Freshman running back Matt Bielecki (Albany, NY/Burnt Hills) might have only had ten carries today against Gettysburg, but he made the most out of it. He ran for 88 yards and a career high four touchdowns to lead the homestanding Yellowjackets to a 31-6 win over the Bullets at Edwin Fauver Stadium.
Bielecki started the scoring with 5:30 remaining in the first quarter when he bulled his way in from eight yards out after a 10 play, 67 yard drive. Sophomore running back Pat O'Brien (Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls) set up the score with a 19 yard burst after breaking several tackles. Freshman kicker Rob Corey (Scranton, PA/Pitson Area) hit the extra point and Rochester had a 7-0 lead.
Then in the second quarter, the 'Jackets put together one of the most impressive drives of their young season. After a Bullets punt by Tom Pettit (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon) was downed inside the one yard line, Rochester put together a 18 play, 99 yard drive that culminated in Bielecki scoring from two yards out. Early in the drive, junior quarterback Aaron Molisani (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua) threw a pass on third down to sophomore receiver Osaze Ogbahon (Brooklyn, NY/Brooklyn Poly Prep) that fell incomplete. A pass interference call gave Rochester new life as they were awarded an automatic first down on the play. The 'Jackets then proceeded to drive steadily down the field as they converted two third and short plays, one fourth and one and ate up 8:14 off the clock, easily their longest sustained drive of the season.
The Yellowjackets defense then held the Bullets to a three and out, culminating in a Benjy Waller (Millwood, NY/Horace Greeley) sack and got the ball back on their own 40with 2:28 remaining in the half. Molisani hit two passes to Dave Ferris (Hamburg, NY/St. Francis) and Ogbahon and appeared to have an 11 yard run but that was nullified by a holding call. On the next play, Molisani hit junior wide receiver Nate Gibbons (Batavia, NY/Batavia) on a deep in route but Gibbons was stripped of the ball by Bullet safety Nathan Smith (Cooperstown, NY/Cooperstown) and it was recovered by teammate Jay Cage (Magnolia, NJ/Sterling) at the Bullets 36 yard line to end the Rochester threat.
Gettysburg then tried to mount a drive for points before the half but the 'Jacket defense stood strong as junior linebacker Jeff Leslie (Scarsdale, NY/Scarsdale) forced a fumble by Bullet quarterback Mark Campo (Arendtsville, PA/Biglerville) on fourth down that was recovered by Waller. At the half it was Rochester 14, Gettysburg 0.
In the third quarter, Rochester got back to using its run game and it paid off once again. A 12 play, 90 yard drive ended with Bielecki hitting paydirt again from 36 yards out after a nice juke and two broken tackles. Corey's kick was good and Rochester now led 21-0.
Early in the fourth quarter, Bielecki put the finishing touch on his outstanding day with a three yard run to make it 28-0. Molisani helped set up the score by completing passes of 35 and 12 yards to Ferris and Corey's kick was once again good. Corey also added a 19 yard field goal later in the quarter to round out the Rochester scoring.
Gettysburg got on the board with just 24 seconds left when backup running back Jerry Jones (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) ran it in from five yards away but the extra point attempt was blocked.
Offensively Rochester piled up 457 yards of offense including 281 on the ground. O'Brien led the way with 105 yards on 22 carries, Bielecki added his 88 and Molisani also chipped in with 52 yards. Molisani led the way through the air as well, completing 18 of 30 passes for 176 yards and for the third straight game did not throw an interception. Ferris was the leading pass catcher with 69 yards on five grabs.
Gettysburg had Dusty Green (Idaville, PA/Bermudian Spring) run for 39 yards on 16 carries and Campo completed only four of 13 passes for 49 yards before being relieved by Mike Szczesny (Cartert, NJ/Carteret) who completed six of 19 for 90 yards. Derek Landi (Vineland, NJ/Vineland South) was the leading pass catcher with four for 53 yards.
Defensively the Yellowjackets held the Bullets to 198 yards, including just 59 on the ground. Junior linebackers Matt Simon (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) and Nick Grow (Gates, NY/Gates) and sophomore linebacker Peter Kum-Nji all recorded eight tackles to lead the way. Simon added two tackles for loss and two sacks, Kum-Nji also had two tackles for loss and Grow, making his first start on the collegiate level, added one tackle for loss. Junior cornerback Michael Dermody added four tackles and two jarring hits on receivers for two pass break ups. Waller had one sack, one tackle for loss, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry.
Gettysburg had Grant Acker (Howell, NJ/Peddie School) record 20 tackles including two for loss. Smith recorded 12 tackles and Cage had four tackles, three pass breakups and one fumble recovery.
Rochester improves to 1-2 on the season while Gettysburg drops to 0-3. Bielecki's four touchdowns are the most since O'Brien scored four last season against Chicago. It's also just one short of the 62 year old school record set by Jim Secrest against Hobart in 1942. Rochester will begin its Liberty League schedule next week when it travels to Schenectady to take on the Dutchmen of Union College at 1pm. The next home action is Saturday October 2nd when the Yellowjackets host St. Lawrence at 1:30pm.
