A Legacy of Gridiron Glory: Exploring Cortland State University Football History

The Cortland Red Dragons football program at the State University of New York at Cortland boasts a rich and storied history, marked by passionate rivalries, thrilling victories, and a commitment to excellence. From its humble beginnings to its recent national championship triumph, the program has consistently demonstrated its prowess on the gridiron. The team competes in the NCAA Division III, and is a member of the Empire 8. The team plays its home games at James J. Grady '50, M '61 Field at the SUNY Cortland Stadium Complex or Grady Field for short in Cortland, New York.

Early Years and the Rise of a Rivalry

The Cortland Red Dragons football team has a history spanning 133 years, since its inaugural season in 1893. The program has grown into a formidable force in Division III football.

A significant aspect of Cortland's football history is its intense rivalry with Ithaca College, known as the "Cortaca Jug." This rivalry has captured the hearts of fans and players alike for nearly a century, dating back to when the teams first met on the gridiron in 1930. The annual Cortaca Jug game is more than just a contest; it's a tradition steeped in history and pride.

The Cortaca Jug was first awarded as a "traveling trophy" for the winner in 1959. That year, Tom Decker '61, a Cortland captain, and his friend Dick Carmean, an Ithaca captain, thought of creating a trophy prior to the game. Decker bought a ceramic milk jug for $2 at a yard sale run by Freddy Moss, a farmer in nearby Homer, N.Y. Every year the score of the rivalry game is added to the Cortaca Jug. Ithaca leads the Cortaca Jug series, winning 37 of the 62 contests between 1959 and 2021 (the 2020 game was not played as both teams had their seasons canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Sportswriter John Walters helped coin the rivalry's nickname in a story in the Aug. 26, 1991 edition of Sports Illustrated when he wrote: “The biggest little game in the nation could turn out to be Ithaca vs. SUNY Cortland by the shores of New York state’s Cayuga Lake on Nov. The games have often lived up to the hype, as 31 of the Jug games have been decided by a touchdown or less. Both colleges have dominated stretches portions of the series. Between 1969 and 1995, Ithaca didn’t lose a Cortaca Jug game at home. IthacaCortland won the regular-season game for the Jug in 1988 by the score of 21-20.

A Look Back: The 1961 Season

The 1961 Cortland State Red Dragons football team provides a snapshot of the program's history. In their 30th year under head coach Carl A. "Carl" Davis, the Red Dragons posted a 4-3 record as an independent team. The team tallied 1,756 yards of total offense (250.9 yards per game), consisting of 920 rushing yards (131.4 yards per game) and 836 passing yards (119.4 yards per game). The team's passing leaders were junior quarterback Michael "Mickey" Nugent (41 of 87 for 573 yards, five touchdowns and six interceptions) and quarterback George Tucci (21 of 50 for 261 yards with two touchdowns and nine interceptions). Sophomore guard Dominick Copozzi handled the punting, having 29 punts for 1,082 yards, an average of 37.3 yards per punt.

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Empire 8 Dominance

The SUNY Cortland football team capitalized on four Brockport turnovers and the Red Dragons claimed their fifth straight Empire 8 title with a 44-14 victory over visiting Golden Eagles. Cortland, ranked 15th nationally by the AFCA and 20th by D3football.com, will close the regular season next Saturday at non-league foe Ithaca in the annual Cortaca Jug rivalry game. The 40-team NCAA tournament begins Nov. 22, with 24 teams earning byes into the second round on Nov. Brockport dropped to 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the conference with the loss.

Cortland quarterback Mike Rescigno (Arlington) ran 18 times for 80 yards and two touchdowns and completed 9-of-14 passes for 100 yards and three scores. Ethan Gallo (Minisink/Minisink Valley), Joe Iadevaio (Massapequa/Plainedge) and Sam Cotton (Fulton/G. Ravi Dass Jr. (Somers) returned a punt 76 yards for Cortland's final touchdown. It was the second longest punt return in school history, behind only his 83-yard TD return at Randolph-Macon in the 2023 NCAA semifinals. Aidan Lochner (Ravena/Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) led the Cortland defense with six tackles, an interception and two pass breakups. Memphis Ferguson (Whitesboro) and Aden Wiser (Highland) also intercepted passes and Aaron Henry (Cobleskill/Cobleskill-Richmondville) made six tackles.

Isaiah Simmons led Brockport with 20 rushes for 125 yards and two touchdowns - a 1-yard run in the first quarter that tied the game at 7-7 and a 44-yard TD run with 2:58 left in the second to cut Cortland's lead to 20-14. Ben Gocella entered the game with a 71.3 completion percentage and five total interceptions, but he finished the day 12-of-26 passing for 137 yards and three picks. Nathan Williams caught five passes for 58 yards.

