Top 25 Game Highlights Slate

By Mike Warwick, Ithaca SID (updated Oct. 29)

There are three Upstate New York vs. Upstate New York games this week; two feature two of the teams with the three best records in Upstate New York: undefeated Rensselaer travels to St. John Fisher and Ithaca looks to bounce back from its first loss against visiting Hobart. In a game with national playoff implications, once-beaten Buffalo State travels to once-beaten Washington & Jefferson.

No. 24 Rensselaer, one of 20 unbeatens left in Division III, looks to improve to 7-0 after moving into the AFCA Top 25 for the first time. RPI mauled Hartwick last week, rolling up 590 yards of total offense on the way to a 48-3 win. Matt Robbens, Division III’s sixth-rated passer, threw for 306 yards and four touchdowns on just 12 completions (in only 18 attempts). Chris Swartz had three of his team’s four interceptions.

The No. 17 Ithaca Bombers lost 34-17 to Division II American International last week and host a Hobart team that can clinch its fifth consecutive winning season with a win Saturday. Ithaca has won 20 of the 21 meetings through the years, but the series has become one of the most competitive for either team: the past three years, both have brought winning records into their late-season contest.

Last year’s game (a 30-17 Bomber win broadcast live by Empire Sports Network) featured a school-record 54 Ithaca pass attempts and more receiving records could fall this week -- senior Abe Ceesay is tied atop Ithaca’s career reception list (with 108) with teammate Keith Bonser (105 catches) right behind him and senior tight end Jeff Erne (a member of last week’s D3football.com Team of the Week) needs one catch to set a school record for tight ends.

The nation’s only game involving two AFCA-ranked teams takes place in Washington, Pa. when the 7-1 No. 19 Washington & Jefferson Presidents host the 6-1 No. 16 Buffalo State Bengals. After dropping the first meeting to Washington & Jefferson in 1995 by a 31-14 score, Buffalo State is on a three-game win streak against the Presidents. A year ago, the Bengals won 21-6 behind tailback Shawn Starks, who rushed for 83 yards and three touchdowns.

Another western New York team travels to western Pennsylvania when Brockport (3-4) visits Thiel (3-4). Both teams started the season strong -- Brockport won its first two, dropped four straight and bounced back with a win last week; the Tomcats opened 3-0 but have lost four in a row since.

In the Golden Eagles’ 7-0 win over local rival St. John Fisher, Brockport kept the host school out of the end zone despite three trips inside the 15-yard line. Tony Streb, back at his natural tailback position (after starting games at fullback and quarterback), scored the game’s only touchdown midway to the fourth quarter. His score capped a 13-play, 98-yard scoring drive that started on Brockport’s 2-yard-line when the Golden Eagle defense stopped Fisher running back Jeff Harrison on a fourth-and-two play on the Brockport three-yard-line on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Rochester (3-4) continues University Athletic Association competition, hosting 5-2 Carnegie Mellon. Both teams are 2-1 in the UAA and the winner Saturday could tie for the UAA title with help. The Yellowjackets won a defensive struggle last week, edging Chicago 6-3. Rochester’s Chris Haarstick returned a deflected pass 26 yards for the game’s only touchdown. He also recorded eight tackles, including a pair of sacks. The Yellowjackets withstood a late charge by the Maroons, who blocked a Rochester punt and took over at the 30-yard line with just over a minute to go. Lance Ramer’s interception sealed the win for Rochester.

Saturday’s games also include Cortland hosting Springfield, Hartwick at Union, St. Lawrence hosting Gettysburg, Alfred playing former Presidents Athletic Conference rival Grove City and Hamilton traveling to Williams.

Mike can be reached at mwarwick@ithaca.edu.

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