Cortland Red Dragons vs. Rowan 2009

The Red Dragons with their season over are beginning to prepare for what is being talked about as a National Championship year. The team with a returning defense and offense that is settling in, maybe what these Dragons have been looking forward to. Winter break is closing soon and the workout booklets are handed out, and now all to look forward to is the tough months ahead. Football is no easy sport and it takes tough mental and physical determination to achieve greatness and we are going to have to see if they have what it takes. Go Red Dragons!

The Cortland Red Dragons are unable to bring the Cortaca Jugs back to Cortland this year. The Dragons faced a tough Bombers offense and a strong defense to lost the game with the final score 23-20. With 9,700 people in the stadium to witness this great battle of athletes they surely got their moneys worth. One of the major components to the Cortland team this year was senior wide receiver Wayne Wheeler. He finished his day in his last Cortaca game with 4 receptions with 2 of them for touchdowns. The Dragons had the ball with a minute left to play and with them only down 3 points, it looked for a moment that the dragons would pull out a termendous upset. However, quaterback Alex Smith threw an interceptions to seal the Dragon fait for this years game. The game will be held next year in Cortland for the now said "upcoming national champs" to take back what belongs in Cortland.


The Cortland Red Dragons will face St. John The Fisher in an ECAC bowl game this weekend for the final game of the season. This game will be the last for the seniors on this Cortland team and they all have high hopes to end their college football careers with a win. This being the last game that these players will play in puts it in to persepective how little time we really have. I've spoken with many of the seniors on this years team and they all basically relay the same message to appreciate everything that you have when you have it, and never let a day go by when you dont realize this. These words that are filled with emotion simply go to show the love that is needed to play this amazing game. Go Red Dragons.

2009 Cortland Red Dragons
(Click helmet to watch video)

The Cortland Red Dragons pull out a big win in there last home game of the season. This being the seniors last game at home added a little extra meaning to this one. The Dragons put up an enormous defensive display leading the now 6-2 Dragons to a 30-7 win over The College of New Jersey. This familiar story of the outstanding defense has really made an impact on every team that they play. TCNJ finally broke their scoreless game in the 4th quarter with a 10 yard touchdown run with 7:18 left in the game. The Cortland Defense only allowed a total of 190 yards on offense and forces a huge 4 turnovers against TCNJ. The new "prodigy" Justin Autera is becoming a serious threat to the oppents special teams as he almost broke a couple punts for touchdowns. He is going to be a very dominant player for Cortland in years to come. Sophmore kicker Marc Corrado hit a career high 40 yard field goal to put the Dragons up 16-0 in the second quarter.


The Dragons are facing another tough oppented as they travel to Brockport to face the Golden Eagles at 1pm. The Dragons will hope to increase their record to 7-2 next week.

D3Football.com National Team of the Week:

Bryan Wiley recorded a team high 9 total tackles, six solo tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass break up to help lead the Cortland Dragons to a win over Western Connecticut.

Justin Autera also a member of the National Team of the week with 2 returns for a touchdown. He had one kickoff return for 79 yards and a punt return for 59 yards.

The Dragons had a well earned win against the Western Connecticut Colonials on October 17th. This was a big game for now starting quarter back Alex Smith who is coming back after not playing since 2007. He had completed 3 for 7 passes with a total of 51 yards including a 15 yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Anthony Giuliano in the second quarter. Big running back Dom Sair had a dominant running game with a total of 163. The star of the special teams was freshman running back Justin Autera who had a dominant roll in the returning game. He had returned the opening kickoff of the 2nd half for a 79 yard touchdown, and also a punt return 59 yards for a score in the 4th quarter. The Dragons went on to win this game 35-6 and they have high hopes in the game next week against William Paterson in Wayne, N.J.