Rescigno capped a 68-yard scoring drive in the first quarter with a 3-yard TD run to put Cortland up 7-0. Brockport tied the game in the second and then forced a Cortland punt, but the Golden Eagles fumbled the ball on the return and Jackson Cypher (Rochester/Brighton) recovered on the Brockport 14-yard line. Two plays into Brockport's next drive Wiser intercepted a pass on Brockport 32-yard line. Brockport had 4th-and-1 on the Cortland 44-yard line on its next possession when Simmons broke free for a big TD run to make it 20-14. On the ensuing kickoff, however, Brockport was called for an illegal formation penalty, followed by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, that forced another kickoff from the 20-yard line. Tyson Taylor (Middle Island/Longwood) returned that kickoff 55 yards to the Brockport 25-yard line, leading to Cole Callard's (Medina) 37-yard field goal with 1:07 left that gave Cortland a 23-14 lead.

Cortland's opening drive of the third quarter ate up more than eight minutes but resulted in a missed field goal. The Red Dragons got the ball back, however, when Ferguson picked off a pass and returned the ball 13 yards to the Golden Eagles' 42-yard line. Later facing 2nd-and-4 at the 10-yard line, Rescigno threw a pass to the front left corner of the end zone. In the fourth, a Dandrea punt pinned Brockport at its own 16-yard line, and after a run and a penalty, Lochner intercepted a pass and returned it 14 yards to the 6-yard line. Rescigno ran for a score on the next play to push the lead to 37-14.

Read also: Explore SUNY Cortland

National Championship Glory

The Red Dragons won the 50th Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in thrilling fashion, 38-37, over previously unbeaten and top-ranked North Central College (Ill.), snapping a 29-game winning streak for the Cardinals. The national championship took place Dec. In a game that featured two prolific offenses, the Cardinals took a 7-3 lead into halftime before a back-and-forth second-half shootout that saw 65 points scored, three lead changes and three ties. Cortland junior quarterback Zac Boyes was sensational, completing 26-of-34 passes for 349 yards and five touchdowns. He also ran for 123 yards on 16 attempts. Cortland finishes the season with a 14-1 record, extending the program record for wins in a season. The Red Dragons entered the Division III playoffs ranked 11th nationally in the final D3football.com poll of the regular season and earned five straight wins against Top-25 opponents.

Individual Achievements and Records

Cortland's football program has been home to many talented players who have achieved remarkable individual feats. Here's a glimpse into some of the program's records and achievements:

Rushing Records

Most Rushing Yards, Game: 276, Dave Cook vs. St. John Fisher
Most Rushing Yards, Season: 2,118, J.J. Tutwiler
Most Rushing Yards, Career: 6,598, J.J. Tutwiler
Highest Rushing Average per Attempt, Game: 17, vs. Univ. Buffalo
Highest Rushing Average per Attempt, Season: 87 yards, Mike Bowe vs. Alfred

Passing Records

Most Passing Yards, Game: 543, Zac Boyes vs. Randolph-Macon
Most Passing Yards, Season: 447, Steven Ferreira vs. Ithaca
Most Passing Yards, Career: 6,007, J.J. Tutwiler
Most Pass Attempts, Game: 67, John Simek vs. Ithaca
Most Pass Attempts, Season: 447, J.J. Tutwiler
Most Pass Completions, Game: 34, John Simek vs. Ithaca
Most Pass Completions, Season: 237, J.J. Tutwiler
Most Pass Completions, Career: 464, J.J. Tutwiler
Most Touchdown Passes, Game: 5, Zac Boyes vs. Randolph-Macon
Most Touchdown Passes, Season: 45, J.J. Tutwiler
Most Touchdown Passes, Career: 9, J.J.
Best Passing Efficiency Rating, Game: 357.9, Zac Boyes vs. Randolph-Macon
Best Passing Efficiency Rating, Season: 153.7, J.J.

Receiving Records

Most Receptions, Game: 16, Frank Goroleski vs. Ithaca
Most Receptions, Season: 90 yards, JJ Laap (Zac Boyes) vs. Randolph-Macon
Most Receptions, Career: 312, JJ Laap vs. Utica
Most Receiving Yards, Game: 267, Frank Burm vs. Ithaca
Most Receiving Yards, Season: 681 vs. Ithaca
Most Receiving Yards, Career: 1,263, Cortland (641) vs. Morrisville St. (622)
Longest Pass Reception: 90 yards, JJ Laap (Zac Boyes) vs. Randolph-Macon

Scoring Records

Most Points, Game: 23, Bob Bateson vs. Buffalo State
Most Points, Season: 22, Jack Winey vs. Buffalo State
Most Points, Career: 21, Kory David vs. Buffalo State
Most Touchdowns, Season: 20, J.J.
Most Touchdowns, Career: 20, Mike Greco vs. Univ. Buffalo
Most Field Goals Made, Game: 4, Ben Nagle vs. Buffalo State
Most Field Goals Made, Season: 4, Russ Alger vs. Buffalo State
Longest Field Goal: 51 yards, Jim Perrott vs. Buffalo State

Return Records

Longest Punt Return: 83 yards, Ravi Dass Jr. vs. Randolph-Macon
Longest Kickoff Return: 94 yards, Steve Armstrong vs. N.Y. Maritime

Coaching and Leadership

The Cortland Red Dragons football program has been guided by a number of dedicated coaches throughout its history. Currently, Tom Blumenauer serves as the head coach.

Read also: Financial Aid at SUNY Cortland

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