FB: Empire 8

Bucabear73 · November 18, 2023, 01:56:59 PM

Red Dragons have a fight....20-17 with 1:46 left in the 3rd.

Broken play leads to a 70-yd TD pass for the Gulls. Missed tackles. Wasn't pretty.

I feel Cortland is the better team....but it's too close for my taste.

jdex · November 18, 2023, 02:46:40 PM

RDragons survive 23-17 ......actually survive their penalties. Nearly killed 'em ..... like Gulls' three turnovers hurt the hosts!

Once more .... TOP: Cortland 40:41

Offensive line deserves mucho kudos despite drive-curtailing holding flags.

As the case last week, a Cortland go on 4th-and-2 around midfield. But this time no dice as Boyes bobble gives Endicott control at its 42 at 1:53. Gulls move to Dragon 4 with 0:04 left. Pass misfires as clock expires. Survival for NYers

Bucabear73 · November 18, 2023, 02:50:30 PM

Survive and Advance - that's all that matters. And with Susquehanna losing, possible home game in Cortland next Saturday

Good to see the other two NY teams win as well....Union and "that other school"

XREDDRAGON77 · November 18, 2023, 03:03:26 PM

Ugly but effective! Shouldn't have been that close...but that's not how it works! Defense did their job but the offense was flustered! Stopped in the red zone and multiple Fgs! All fixable for next week!

IC798891 · November 18, 2023, 06:49:19 PM

Look, the name of the game in the playoffs is to survive and advance. Cortland did that.

But this is the second straight year Cortland's offense has just disappeared in the second half. Endicott's 2-minute offense was utterly inexplicable, which saved the Red Dragons, but they really need to get a better performance in R2.

But as I said, they got the job done in a tough environment. (Ask Hardin-Simmons)

XREDDRAGON77 · November 18, 2023, 08:14:01 PM

I saw parts of the game today. Was at the Marist v Bucknell game but had the live stream on! Very curious as to how focused the Dragons were today. Endicott was a good team...but a post Cortaca let down and potentially looking ahead to a Susquehanna rematch seem like potential distractions! Take Endicott's marquee win away and it's easy to overlook the New England teams in round 1. Typically they get mopped up and their pool A bids take away from the pool c candidates in the heavy hitter leagues! I'm probably totally off, but luckily we get to do it again next week!

MRMIKESMITH · November 18, 2023, 09:04:46 PM

Quote from: XREDDRAGON77 on November 18, 2023, 08:14:01 PM
I saw parts of the game today. Was at the Marist v Bucknell game but had the live stream on! Very curious as to how focused the Dragons were today. Endicott was a good team...but a post Cortaca let down and potentially looking ahead to a Susquehanna rematch seem like potential distractions! Take Endicott's marquee win away and it's easy to overlook the New England teams in round 1. Typically they get mopped up and their pool A bids take away from the pool c candidates in the heavy hitter leagues! I'm probably totally off, but luckily we get to do it again next week!

Endicott earned every bit of their Pool A bid IMHO.

XREDDRAGON77 · November 18, 2023, 09:57:56 PM

That win over H-S set them apart. Was an outstanding win for them and the region as a whole! But like I said...if you overlook that huge win, it's easy to write them off as the vast majority of the NE conferences are relatively weak.

tecmobowler · November 19, 2023, 08:38:33 AM

Looks like fate will end up giving Cortland the home game they always deserved...

XREDDRAGON77 · November 19, 2023, 09:13:50 AM

Can't blow this opportunity! I'm sure as with most games next round, the stadiums will be lightly attended due to students away on thanksgiving break. Defense played well. Offense has been outstanding all season. Put it together next week and we should be good!

Machiavelli · November 19, 2023, 11:54:01 AM

I'm not taking away from Cortland with this statement, whatsoever: But I felt Endicott looked like the better team yesterday. They made some horrible turnovers at inopportune times and it burned them, yet they still had a chance to win with a few seconds left before the broadcast cut out on me for the last play. Based on the final score, I gathered that they didn't score. LOL.

That said, I had zero hopes for Springfield being good enough to win, but I wasn't in the same boat as most that Cortland would mop up Endicott. I think they could be Dem Spicy Boys of this generation for a few years for sure and they showed that this year.

Congrats to Cortland. I actually expect them to beat up on Grove City next week so get after it.

XREDDRAGON77 · November 19, 2023, 12:01:02 PM

Dragons didn't produce, but that's due to Endicott doing their thing! Besides that Curry team that upset IC ages ago, this was probably the best team from the NE area! If Cortland hadn't been smoking teams all year, this would have been considered a great "gut check". They got punched in the mouth several times and took it. Saturday wasn't pretty, but they made it to round 2! I'll take it since the Red Dragon's have never won a road playoff game.

IC798891 · November 19, 2023, 01:52:37 PM

I disagree that Endicott was the better team. Both teams had inopportune turnovers.

Cortland also took a few penalties that probably resulted in points being shifted

1. Defensive offside turns a 3rd and 8 into a 2nd and 3, Endicott scores two plays later
2. Holding turns a first and goal from the 3 to a second and goal from the 12, Cortland settles for a FG
3. Holding turns a 3rd and 5 from the Endicott 24, to a 2nd and 20, Cortland forced to punt two plays later

I think Cortland was better, but undisciplined. That said, Endicott had a great chance to win, and they've got to feel frustrated. They're not an easy out for anyone, and we certainly can't use the old NY > NE logic with them.

mikefln · November 20, 2023, 09:05:04 AM

Quote from: tecmobowler on November 19, 2023, 08:38:33 AM
Looks like fate will end up giving Cortland the home game they always deserved...

They lost at home to the team (Susquehanna) that the undefeated team (GCC) they are playing beat away. They may have deserved a home playoff game, but they do not deserve the home game in this case when the above statement is true.

Quote from: Machiavelli on November 19, 2023, 11:54:01 AM

Congrats to Cortland. I actually expect them to beat up on Grove City next week so get after it.

I do not expect that at all. It could happen, the opposite could happen too with GCC running away with it. What I think is most likely to happen is a 50/50 hard-fought game that won't be decided till the 4th qtr, possible the final minutes. Either team can win this game and it should be entertaining for the fans.

XREDDRAGON77 · November 20, 2023, 11:48:02 AM

I can't say I know anything about Grove City besides having that running back years ago. Bowers I believe was his name. I'm sure the home game comment was based on Cortland's strength of schedule, which ended up being #3 after they beat IC. Yes... we lost to Susquehanna , but it took a meltdown of improbable proportions to happen! It is what it is, and we lost!

Cortland controlled that game for something like 50 minutes. In the final 10 minutes we had a stalled drive, stopped them but muffed the punt ( gave up a short field TD), a stalled drive, gave up a score, and a dropped KOR with like a minute left yielding an automatic FG. Literally appeared like Cortland was trying to lose! Anyway....it was a turning point and they righted the ship! Can't wait til Saturday!