With junior quarterback Aaron Molisani (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua) and classmate cornerback Michael Dermody (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) leading the way, Rochester is making serious noise in the Liberty League.
Dermody picked off two passes and Molisani had four total touchdowns for the second consecutive week to lead the 'Jackets to a 38-6 Meliora Weekend win over the United States Merchant Marine Academy (aka Kings Point). Dermody started things off right from the start on defense.
On the game's second play for scrimmage, he intercepted Mariners freshman quarterback Chuck Kleinschnitz' (Melbourne, FL/Palm Bay) fade pass at the Rochester four yard line. After a Rochester three and out, Dermody again picked off Kleinschnitz, this time at the Rochester 15, and weaved his way down to the Yellowjackets 46 yard line. While neither pick led to points, they stopped the Mariners from scoring opportunities. Later in the first, the Rochester defense made another huge stop. This time on a fourth and two play from their own 38 yard line. After King's Point junior running back Jason Hardwick (Johnstown, PA/Conemaugh Valley) ran for eight yards on first down, the 'Jackets defense stopped him and Klenschnitz for no gain on consecutive plays. On fourth down, freshman defensive lineman Brendon Reyes (Rochester, NY/Irondequoit) led a Rochester charge to stop Mariners senior running back Frank Toner (Thousand Oaks, CA/Westlake) for no gain and Rochester's offense took over.
Molisani took it from there as five plays later, he found junior receiver Nate Gibbons (Batavia, NY/Batavia) wide open down the sideline for a 22 yard touchdown. Freshman kicker Rob Corey's (Scranton, PA/Pitson Area) extra point was good and the 'Jackets led 7-0. King's Point would answer on the ensuing drive as Kleinschnitz hit speedy freshman wide receiver Cameron Amigo (Marietta, OH/Marietta) for a 34 yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter. Unfortunately for the Mariners the extra point by senior kicker Ramin Hatami (League City, TX/Clear Creek) was no good and the 'Jackets held on to a 7-6 lead.
Both teams traded a couple of possessions until Rochester took over at its own 24 yard line with 7:07 remaining in the second quarter. From there the Yellowjackets marched 76 yards in nine plays culminating in a Molisani to sophomore running back Pat O'Brien (Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls) 13 yard touchdown pass. O'Brien juked two players and carried several Mariners defenders on his way into the end zone. The drive was helped by a Molisani to Gibbons pass play that covered 39 yards. Corey hit another extra point and the 'Jackets led 14-6 with the end of the half in sight.
A Mariner's three and out and Rochester turning the ball over on downs ended the half with the score the same. The second half gave the Meliora Weekend crowd of 3,211 fans plenty of reason to cheer for their Yellowjackets. On the kickoff, Gibbons, quickly turning into one of the best return men in the country, raced 90 yards before he could be tackled out of bounds by Hatami. Two plays later, O'Brien carried it in from one yard out and with Corey's extra point, Rochester led 21-6. The defense gave the ball right back to the offense as junior linebacker Matt Simon (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) sacked Kleinschnitz and forced Kings Point to punt.
On the ensuing possession, the Rochester offense marched down the field 77 yards in seven plays and scored thanks to Molisani running it in from two yards out. The score was set up by a 29 yard run by freshman running back Matt Bielecki (Albany, NY/Burnt Hills) and a Mariners penalty for illegal substitution.
The next Kings Point possession seemed to have plenty of promise as the Mariners drove down the field. Hardwick shook off an earlier ankle injury and exploded for a 35 yard run down to the Rochester 16 yard line. Three plays later, converted junior safety Pat Manuel (Elmira, NY/Elmira Notre Dame) picked off Kleinschnitz at the Rochester 21. Manuel did his best juggling act for the pick as he ran five yards with the ball bouncing off his hands before finally bringing it under control. In the fourth, the 'Jackets scored their final ten points of the afternoon thanks to Molisani and Corey. Molisani hit junior receiver Dave Ferris (Hamburg, NY/St. Francis) for a 25 yard score and Corey added a 25 yard field goal later in the quarter.
Offensively Rochester outgained Kings Point 403-309 despite losing the time of possession battle. Molisani connected on 14 of 28 passes for 207 yards and three scores. Bielecki led the way with 82 yards on only eight carries, O'Brien had 52 yards and a touchdown rushing and receiving and Molisani added 26 yards to go along with his touchdown. Gibbons recorded 166 yards of total offense (90 on returns and 76 receiving) and led the way with four catches.
Kings Point had Hardwick run for 114 yards on 17 carries and Kleinschnitz completed only four passes out of 16 attempts for 76 yards and two interceptions. Junior receiver Peter Belford recorded two catches for 21 yards.
Defensively, Rochester's Simon led the way with a career high 16 tackles including one sack. Dermody added five tackles and two pass breakups to go along with his two interceptions. Kings Point had sophomore defensive lineman Justin Eusepi (Houston, TX/Cypress Falls) record nine tackles and a forced fumble.
Rochester improves to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the Liberty League while Kings Point drops to 1-5 overall and 1-2 in conference play. The Yellowjackets are off next weekend then travel to WPI on the 23rd for a noon kickoff. The Yellowjackets and Engineers have played only once in their history.
