CORTLAND, N.Y. — The nationally second-ranked Cortland Red Dragons showcased their dominance on the field, outgaining the Morrisville Mustangs 488 to 204 in total offensive yardage during a decisive 41-0 victory in Empire 8 play on Saturday. This win marks Cortland’s second shutout of the season, extending their impressive school-record winning streak to 16 games and their league winning streak to 21 games, dating back to 2019.
The Red Dragons, now boasting a 4-0 overall record and 2-0 in the Empire 8, were led by quarterback Zac Boyes, who completed 20 of 31 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns. Boyes also added a rushing touchdown, bringing his total to four for the day. Notably, he extended his streak to 186 consecutive pass attempts without an interception, just eight attempts shy of his own school record.
Wide receiver Jaden AlfanoStJohn was a standout performer, catching eight passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns. Cortland’s ground game was equally effective, with Ethan Gallo rushing 22 times for 126 yards and adding four receptions for 40 yards. Tyson Taylor contributed significantly with a 24-yard rushing touchdown, while Jayson Zeva added a touchdown catch to round out the scoring.
On special teams, kicker Mike Baloga was perfect, making two field goals from 36 and 32 yards, along with successfully converting all five extra-point attempts.
Defensively, the Red Dragons were relentless, with Jaden Martinez leading the charge with 11 tackles, including a sack and a forced fumble. Jack Winey and Ellis Einbinder also made their presence felt, contributing 10 and seven tackles respectively.
For the Mustangs, quarterback Alek Britten completed 12 of 28 passes for 128 yards, while Sean Perrin led the ground attack with 49 yards on 13 carries. Morrisville’s defense saw Evan Salvaggio and Eric Sparkman each make 10 tackles, with Salvaggio also breaking up a pass.
The game began with a slow start, as Cortland led only 7-0 after the first quarter, thanks to Taylor’s 24-yard touchdown run. Baloga added a 36-yard field goal early in the second quarter, followed by Zeva’s 5-yard touchdown catch to put the Red Dragons ahead 17-0 at halftime.
Morrisville attempted an onside kick to start the second half, but Cortland’s defense held strong. Despite a promising drive to the Cortland 21-yard line, the Mustangs were unable to convert, as a missed field goal kept the score at 17-0.
Cortland continued to pile on the points in the second half, with AlfanoStJohn’s acrobatic 20-yard touchdown catch and Boyes’ 17-yard rushing touchdown extending the lead to 31-0 by the end of the third quarter. Baloga added a 32-yard field goal in the fourth, and AlfanoStJohn capped the scoring with another touchdown catch.
Morrisville had one last chance to avoid the shutout, driving to the Cortland 2-yard line in the final minute. However, a critical misstep on 4th-and-1 resulted in a turnover on downs, sealing the 41-0 victory for the Red Dragons.
With this commanding performance, Cortland solidifies its position as a powerhouse in the Empire 8, while Morrisville will look to regroup as they fall to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play.