CORTLAND, N.Y. – The SUNY Morrisville football saw its historical start to the 2022 season come to an end Saturday as they were stopped short against no. 14 ranked SUNY Cortland in Empire 8 action in Cortland by a 28-7 final score.

THE BASICS:

• Final Score: Morrisville 7, Cortland 28 (halftime: Cortland 14-0)
• Location: SUNY Cortland, Cortland Stadium Red, Cortland, N.Y.
• Records: Morrisville 4-1, 0-1 Empire 8; SUNY Cortland 4-0, 1-0 Empire 8

 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Visiting SUNY Morrisville football suffered its first loss of the 2022 season Saturday afternoon as they were stopped short against no. 14 ranked SUNY Cortland by a 28-7 final score in the Empire 8 opener.
• Despite a significant effort by the Mustangs defensive unit, Cortland was able to out gain Morrisville 461 to 209 yards in total offense, including a 303-yard effort on the ground.
• The Mustangs, however, were able to limit the high scoring Red Dragons to just one touchdown tally per quarter, while ending Cortland's pursuit of a shut out in the closing minutes of the contest with a scoring drive.
• Steven Frerichs (Wilson, N.Y.) completed 13-of-29 passes for 130 yards for the Mustangs, adding a net total 45 yards I the running game, hitting Joey Chirurgi (Yonkers, N.Y.) three times for 36 total yards and a touchdown score.
• Ernesto Mitchell (Wheatley Heights, N.Y.), Anai Brake (Carteret, N.J.) and Omar Jarvis (Rochester, N.Y.) each collected nine stops for the Mustangs defense, Jarvis registering all solo tackles.
• Mitchell added an interception while David Kelley (Macedon, N.Y.) was able to break past the Red Dragon line and record a sack for a loss of 19 yards.
• Morrisville was able to hold a persistent Red Dragon offense to just one touchdown tally in the first quarter of action, as they completed the 50-yard drive in six plays after forcing the fumble at midfield.
• The hosts added to their totals for a 14-0 lead at the break early in the second, reaching over the Mustangs defense to pull in the ball for the nine-yard scoring strike on the left side of the end zone.
• Morrisville held the Red Dragons scoreless in the third until the 3:23 mark when they added to their totals with an eight yard rushing score for the 21-0 lead.
• Cortland wrapped up all scoring in the fourth with their longest drive of the afternoon, an 11-play, 78-yard effort that was capped off by a six yard rushing score with 3:16 to go.
• Morrisville's Chirurgi returned the ensuing kickoff 19 yards to the 37, setting up field position for the Mustangs on the final drive of the contest.
• Frerichs hit Jarrell Chaney (Albany, N.Y.) for a nine-yard gain before gaining the first down on a two-yard sneak behind the center to midfield.
• Frerichs then hit Justin Adams (West Babylon, N.Y.) to move the ball to the Cortland 40 before competing two short passes to running back Alex McBurnie (Brooklyn, N.Y.) to maintain possession and move the ball within the red zone.
• Connor Marriott (Waterville, N.Y.) moved the ball to the five after an eight-yard slant gain, setting up a five yard strike to Chirurgi for the touchdown score, and snagging the shut out hopes away from the hosts with 44 seconds remaining.
• Owen Cole (Maspeth, N.Y.) completed the point after.

 
WHAT'S NEXT:
 

• Morrisville will head to St. John Fisher next Saturday, before entering a bye week and returning to their home field on the 22^nd.

 
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