MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The Morrisville State College football team suffered a 31-14 setback Saturday afternoon on the road at St. Lawrence University, faltering in the second half as the hosts ran away with the non-conference victory in Canton.

The loss is the first for the Mustangs on the season, as they drop to 2-1 overall, while St. Lawrence ups their record to 2-1.

Morrisville State was kept to a season low 253 total yards offense on the day, and limited to just 123 net yards passing while the Saints registered 380, including nearly 200 in the running game.

Quarterback Lemar Johnson (Ossining, N.Y.) connected on 17-of-30 attempts for 123 yards, hitting wide receiver Anthony Gray (Smallwood, N.Y.) for a team high 56 yards on six receptions.

Johnson also led the Mustangs on the ground, recording 74 net yards on 19 attempts, while Cristian Pena (Ridgewood, N.Y.) added another 56 yards, rushing for the Mustangs only two touchdown scores.

Wally Stephens (Kingston, N.Y.) and Delroy Young (Binghamton, N.Y.) each registered double digit tackles, Stephens 13 and Young 11. Richardson Derosena (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added nine in the defensive efforts for Morrisville State.

Maurice Irby led the Saints in the running game, registering 85 net yards on 25 carries for a score, while Paul Wonka added 54 more yards and two additional touchdowns. Mike Lefflbine connected on 18-of-31 pass attempts for 183 yards and a score, including one to Mitch Gallagher who led the receiving corp with 76 yards on seven catches for a score.

Alec Dietsch posted 10 total stops to lead the hosts defensive unit.

Morrisville State was first to strike on the day, scoring on their first drive of the contest just over five minutes in. Pena capped off the 10-play, 80-yard drive with a one yard rushing score, and Zach Drake (Canastota, N.Y.) nailed the extra point, giving the Mustangs the early 7-0 lead.

St. Lawrence responded on the ensuing drive, marching the ball in 15 plays downfield with 2:29 to go to even the score at 7. Wonka capped off the 73-yard drive with a one-yard rushing score.

Early in the second, Morrisville State would go ahead on a four yard run by Pena, but the Saints would later respond, evening the contest for a second time, as Lefflbine hit Gallagher on a five yard pass play for the score.

The second half belonged to the Saints, as the hosts defensive unit got the best of the Mustangs and capitalized on the visitors struggle in moving the ball.

Early in the third, St. Lawrence's defense forced a quick three-and-out series with the final blow being a sack on Johnson, before beginning their next offensive drive within the Mustangs territory. Andrew Carvalho nailed a 34 yard field goal to put the hosts ahead 17-14.

On the ensuing Morrisville State drive, the Saints defense again made a huge stop of the high powered offense, limiting the Mustangs to just two yards on five plays before regaining possession at midfield for a second straight drive.

Irby extended St. Lawrence's lead with a five-yard scoring run late in the third, giving the hosts a 24-14 advantage heading into the final quarter.

Wonka put the Saints ahead 31-14 early in the fourth with a 10-yard scoring run, before Dietsch issued the final dagger, an interception on the ensuing Mustang drive.

Morrisville State was limited to a mere nine yards total offense in the entire second half.

The Mustangs return to the field Saturday, hosting SUNY Cortland for the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) opener and for Mustang Weekend, the college's homecoming. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. on the Morrisville State campus.

Morrisville State sets the world in motion for students. Curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology. Lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs, the college was named to the 2012 President's Higher Community Education Service Honor Roll. The college was recognized, by U.S. News and World Report, in its top tier Best Regional Colleges list and ranked second among regional colleges nationwide for outperforming its anticipated graduation rate. Visit www.morrisville.edu to experience, Morrisville in motion. 

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