It was rainy, it was windy but in the end it was a much needed win for the Yellowjackets. Junior quarterback Aaron Molisani (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua) accounted for 320 total yards and four touchdowns to lead the homestanding Yellowjackets to a 38-7 Liberty League win over St. Lawrence here at Edwin Fauver Stadium this afternoon.

Molisani started things off with 6:26 remaining in the first quarter when he used one of his trademark fakes on a read play. With the Saints defense going in one direction, Molisani sprinted 25 yards untouched for a touchdown. Freshman Rob Corey's (Scranton, PA/Pitson Area) extra point was good and Rochester led 7-0.

St. Lawrence would answer right back with a quick drive that covered 61 yards in only three plays. Senior tailback Brett Hughes (Clinton, NY/Clinton) went 44 yards down the right sideline for the score and the kick was good by junior kicker Nick Little (Kenmore, NY/Kenmore West).

Later in the period the Yellowjackets struck again but this time it was the defense getting on the board. After a 26 yard field goal by Corey, Saints junior return man Tom Gipson (Lake George, NY/Lake George) was stopped inside the St. Lawrence ten yard line. The 'Jackets defense stood first then on the Saints punt attempt, the ball was snapped over the head of Little and out of the endzone for a safety.

The score would hold in the second quarter as both teams had trouble moving the ball against the other.

Then late in the second quarter Molisani changed all that, this time using his arm. Facing a third and six at their own 49 yard line, Molisani hooked up with sophomore receiver Osaze Ogbahon (Brooklyn, NY/Brooklyn Poly Prep) on a tunnel screen and outraced St. Lawrence defenders 51 yards for his first career touchdown reception. Corey's kick was true and the 'Jackets now led 19-7.

With just 1:31 showing on the clock for the half, St. Lawrence went into their two minute offense and had immediate success. Junior quarterback Tom Anderson (Syracuse, NY/CBA-Syracuse) led the assault as he went 7 of 10 for 67 yards. The drive went all the way down to the Rochester six yard line but the defense stood tall as Anderson was nearly intercepted by Peter Kum-Nji (Pittsburgh, PA/Taylor Allerdice) on second down and a complete pass to Hughes ended the threat as freshman safety Jim Milks (Buffalo, NY/East Aurora) made the tackle as time expired in the half.

Then late in the third, a Saints special teams error gave Rochester great field position. Once again a poor snap on a punt led to Little's rugby style kick which covered only 11 yards and went out of bounds at the Yellowjackets 32 yard line with only 4 seconds left in the quarter.

Molisani trotted out and just as quickly as the weather changed all day, hit junior wideout Dave Ferris (Hamburg, NY/St. Francis) for the score. A poor snap on the extra point led to the kick being no good and Rochester led 25-7.

On the ensuing Saints possession, the Saints went to the hurry up again but not to the same degree of success as before. Anderson was picked off by junior cornerback Michael Dermody at the Rochester 39 yard line and returned it 18 yards to the Saints 43. Tack on a 15 yard penalty for a facemask and Rochester was in business at the St. Lawrence 28 yard line.

Once again it didn't take long for Molisani to strike. After a holding penalty and a completion for a short gain, Molisani hit junior wideout Nate Gibbons (Batavia, NY/Batavia) on a perfect throw for a 34 yard touchdown. Gibbons adjusted beautifully and concentrated on the ball to haul in his first touchdown catch of the season. Corey's kick was good and Rochester led 32-7.

Rochester rounded out the scoring when freshman running back Matt Bielecki (Albany, NY/Burnt Hills) shook off an earlier injury and ran it in from a yard out. He helped his own cause earlier in the drive with a pair of 40 yard runs. The extra point was a bizarre play as the snap was poor and Corey's attempt was blocked by Saints junior linebacker Terrell Foster (Pomona, NY/Clarkstown North) who picked it out of the air and ran towards paydirt. Corey didn't give up on the play as he chased Foster down the field and finally caught him at the Rochester ten yard line drawing a roar from the crowd and his teammates.

Offensively Rochester outgained St. Lawrence 455-334 including a 297-120 yard disparity on the ground. Molisani led the way with 162 yards on 17 carries and a score while Bielecki added 124 on 14 carries and a touchdown. Molisani completed 11 of 23 passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns and one interception. Junior running back Pat O'Brien (Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls) was the leading pass catcher with three receptions for four yards while Ferris and Gibbons added two grabs apiece for 53 and 42 yards repectively to go along with their scores. Molisani's total yardage was just 68 yards shy of the school single game record set by Jeff Wittig against Denison in 1984.

The Saints were led by Hughes on the ground with 86 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown and he was also their leading pass catcher with six catches for 58 yards. Anderson, who threw for over 300 yards and four touchdowns last week against Coast Guard, threw for 203 yards on 16 of 36 passing. He was intercepted three times. Brett Young (Sanbornville, NH/Spaulding) and Mike O'Donnell (Haverhill, MA/Central Catholic) each had three grabs for 75 and 31 yards each.

Defensively, the 'Jackets were led by junior linebacker Matt Simon (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) and sophomore safety Paul Kum-Nji (Pittsburgh, PA/Taylor Allerdice) who both recorded eight tackles. Kum-Nji added two pass breakups and recovered a fumble while Simon added one tackle for loss. Dermody added seven tackles, forced a fumble, had an interception and two pass breakups including one trademark resounding hit on a break up.

Junior linebacker Nick Grow (Gates, NY/Gates-Chili) had another strong game with four tackles, a sack, an interception and a pass break up. St. Lawrence had junior linebacker Mike Reed (Angola, NY/Lake Shore) record 11 tackles including one for loss to lead the way. Junior defensive end Jason Antin (Pepperell, MA/Acton-Boxborough) added nine tackles including four for loss. Senior safety Dan Haley (Plattsburgh, NY/Beekmantown) had two tackles, a pass breakup and an interception.

Rochester improves its overall record to 2-3 to go along with its 1-1 mark in the Liberty League. St. Lawrence drops to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the Liberty League. Rochester will return to action next Saturday afternoon on Meliora Weekend when they host Merchant Marine Academy in Liberty League action at 2pm. The league matchup will renew a rivalry that has not been played since 1959. Rochester leads the all time series 8-0.