No. 11 Cortland Holds On to Defeat No. 14 Endicott, 23-17, in NCAA Football First Round

Football | 11/18/2023 6:46:00 PM

BEVERLY, MASS. – Nationally 11th-ranked Cortland football team clinched a victory over the nationally 14th-ranked Gulls with a tight 23-17 win at Endicott’s Hempstead Stadium in the 2023 NCAA Division III playoffs.

With a standing record of 10-1 for the Red Dragons, 18th-ranked Grove City College of Pennsylvania will be their next opponent in the second round on Saturday, Nov. 25. The game’s location is expected to be announced, and Cortland is favored for being third in the NCAA’s Region Two rankings. Grove City, with an 11-0 record, won against ninth-ranked Susquehanna, 21-20, in a last-second touchdown pass.

Jaden AlfanoStJohn led Cortland with 157 rushing yards and Zac Boyes contributed 67 yards. While Mike Baloga made three key field goals, Jack Winey led the Cortland defense with six tackles. The Red Dragons’ defense managed to hold the Gulls to a close 23-17 defeat.

The teams were tied 7-7 after the first quarter, but Cortland seized the lead in the second quarter and maintained it through the game. They outgained Endicott, 417-347, in total offense and converted 10-of-17 third downs to secure a 40:41-19:19 advantage in time of possession.

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