2015 Team Guide Football
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CORTLAND football 2015 TEam Guide Cortland Concludes 2014 Season With Dramatic Cortaca Jug Win Cortland turned a bad field goal snap into a winning touchdown pass on the game’s final play as the Red Dragons defeated Ithaca College, 23-20, in the annual Cortaca Jug rivalry game in front of nearly 9,000 fans at the SUNY Cortland Stadium Complex. The crazy finish saw a potential game-tying field goal turn into a broken play and possible loss before holder Luke Hinton rolled left and threw the winning pass to Jon Mannix. The play was ranked #3 on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10 plays that evening and was featured during the next week by numerous national media outlets. Cortland has won five straight games versus Ithaca from 2010- 14, matching the Red Dragons’ longest win streak versus the Bombers originally accomplished from 1955-59. The Red Dragons won five of their final six games after opening the season with four losses that included an overtime setback at Buffalo State and a three-point home loss to Brockport. Dylan Peebles earned D3football.com First Team All-America honors as a kick returner. He led Division III nationally with 34.9 yards per kickoff return and three touchdowns, including Dylan Peebles is pictured above returning a kickoff 91 yards versus a 91-yard return versus Ithaca that tied the score in the fourth Ithaca to tie the game in the fourth quarter of the 2014 Cortaca quarter. Offensive guard Vin Juliano joined Peebles on the Jug game. Peebles led NCAA Division III with three kick returns for All-East first team, while Peebles, defensive endJake Ceresna touchdowns and 34.9 yards per kickoff return during the 2014 and safety Andrew Tolosi were All-ECAC South Region season and earned First Team D3football.com All-America honors. selections. Cortland Football Joins Empire 8 Conference in 2015 SUNY Cortland football has joined the Empire 8 starting in further enhance the competitive level of what is already the the fall of 2015. The Red Dragons will be affiliate football toughest conference in Division III.” members along with The College at Brockport, Buffalo State and “It’s an exciting time for Cortland Morrisville State College. Full football- Football as we embrace change,” said playing members of the conference Cortland football head coach Dan are Ithaca College, St. John Fisher MacNeill. Thanks to the Empire 8 for College, Alfred University, Utica accepting us into their prestigious College and Hartwick College. conference, where we look to build stronger relationships with familiar Cortland was a football-only competitors and establish new member of the New Jersey Athletic regional rivalries.” Conference (NJAC) from 2000-14. The Red Dragons finished at least tied for “We look forward to meeting new first in the NJAC six times (2005-08, challenges in the Empire 8 and to 2010, 2012). They were outright league champions in 2008 creating new relationships with some of these institutions and 2012, and they won a tiebreaker to earn the conference’s that are so close to us geographically but that we haven’t NCAA automatic bid in 2010. had the opportunity to compete against on a regular basis in years past,” said Cortland Director of Athletics Mike Urtz. “Cortland is a strong academic institution with a rich football “We hope we can bring added value to an already great and history with many of the Empire 8 institutions,” said Empire highly competitive conference.” 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano. “They are a perfect fit and CORTLAND Table of Contents 2014 Season Highlights .......................................................................................................................................Inside Front Cover Cortland Joins Empire 8 in 2015 ......................................................................................................................Inside Front Cover Media Information ................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Credits ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Cortland Football Quick Facts ........................................................................................................................................................... 2 2015 Schedule............................................................................................................................................................................................ 2 Head Coach Dan MacNeill .................................................................................................................................................................. 3 All-Time Coaching Records ................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Red Dragon Coaching Staff Photo ...................................................................................................................................................4 Red Dragon Coaching Staff .............................................................................................................................................................4-5 Preseason Roster .................................................................................................................................................................................6-7 Red Dragon Player Profiles ..............................................................................................................................................................8-15 Opponent Capsules .......................................................................................................................................................................16-20 Cortland Football Record Book ................................................................................................................................................ 21-26 The Last Time it Happened ..............................................................................................................................................................27 More Cortland Records ......................................................................................................................................................................27 Cortland Postseason History ............................................................................................................................................................27 Year-By-Year Cortland Football Win-Loss Records ................................................................................................................28 Team Captains Photo ..........................................................................................................................................................................28 Year-By-Year Cortland Football Scores .................................................................................................................................29-33 Cortland All-Americans Since 1982 ................................................................................................................................................34 Cortland All-Time vs. 2015 Opponents ........................................................................................................................................34 2015 Empire 8 Composite Schedule ..............................................................................................................................................35 2014 NJAC Standings and Awards ..................................................................................................................................................35 2014 Results and Statistical Leaders ..............................................................................................................................................36 2014 Game Box Scores ................................................................................................................................................................. 37-40 Athletic Training Staff Photo ...........................................................................................................................................................40 About SUNY Cortland ........................................................................................................................................Inside Back Cover Stadium Photo ........................................................................................................................................................Inside Back Cover Media Information Credits The 2015 Cortland Football Guide was written and edited by Cortland All interviews with Cortland players and coaches must be Associate Sports Information Director Dan Surdam and Sports Information Director Fran Elia. Action, staff and individual photography by Darl Zehr arranged through Cortland Sports Information Photography of Cortland, N.Y. The guide was printed by Eastwood Litho of Director Fran Elia or Associate SID Dan Surdam. Requests Syracuse, N.Y. for press box and field passes for Cortland home games should be made preferably within three days of a game. Credentials for Cortland road games must be obtained Front cover: Senior captains Devonte Davis and