterback Tom Secky was 18-of-33 passing for 175 yards and two scores.  Sophomore quarterback Nik Busharis finished 12-of-24 passing for 109 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Alfred took a 7-0 lead on its opening drive of the game, as the Saxons went 59 yards in only four plays.  Secky found Andre McCloud for a 21 yard gain on 3rd-and-10, and then Dwyer scored from 38 yards out for a 6-0 lead.  Eric Rockwood added the extra point to put the home team ahead by seven only 3:16 into the game. St. Lawrence would put together a solid drive on its next possession, reaching the Alfred 20-yard line for a red zone possession.  However, Busharis fumbled the ball on first down, and Alfred's Chris Steeves came up with the loose ball to end the scoring threat. With the momentum on its side, Alfred turned the turnover into seven points as Secky led a 17-play, 80 yard scoring drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Schutz.  The Saxons delivered several clutch plays on late downs, including a converted 4th-and-1 rush by Clark that went for seven yards to keep the drive alive.  Rockwood would add the extra point after Secky's 3-yard touchdown pass for a 14-0 cushion. Back-to-back three-and-outs by St. Lawrence would continue to give Alfred great field position and the Saxons took advantage.  They made it 17-0 on a 23-yard field goal by Rockwood with 8:53 left in the second quarter.  Then, after St. Lawrence gave the ball up on its own 12-yard line, Secky came through with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Schutz for a 23-0 lead with 5:48 to play in the first half.  T.J. Kilcarr's two-point conversion pass failed. The Saints would remain in the game thanks to a 10-play, 69-yard scoring drive orchestrated by Busharis.  The Saints converted two third down conversions on the drive that saw their quarterback go 6-for-9 on the drive.  Washington capped the scoring drive with a 13-yard touchdown catch with 1:24 left in the half, cutting the team's deficit to 23-6.  The visitors were without place kicker Chris Dris, so they attempted to go for a two point conversion, with the pass falling incomplete. After a third quarter that saw Alfred pick up the only scoring on a 27-yard field goal by Rockwood to extend the lead to 26-6, the Saxons pulled away in the fourth with back-to-back scoring drives.  The home team made it 29-6 on another field goal from Rockwood, this time from 35-yards out.  The Saints then fumbled the ensuing kick-off, giving Alfred possession on the visitors' 18 yard line which led to a two-yard touchdown run by Clark.  Rockwood's extra point made it 36-6 Alfred with 8:04 remaining. St. Lawrence would cap the game's scoring on its final drive with a mere 35 seconds left in regulation. First-year student Freddie Washburn and sophomore Alonzo Holcombe ran the ball very effectively on the drive, helping the Saints reach the Alfred 12-yard line.  From there, Busharis was able to find sophomore Mike Tateosian for his first career touchdown reception.  The point after try failed, bringing the game to its final score of 36-12.

September 10: The St. Lawrence University football team defeated Norwich University by the score of 29-14 on Saturday at Sabine Field in Northfield, VT.  The Saints were led by senior co-captains Ethan Sutton and Marcus Washington.  Sutton had 10 catches for 115 yards and three touchdowns while Washington added 222 yards on the ground and a score. St. Lawrence (1-1) finished with 22 first downs to Norwich's 18, and had an impressive 453 yards of offense.  Sophomore quarterback Busharis earned his first collegiate win, completing 18-of-25 passes for 191 yards and three touchdowns, while senior co-captain Trevor Saunders led the defense with 13 tackles and a forced fumble."We battled hard in the second half against Utica last weekend, and we were able to bring that momentum on the road with us today," said St. Lawrence head coach Mark Raymond, who picked up his first career non-conference win on Saturday.  "We were pretty solid on both sides of the ball, as our offense delivered on third downs (9-of-17) and our defense forced four turnovers."St. Lawrence finished with a huge advantage in time of possession, 40:25 to only 19:35 for Norwich.  The Cadets used option quarterback Kris Sabourin effectively, as he was 8-for-11 passing and had 71 yards rushing.  However, turnovers would bite the home team and stunt their chances of winning. The Saints took a 6-0 lead early in the second quarter, as the visitors marched from their own 29-yard line down to the Norwich 2-yard marker.  Busharis was a perfect 3-for-3 on the drive, while Washington had a 25-yard carry to move the chains.  The Pahokee, FL native was rewarded with a rush on 3rd-and-goal and scored from two yards out to put the Saints on the scoreboard.  First-year student John Wittig would convert the two-point conversion for an 8-0 cushion.Norwich put together an impressive drive before halftime, reaching the St. Lawrence 30-yard line.  However, Andrew Fulford was stripped by Saunders and the ball was recovered by senior linebacker Ramon Mignott, keeping St. Lawrence's shutout effort in tact at intermission, 8-0. After the St. Lawrence defense forced a three-and-out by the Cadets, Busharis and company went to work and covered 54 yards in 10 plays en route to the team's second touchdown.  Busharis hooked up with Sutton for a 25-yard score on 3rd-and-16 to give the Saints a 14-0 advantage, though the extra point attempt failed. The Cadets would waste little time in climbing back into the game, scoring on the ensuing drive in a mere 2:45.  Danny Triplett and Mike Cavanaugh had nice runs for the home team, while Fulford scored from five yards out to get Norwich on the board trailing 14-6.  Long Ding's extra point try was good for a 14-7 game. Busharis would deliver two key throws on third down during the Saints' next drive, as he connected with sophomore Mike Tateosian for 19 yards before finding Sutton for a 9-yard touchdown on 3rd-and-goal.  The touchdown toss, followed by a converted extra point try by junior Taylor Zappia, gave the Saints a 21-7 lead with 18 seconds left in the third quarter. Sophomore Keith Goode Jr. made his first career interception on the opening drive of the fourth quarter, keeping Norwich behind by two scores.  The turnover to another St. Lawrence touchdown, as the Scarlet and Brown put together and impressive 14-play, 90 yard drive that lasted 8:03.  The drive was capped in style by Busharis, who found Sutton for an 8-yard touchdown and a 27-7 lead.  Zappia's extra point try was blocked. Sabourin would try to keep Norwich in the game, as he got his team in the end zone with a 15-yard touchdown toss to Derrick Pitts with 4:15 remaining in regulation.  Ding's extra point made it 27-14, but the Saints were able to recover the onside kick and run nearly two minutes off the game clock.  Senior Phil Hamilton would then put the game away for St. Lawrence, as he tackled Sabourin in the end zone for a safety, capping the game scoring at 29-14.Mignott and Hamilton each finished with six tackles for the St. Lawrence defense, while senior Christian Bianchi added his first interception of the season.  Colby Leclerc made a team-high 11 tackles for Norwich including one tackle for a loss.

