The 2023 Cortland Red Dragons football team was an American football team that represented the State University of New York at Cortland as a member of the Empire 8 during the 2023 NCAA Division III football season. In their third year under head coach Curt Fitzpatrick, the Red Dragons compiled a 14–1 record (6–0 in conference games) and won both the Empire 8 championship and the NCAA Division III national championship. In the Division III playoffs, the Red Dragons defeated Endicott (23–17) in the first round, Grove City (25–24) in the second round, Alma (58–41) in the quarterfinals, and Randolph–Macon (49–14) in the semifinals and North Central (IL) (38–37) in the Stagg Bowl. It was Cortland's first Division III championship.[1]
| 2023 Cortland Red Dragons football | |
|---|---|
NCAA Division III National champion Empire 8 champion | |
Stagg Bowl, W 38–37 vs. North Central (IL) | |
| Conference | Empire 8 |
| Ranking | |
| AFCA | No. 1 |
| D3Football.com | No. 1 |
| Record | 14–1 (6–0 Empire 8) |
| Head coach |
|
| Offensive coordinator | Patrick Rotchford (3rd season) |
| Defensive coordinator | Steve Cushing (2nd season) |
| Home stadium | Grady Field (6,500) |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 1 Cortland $^ | 6 | – | 0 | 14 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brockport | 5 | – | 1 | 8 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Utica | 4 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| St. John Fisher | 2 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alfred | 2 | – | 4 | 4 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Morrisville | 2 | – | 4 | 4 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hartwick | 0 | – | 6 | 1 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Red Dragons outscored opponents by a total of 693 to 296 in 15 games. On offense, they scored an average of 46.2 points per game and gained an average of 509.2 yards per game (284 passing yards and 225 rushing yards).[2] The team's individual statistical leaders included:
- Zac Boyes - 4,020 passing yards and 44 passing touchdowns with only five interceptions;
- Jaden AlfanoStJohn - 1,396 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns;
- Cole Burgess - 87 receptions for 1,375 receiving yards and 16 receiving touchdowns;
- Mike Baloga - 130 points scored on 91 extra points and 13 field goals;
- Jack Winey - 141 total tackles;
- Nick Lardaro - 12.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks; and
- Luke Winslow - five interceptions.
Schedule
edit| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2 | 12:00 p.m. | Delaware Valley* |
| W 42–13 | 4,233 | ||||
| September 9 | 1:00 p.m. | at Lycoming* |
| W 62–7 | 1,278 | ||||
| September 16 | 1:00 p.m. | Susquehanna* |
| L 35–38 | 3,538 | ||||
| September 30 | 1:00 p.m. | at SUNY Morrisville | No. 20 |
| W 52–15 | 1,702 | |||
| October 7 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 22 Utica | No. 19 |
| W 56–3 | 3,641 | |||
| October 14 | 1:00 p.m. | Alfred | No. 19 |
| W 59–21 | 1,231 | |||
| October 21 | 12:00 p.m. | at St. John Fisher | No. 19 |
| W 42–14 | 3,321 | |||
| October 28 | 2:30 p.m. | at Hartwick | No. 18 |
| W 73–7 | 413 | |||
| November 4 | 12:00 p.m. | Brockport | No. 17 |
| W 41–17 | 3,321 | |||
| November 11 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 14 Ithaca* | No. 16 |
| W 38–28 | 7,800 | |||
| November 18 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 14 Endicott* | No. 11 |
| W 23–17 | 956 | |||
| November 25 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 16 Grove City* | No. 13 |
| W 25–24 | 932 | |||
| December 2 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 11 Alma* | No. 13 |
| W 58–41 | 2,542 | |||
| December 9 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 8 Randolph–Macon* | No. 13 |
| W 49–14 | 4,223 | [3][4] | ||
| December 15 | 7:03 p.m. | vs. No. 1 North Central (IL)* | No. 13 | W 38–37 | 3,381 | [5][6] | |||
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References
edit- ^ a b "2023 Football Schedule". State University of New York at Cortland. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ a b "2023 Football Cumulative Statistics". SUNY Cortland. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ^ Mario Sacco (December 9, 2023). "Cortland rocks Randolph-Macon to advance to DIII National Championship". LocalSYR.com.
- ^ "Box Score". Randolph-Macon College. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Cortland stops 2-point conversion try to top defending champion North Central for Division III title". Associated Press. December 15, 2023.
- ^ "Stagg Bowl Box Score". SUNY Cortland. Retrieved December 16, 2023.