ALFRED, NY - Alfred University rallied from 15 points down to tie Rochester in the closing seconds of regulation in the ECAC Northwest Bowl Championship. After Rochester missed a field goal try on its first possession in overtime, the Saxons scored on their first play from scrimmage in the extra session to walk away with a 40-34 win Saturday afternoon at Merrill Field.
Rochester (7-4, 4-2 Liberty League) held a 34-26 lead when AU took possession at its own 15-yard line after a Yellowjacket punt with just over two minutes remaining in regulation. Junior quarterback Paul Keeley led the Saxons on a 12-play 85-yard drive, which ended with his one-yard sneak into the endzone with 14 seconds remaining. Down 34-32, Keeley completed the comeback with a bootleg run to the right for the two-point conversion.
After Griffin Moar came up short on a 41-yard field goal try on Rochester's opening overtime possession. AU ended things. Starting at the Rochester 25-yard line, freshman tailback Vinson Hendrix ran left, breaking two tackles on his way to the end zone and the winning touchdown.
Keeley shook off two turnovers (one interception and a fumble) to throw for 279 yards and a score. He was named the game's Most Outstanding Player.
Down 3-0, Rochester answered on its first possession of the second quarter, when quarterback Aaron Molisani connected with wideout Jay Jay Vanderstyne on a 13-yard TD with 9:14 left in the second. The extra point was blocked and AU sophomore strong safety Dan Medlock returned the ball 80 yards for a two-point score. On Alfred's next possession, Rochester strong safety Matt Stack intercepted Keeley at the Yellowjacket 45-yard line and returned the ball 55-yards for a score, putting the visitors up 13-5. It was Stack's second interception return for a TD this season.
The Saxons scored two possessions later when Don Miller ran in from three yards out to cap an eight-play, 56-yard drive. The two-point conversion attempt failed and Rochester led, 13-11. Rochester scored on three straight possessions in the third, with a pair of Matt Bielecki touchdown runs sandwiched around a 50-yard pass from Molisani to wide receiver Mike Coolbaugh to take a 34-19 lead into the final stanza. Alfred's lone score in the third came on a five-yard scoring run from Hendrix, which capped a five-play 48-yard drive.
After Bielecki's second TD run, AU drove 78 yards in seven plays, with Keeley connecting with freshman wide receiver Jared Manzer on a 25-yard scoring pass with 13:31 left in regulation.
Both team's offenses were evenly matched. Rochester outgained AU in total offense, 349-321 and held a 23-21 edge in first downs. The Yellowjacket defense was tough against the run, holding the Saxons to 42 yards rushing on 24 attempts.
Bielecki had an outstanding game for Rochester, rushing 36 times for a game-high 128 yards and a pair of scores. Molisani completed 21 of 31 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns. Vanderstyne caught a game-high eight passes for 64 yards and wide receiver Zach Ingoldsby caught four passes for 53 yards.
Manzer and freshman wide receiver Saucobie Riley each caught five passes for 54 and 52 yards, respectively. Matt Gibbins caught seven passes for a game-high 75 yards. Hendrix finished with a team-high 56 yards rushing on 13 carries to go with his two touchdown runs.
Linebacker Richi Canale paced the Rochester defense with five tackles (three solo), including three for loss and two sacks, and forced a fumble. Cornerback Andy Rape had six tackles (five solo) and end Pat Gallagher added five tackles (four solo), including two for loss and a sack.