St. Lawrence University’s Marcus Washington (1) runs through an attempted tackle by Utica College’s Eric Rindo (4).

St. Lawrence University’s Ramon Mignott (23) wraps up Utica College’s Anthony Acevedo (16) for a tackle.  Utica's offense, guided by quarterback Andrew Benkwitt, scored on six straight drives and piled up big first half numbers and led 34-8 at halftime to earn a 48-35 non-conference win.  Game Gallery

September 3: The St. Lawrence University football team fell to Utica College on Saturday afternoon by the score of 48-35 in Canton, NY.  Senior co-captain Marcus Washington had a solid game out of the backfield, rushing for 133 yards and three touchdowns.  However, the Pioneers' offense, guided by quarterback Andrew Benkwitt, scored on six straight drives to earn the non-conference victory. "We unfortunately made too many mistakes in the first half on both sides of the football which put us in a big hole," said St. Lawrence head coach Mark Raymond.  "Our guys showed their character and fought their way back into the game." St. Lawrence (0-1) struggled to find its rhythm, as the offense went without a first down in the opening quarter.  With the defense forced to stay on the field on a very muggy afternoon, Utica's offense piled up big first half numbers and led 34-8 at halftime.  Benkwitt tossed all three of his touchdown passes in the first half, while Jake Larson and Jake Scott had touchdown runs.  Washington got the Saints on the scoreboard with 10:47 to play in the second quarter, as he scored from 23 yards out to cut the Utica lead to 20-6.  A botched hold by first-year student John Wittig turned into two points following the touchdown as he showed off his speed and beat the defense to the pile on to bring the score to 20-8. Benkwitt would halt the Saints momentum on back-to-back touchdown drives, as Matt Dunn scored from 38 and 8-yards out, including a touchdown with a mere 38 seconds left in the half to bring the score to 34-8 at intermission. Sophomore Nik Busharis made his first collegiate start under center for the Scarlet and Brown on Saturday, and though he was unable to get much going in the opening 30:00 minutes, he came on strong in the second half.  The Mansfield, MA native completed a key 3rd-and-6 to extend the opening drive of the second half, which was eventually capped off by a touchdown run by Washington from 1-yard out.  Junior Chris Dris' extra point made the score 34-15. "I thought Nik did a nice job as a first time starter," added Coach Raymond.  "He certainly performed well under pressure down the stretch and helped us claw our way back into it." Utica would answer with an 8-play, 62-yard scoring drive of its own, with Scott getting his second touchdown of the day with 5:08 left in the third quarter.  Seth Mitchell's extra point gave Utica a 41-15 cushion. The Saints would score again on a 1-yard run by Washington only 57 seconds into the fourth quarter.  The key play of the 8-play, 83-yard drive was a 40-yard completion from Busharis to rookie Colby Johnson to get the ball down to the Utica 12-yard line. On the ensuing kick-off, however, Utica's Jesse Baldassare would take the football from his own 16-yard line, break three tackles and race to the end zone for an 84-yard touchdown on special teams.  The score, followed by Mitchell's extra point, would cap the Pioneers' scoring with a 48-21 lead with 13:46 remaining. Busharis would orchestrate two more scoring drives for St. Lawrence in the fourth quarter.  After the Saints blocked a punt and inherited the ball on the Utica 12-yard line, Busharis would find senior co-captain Ethan Sutton for an 8-yard score.  After the defense forced a three-and-out by the Pioneers, Busharis led his team on a 62-yard drive, capped by senior Mark Rudy's first collegiate touchdown reception from 13-yards out.  Dris' extra points brought the Saints to within two scores at 48-35.  However, Benkwitt and the Utica offense was able to run off the final 5:01 of the game thanks to two clutch third down conversions. Busharis finished 13-of-25 passing for 157 yards and two scores.  Sutton had 73 yards receiving on seven catches, while Johnson had four catches for 68 yards.  Leading the St. Lawrence defense was senior co-captain Trevor Saunders, who had a game-high 11 tackles including four solo stops and 1.5 tackles for a loss.