2023 Cortaca Jug: SUNY Cortland takes Jug back following win at Ithaca College

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SUNY Cortland wins 2023 Cortaca Jug Game. (Photo provided by Bronson Gagliano).

The SUNY Cortland Red Dragons defeated the Ithaca Bombers with a score of 38-28 at the 64th annual Cortaca Jug game.

This was the first time since 2017 that Ithaca hosted the Cortaca Jug game at Ithaca College. The last two times it was Ithaca’s turn to host the biggest little game of the nation, games were played at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey and Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.

With this win, SUNY Cortland improved their Cortaca Jug record to 26-38.

Both teams came into the game with an overall record of 8-1.

The Red Dragons started the game off well after getting a first quarter stop after kickoff that led to them scoring a touchdown on offense to get a 7-0 lead.

SUNY Cortland would end the first half with a 14-6 lead. The second half was more of a back and forth battle with Ithaca slowly closing in.

With about 6 minutes left in the game, Ithaca made it a one score game following a 15 yard touchdown scored by Sam Kline, cutting Cortland’s lead to 35-28.

The Red Dragons then answered back with a late field goal that allowed them to win the game, as well as have bragging rights for the next year.

SUNY Cortland ended up generating 510 yards on offense in comparison to Ithaca's 350 yards on offense.

Here is a score breakdown of the game:

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
SUNY Cortland	7	7	14	10	38
Ithaca	6	0	7	15	28

SUNY Cortland was led by Zac Boyes (289 passing yards, 2 touchdown passes & 125 rushing yards), Jaden AlfanoStJohn (91 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, 2 receptions & 15 receiving yards), JJ Laap (7 receptions & 114 receiving yards), Cole Burgess (9 receptions, 89 receiving yards & 1 touchdown reception), Joe Iadevaio (4 receptions, 50 receiving yards & 1 touchdown reception), Mike Baloga (1 field goal & 5 extra point kicks), Jaden Martinez (10 tackles), and Jack Winey (8 tackles).

Ithaca was led by Colin Schumm (224 passing yards, 1 touchdown pass, 16 rushing yards & 1 rushing touchdown), Jalen Leonard-Osbourn (57 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 5 receptions, 65 receiving yards, 1 touchdown reception & 31 passing yards), Julien Deumaga (3 receptions, 60 receiving yards & 22 passing yards), Ben Marinaccio (4 receptions & 90 receiving yards), Sam Kline (3 receptions, 33 receiving yards & 1 touchdown reception & 1 two-point conversion), Derek Baldin (2 extra point kicks), Ben Stola (17 tackles & 1 interception), Jason Haber (10 tackles), Derek Slywka (6 tackles & 1 interception), and Jordan Sosa (5 tackles & 1 sack).

SUNY Cortland is now scheduled to travel to Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts for the opening round of the 2023 NCAA Division III playoffs this Saturday (November 18th). The game will kickoff at 12pm (noon).