Falcons Defeated By Red Dragons, 63-0

Amoah and Ashema combine for 13 tackles in non-conference setback 

Cortland, N.Y. – The Fitchburg State University football team opened its 2019 season this afternoon, dropping a 63-0 decision to the Red Dragons of SUNY Cortland at the Cortland Athletic Complex.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 0, Cortland 63

Records: Fitchburg State (0-1) | Cortland (1-0)

How It Happened

Cortland raced out to an early 14-0 advantage, scoring a pair of touchdowns one minute apart as senior quarterback Brett Segala (Webster, N.Y.) connected with classmate Cole Burgess (Greenwich, N.Y.) from 21 yards out before junior Stone Murray (Latham, N.Y.) returned an interception 41 yards for the Red Dragons.

With the score 35-0 going into the second quarter, the hosts extended their margin with 7:51 remaining in the frame when Segala found junior wideout Jason Carlock (Babylon, N.Y.) from two-yards out to make the score 42-0 going into the break.

Following the intermission, Cortland extended their lead (49-0) with 6:23 to play in the third stanza when sophomore Tommy Heuer (Oceanside, N.Y.) hit junior JJ Laap (Stony Brook, N.Y.) with a touchdown pass from eight yards out, resulting in the 56-0.

Inside the Numbers

Just the second meeting between the two teams on the gridiron with the Falcons currently 0-1 all-time when taking on the Red Dragons.

Cortland registered a 51-14 triumph in the first meeting last season at Elliot Field.

Offensively for the Falcons, freshman Robert Jackson (Worcester, Mass.) paced the with 58 rushing yards, while sophomore wideout Misael Gilot-Oquendo (Manchester, N.H.) hauled in three passes for the Green and Gold

For the Red Dragons, Segala completed 9-of-15 passes for 169 yards and three TD's, while Burgess finished with four catches for 101 yards and one touchdown

Defensively, sophomore Mishael Amoah (Worcester, Mass.) tallied a team-best seven tackles on two solo stops and five assisted tackles, while junior Mukandu Ashema (Worcester, Mass.) added six total tackles (2 solo, 4 assisted) and one tackle for loss

Cortland was led by junior Paul Imperiale (East Meadow, N.Y.) with seven tackles on one solo stop and seven assisted tackles as well as a pair of tackles for loss, while junior Robert Harding (Manhatten, N.Y.) finished with six tackles (6 assisted)

Up Next

Falcons will host the Spartans of Castleton University for a non-conference tilt next Saturday, starting at 2:00 PM. Red Dragons will visit the College of New Jersey on the same date for a non-conference matchup at 12:00 PM.