Among the 243 NCAA division III football teams in the country, the Red Dragons football team currently ranks 12th in total rushing yards, averaging 248.7 per game. Led by junior running back Jaden AlfanoStJohn, Cortland has relied on a strong rushing attack to lead them to a 6-1 start to the season.
A potent running game is crucial to a team’s success in football, and the Red Dragons exemplify this concept in their creative ways of executing their ground attacks.
Cortland’s shotgun-based rushing attack can wear down opposing defenses. The variety of run plays from shotgun requires the defense to work harder to cover all gaps, leading to fatigue and more opportunities for splash plays as the game progresses.
Their strong running game sets the stage for play-action passing. As the defense respects the run threat from both AlfanoStJohn and junior quarterback Zac Boyes, it creates openings in the secondary, and various rushing lanes in RPO (run-pass option) situations.
Balancing the run and pass game is essential in any level of football, as it keeps the opposing defense constantly guessing. The importance of a potent running game cannot be overstated, as it forces the defense to allocate resources to stop the run.
Cortland currently has four players with over 200 rushing yards on the season, with none of them averaging less than 5.4 yards per carry. AlfanoStJohn leads the charge with 589, followed by senior running back Ashton Capone with 396. Boyes has had a strong season in both the passing game and the run game, keeping up with the running backs with 368 yards.
The final of the four is freshman Tyson Taylor who has taken advantage of opportunities given to him late in games, averaging a team high 6.9 yards per carry among running backs. He currently has 247 total rushing yards on the season.
The Red Dragons ran the ball 52 times in a win at home against Utica two weeks ago, four players rushed for over 50 yards in the game. AlfanoStJohn was a huge factor in that win, leading the Red Dragons with 108 rushing yards. He highlighted the adjustments made during that game that led to their success.
“On offense we made it an emphasis to run the ball with physicality,” said AlfanoStJohn. “Following the offensive line and focusing on my job was an adjustment during the game.”
These mid-game adjustments showcase Cortland’s ability to fine-tune their game plan, and take advantage of opponents weaknesses.
“We noticed I was making the cut off the pulling guard too soon on a few plays,” said AlfanoStJohn. “We went into the locker room, cleaned that up and continued to find success during the second half.”
Capone also contributed to the victory, rushing for 88 yards and avering 4.9 per carry. When asked about his approach to studying opponents’ defenses and identifying weaknesses, Capone shared valuable insights.
Capone stressed that, regardless of the opposing team’s style, it’s essential to look for tendencies and how linebackers react.
“If I notice a group of linebackers who are undisciplined and flow fast, I’ll stay patient and look for the cutback,” said Capone. “I also look at their coverage, if they are a cover two high safety, I expect to have some open space and create some plays.”
The Red Dragons’ commitment to understanding their opponents and making adjustments is what fuels their dominant rushing attack. Their ability to fine-tune their strategies during games and exploit weaknesses in opposing defenses sets the stage for continued success throughout the season.
At the heart of Cortland’s success is their exceptional offensive line, composed of tackles Kevin Whalen and Cody Aikey, center Ryan Bitka, and guards Aidan Glynn and Jack McGrath, have consistently paved the way for the rushing attack for the Red Dragons.
Their performance during the victory over Utica earned them a spot on the D3football.com national Team of the Week. The website recognizes entire offensive lines as cohesive units, rather than singling out individual players like the rest of the selections.
The Red Dragons surged to an impressive total of 360 rushing yards, marking the fifth-best performance in the school’s history and a milestone not reached since 2007.
Cortland’s starting right tackle Aikey broke down his approach when preparing for any opposing defense,
“Techniques that help me in run blocking are getting lower than my opponent, striking my hands faster than them, and driving my feet,” said Aikey. “I’m really all about hand placement when blocking on the edge.”
Aikey’s dedication to precision and technique mirrors the entire offensive line’s commitment to consistency. Together, they form the backbone of Cortland’s relentless rushing attack, and their success is a reflection of Cortland’s coaching staff.
The Red Dragons are set to hit the road this weekend for a game against Hartwick, who is currently 1-6, and have yet to secure a victory in Empire 8 play. Following this, they’ll face Brockport, whose only loss this season came at the hands of Susquehanna, the same team that managed to defeat the Red Dragons earlier in the season.
These two matchups are not nearly as important as November 11th, when the Red Dragons travel to Ithaca to take on the Bombers. Ithaca has also established a rushing attack led by senior running back Jalen Leonard-Osbourne, who currently ranks 32nd in the country in rushing yards with 681.
The Red Dragon’s ground game has served as the engine that drives their offense and paves the way for victory. Cortland will look to capitalize on the upcoming month as they prepare for the most critical games of the season.
The challenges of Hartwick, Brockport, and Ithaca await, but Cortland’s rushing department promises to be up to the task.
Here’s some honorable stats that were unable to be integrated into this article:
- Cortland averages 521.6 total yards per game, which ranks eighth in Division III. They’re also eighth in scoring, with an average of 49.7 points per game.
- Cortland is ranked 7th in the country in 3rd down conversion percentage, currently at 54.1%.
- The Red Dragons defense is currently ranked 29th in the country in 3rd down conversion percentage, coming in at 29.2%.
- Jaden AlfanoStJohn, Ashton Capone and Zac Boyes are currently among the top 200 in total rushing yards in the country. AlfanoStJohn is leading at 58, followed by Capone at 164 and Zac Boyes at 199.
All statistics were gathered using the official NCAA Division III statistics database and the Cortland Athletics Website linked here: https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/d3/current/team/703/p5 https://www.cortlandreddragons.com/sports/football